Seaports are busy on first day of 2013

The 43,000 tonne ship docked in the port to pick up 35,000 tonnes of wood chips that it will transport to Japan .

The port’s target for 2013 is to process 7 million tonnes of goods, earning at least VND270 billion.

Earlier on New Year, workers from Hoang Dieu Company, a member of the Hai Phong Port Company loaded the first shipment of 2013.

Duong Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Member Council of the Hai Phong Port Company, said it will increase its capacity and improve its service to meet the growing demand of customers in 2013.

The company will strive to handle a total of 18.5 million tonnes of goods in 2013, to either equal or exceed its revenue in 2012.

In 2012, Hai Phong Port handled 18.2 million tonnes of goods, equivalent to 101.1 per cent of their target, and an increase of 3.4 per cent from 2011.

The port’s total revenue reached VND1,300 billion, earning pre-tax profit of VND80 billion - 114.2 percent of its goal.

The port also invested VND294.7 billion  to upgrade its capacity.

Saigon Port in Ho Chi Minh City also started 2013 by unloading goods from five ships carrying iron, steel, domestic and exported goods. Around 7,000 tonnes of goods are estimated to go through the port on January 1 alone.

Le Cong Minh, Director General of Saigon Port , said the port will continue to reorganise to meet new demands and increase its effectiveness in 2013.

In 2012, despite lower and unstable good sources, Saigon Port handled 10.5 million tonnes, 105 percent of its target, earning VND855 billion in revenue.

The port gained VND51 billion in pre-tax profit and contributed 89 billion VND to the State budget.

In the night of December 31, Cai Cui Port in Can Tho celebrated its first shipment of 2013.

In the New Year, the port aims to process 500,000 tonnes of goods, up 5.26 percent from 2012, and achieve VND20 billion in revenue.

Cai Cui Port maintained stable growth in 2012 despite the gloomy economic situation. The port handled 475,000 tonnes of goods last year, 4.4 percent above its set target, earning the port 18 billion VND - 5.8 percent higher than expected.

Terminal Number 2 will begin operations in 2013 to manage 20,000 DWT ships. Can Tho Port is also expected to merge with Cai Cui Port.

The Mekong Delta is a key economic region in the country. Since Cai Cui Port opened, transport fees between Can Tho city and other neighbouring provinces, and Saigon Port decreased by $10  per tonne.