The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has stepped in to address the prolonged congestion affecting nearly 500 containers of Vietnamese tea exports currently stuck at Karachi Port in Pakistan, seeking urgent solutions to minimize losses for exporters.

According to the Foreign Market Development Department, the Ministry took swift action following an urgent petition from the Vietnam Tea Association and affected businesses. Relevant agencies have been mobilized to determine the causes and propose effective measures.

Reports from the Vietnam Trade Office and Embassy in Pakistan indicate that the primary reason behind the backlog is a breakdown in road transport between Pakistan and Afghanistan, triggered by Pakistan’s recent tightening of transit control measures.

Most of the Vietnamese tea shipments were contracted for export to Afghanistan through Karachi Port, relying on Pakistan as a transit hub.

Crucially, this is not a Vietnam-specific issue. The port congestion is widespread, affecting both Pakistan’s own import and export activities as well as those of other countries using the port for transit.

As of the latest update from Pakistan, Karachi Port is reportedly jammed with around 11,000 containers destined for Afghanistan, along with 25,000 import containers and 15,000 export containers awaiting clearance.

The gridlock was intensified by a nationwide strike by Pakistan’s trucking associations in protest of new enforcement policies targeting drivers and vehicles. This has brought the domestic supply chain in Pakistan to a near standstill.

For Vietnamese businesses, this prolonged delay is generating massive storage and demurrage costs, raising the risk of product deterioration, and severely impacting cash flow, bank loan repayments, and the livelihoods of tea farmers back home.

To safeguard the legitimate interests of Vietnamese exporters, the MoIT has instructed the Vietnam Trade Office in Pakistan to work proactively with key local authorities, including port, customs, and other stakeholders, urging special handling measures for the stranded tea shipments.

In coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan has issued formal diplomatic notes requesting flexible and favorable treatment for the Vietnamese tea containers, highlighting the spirit of economic cooperation and bilateral friendship.

The Embassy has also held direct meetings with senior officials from the Pakistan Ministry of Commerce, including the Deputy Minister in charge of Afghanistan and Central Asia, calling for non-restrictive handling of Vietnamese goods and exceptions from blanket transit suspension measures.

Vietnam has proposed that Pakistan allow the resumption of transit to Afghanistan once security and logistics conditions permit. If not feasible, Vietnam is requesting permission to re-export the goods to third markets or, as a last resort, re-import the containers back to Vietnam to mitigate financial damage.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has committed to closely monitor developments, with daily updates from the Vietnam Trade Office, and to propose feasible and timely solutions to protect the interests of businesses.

Exporters have been urged to work closely with the Tea Association and the Vietnam Trade Office, providing complete documentation for their shipments.

Companies are also encouraged to review their contract clauses, explore alternative logistics options, and assess their financial resilience to help identify the most optimal handling strategies in coordination with authorities.

Looking ahead, the MoIT advised exporters to enhance market risk assessments, diversify transport routes, and renegotiate delivery terms to avoid overreliance on high-risk transit corridors.

Supporting Vietnamese exports-especially strategic agricultural goods like tea-remains a top priority. The MoIT will continue to proactively engage with all stakeholders to expedite the clearance of goods and minimize losses for businesses and farmers.

Tam An