Cát Lái Port in HCM City’s District 2. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Transport has submitted a detailed plan to the municipal People's Committee on collection of infrastructure fees at seaports.

The plan aims to raise revenue for the city’s transport infrastructure development around seaports.

The city’s port system plays a key role in connecting maritime transport of the southeastern and Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta regions.

The city has four major port areas, including Cát Lái, Nhà Bè, Hiệp Phước and Sài Gòn River ports.

Last year, the total output of goods through the city’s seaports was 170 million tonnes, and is forecast to increase to nearly 237 million tonnes by 2030.

The large volume of goods transported through ports is putting huge pressure on existing transport infrastructure. The road network around the seaports has not developed commensurately, resulting in congestion.

The seaport infrastructure fee only accounts for about four per cent of the total cost of a cargo container, according to the department.

Under the plan, fees for goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods deposited in bonded warehouses, transit and transshipment goods, and imported and exported goods declared outside the city would be VNĐ2.2 million (US$95.4) per 20ft container, VNĐ4.4 million ($190.8) per 40ft container, and VNĐ50,000 ($2.2) per tonne for liquid and bulk cargo.

For imported and exported goods declared in the city, the fee would be around VNĐ250,000 ($10.8) per 20ft container and VNĐ500,000 ($21.7) per 40ft container. Fees for liquid and bulk cargo would be VNĐ16,000 ($0.7) per tonne.

Goods serving security and national defense, social security, and goods for overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and disease would be free of charge.

About VNĐ3.2 trillion ($138.8 million) of infrastructure fees at seaports is expected to be collected a year and the revenue could increase in the following years based on the volume of goods.

The plan, expected to be approved in December, will be expanded to all seaports from June next year after a month-long pilot programme at Cát Lái Port. — VNS