Vietnam has invested several billions in US dollars to build up the relatively new and modern terminals in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, hoping to generate active trading activities and stimulate the country's economy.
With total container handling capacity in Ba Ria-Vung Tau at up to 8m teu a year, actual demand is no more than 5m teu, VPA noted.
Capacity at the deepwater ports is set to grow as the province is planning to several new ports in 2012 and 2013, VPA said. Ba Ria-Vung Tau is already home to 53 seaports, 23 of which are operational and the remaining will soon reach completion.
Industry observers said the unattractiveness of the ports in the area is due to poor and undeveloped inland supporting infrastructure, meaning that shipowners have to use barges to transport their containers to the ports.
“Ba Ria-Vung Tau has only completed construction on the seaports, but totally neglected the completion of road traffic and logistics services,” said Ho Kim Lan, general secretary of VPA.
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