Vietnam Association for Exporters and Producers on Monday proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to reduce shipping freight costs, which were increased recently, to ease burden on seafood enterprises.
The proposal was also sent to the Vietnam Seaport Association and Vietnam Shipping Council.
According to VASEP, over the last three months the freight rate has added costs by US$640-1,200 on a 20 foot container.
The freight rate in Vietnam was already 10-15 per cent higher than other countries in the Southeast Asian region like Thailand and the Philippines.
The recent hike has affected exports to Europe and the US, the two largest seafood importers in Vietnam. In 2011, the export value to these markets accounted to 42 per cent of export revenue.
As a result, several seafood businesses will suffer losses in contracts which they have signed but not yet delivered.
Besides, VASEP has also proposed to the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development to reconsider quarantine fee levels applicable on imported seafood.
The Ministry of Finance had issued a circular to increase the quarantine fee since March 1. Accordingly, the fee will be raised to VND200,000 on 12 tonnes and VND400,000 on 12-24 tonnes of seafood.
Earlier, irrespective of weight there was a uniform charge of VND285,000.
