A source said that that tens of containers of scrap plastic arrive in Cat Lai Port every day. As of June 7, at least 965 containers had been there for 30-90 days. 

Meanwhile, more than 2,100 containers, most of which are waste materials left there for more than 90 days, need urgent treatment. The deadlock has been hindering other imports.

On June 12, Tan Cang Sai Gon released a notice to clients and shipping agents about the treatment of import containers left at the port. The document says the ports in Vietnam and Cat Lai Port in particular are finding a way to treat the high number of containers of plastics and scrap paper which still cannot get customs clearance. 

The high amount of uncleared containers has caused a deadlock at Cat Lai, badly affecting activities of ports, shipping firms and clients.

To improve the situation, Tan Cang Sai Gon has set up a series of new policies for Cat Lai, including the imposition of surcharges in order to encourage clients to clear the imports soon.

Prior to that, Tan Cang Sai Gon also released a document dealing with import scrap at Cat Lai and Hiep Phuoc Ports. It has stopped receiving containers of scrap plastic and papers from other domestic ports.

Beginning June 1, the unloading of goods is now carried out only after clients show all necessary documents about the import consignments granted by appropriate agencies, and make commitments about the time they receive goods. 

In case clients don’t have necessary documents, they have to carry goods to other ports before docking.

Phan Trong Lam, deputy director of VICT (Vietnam International Container Terminals), said in late 2017, VICT made urgent proposals about policies to be applied at ports, especially about dealing with waste imports.

Lam said in the last few years VICT had discovered waste registered as temporary imports for re-export later. In these cases, it is difficult to identify the senders of the goods.

In other cases, the recipients whose names are shown in consignments refuse responsibility. 

Meanwhile, agencies cannot punish them because they don’t have sufficient evidence. 

Explaining the volume of waste imported to Vietnam, an analyst said that industrial waste volume is now very high in other countries and the treatment of the waste is costly. 

Some countries are exporting the waste to developing countries, where it is cheaper to treat waste. Vietnam is one of the destinations.

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Mai Thanh