It was forecast that about 12.8 million TEU of container goods would be transshipped via ports in the East Sea by 2030.

Cai Mep Port in Phu My Town, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, is now among the top 30 largest container ports in the world, according to consultancy firm Alphaliner.

Vietnam boasts three seaports listed among the Top 50 largest container ports globally, namely Ho Chi Minh City Port, Hai Phong Port and Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port.

The Incheon Port Authority has announced that Maersk launched its new PH5 service at the Incheon Port on March 4, a weekly container service that connects the Republic of Korea’s Incheon with Vietnam and Thailand via China.

Regarding the shipping industry as a whole, Tien Phong Securities Company believes that the outlook for 2024 will be more positive due to the gradual cooling down of global inflationary pressures and an increase in demand for goods transportation.

Vietnam plans to develop a modern seaport system in the near future, but the question remains on how to optimise the facilities.

Authorities in HCM City are seeking measures to solve the serious congestion along some roads leading to Cat Lai Port.

According to the national Seaport System Development Master Plan in the period 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, Vietnam will have a modern seaport system with many seaports.

Seaports in Vietnam are expected to receive a huge amount of foreign capital in the time to come as some leading maritime corporations have stated they want to join hands with domestic companies to develop super-ports in Vietnam.

With a series of seaport infrastructure projects being implemented in the Southern Key Economic Zone, the seaport industry is promising in attracting more foreign investment.

Vietnam’s seaport throughput nearly doubled between 2015 and 2022, averaging 8.4%, said the Vietnam Maritime Administration (VMA).

A downturn in exports may prompt the private sector to reevaluate its investment plans in the nation’s seaports, which are estimated to require over $13 billion by 2030.

Vietnamese shipping organisations’ proposal to raise charges for container loading and unloading services at seaports, if becomes true, will not affect exporters and importers.

While complex global developments are affecting the performance of seaports, action is needed to ensure growth momentum.

The seaport industry is expected to continue to grow strongly this year thanks to active import and export activities and the fact that Vietnam remains an attractive destination for FDI inflows.