A new wave of COVID-19 outbreaks is spreading in Vietnam, with 7,455 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country on August 2, bringing the total to 161,761, according to the latest data.  Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 4,264 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 98,559.  The number of new confirmed cases continues to break the historical record....  

In view of the tightening outbreak, The Prime Minister ordered on July 31 that 19 provinces and regions including Ho Chi Minh City continue to implement the lockdown measures for two weeks from August 1.  

A month after the outbreak spread rapidly in Vietnam, Vietnam's Saigon Newport Corporation was forced to suspend some operations at Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City port), the country's largest port.  

If the overstock in the yard cannot be reduced, it will cease operation completely.  Container yard space at the port has reached 100 percent, while the number of people on duty has been cut in half due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in July.  

"The COVID-19 outbreak is an event of force majeure," a spokesman for Saigon Newport Corporation told Vietnamese media.  "Our company is still working to maintain pick-up, delivery and receipt operations at the warehouse and yard at The Port of Calais, as well as service facilities in its systems."  

The company said that the number of staff at Port Calais had actually been cut in half,  after operating for three weeks during the surge of the pandemic. The outbreak has created a shortage of port workers and forklift truck drivers, as well as truck drivers who can enter ports to transport containers.  Because of that, ships were forced to queue up at their berths.  

Since August 1, the terminal has stopped handling transhipment containers and cargo.  At present, they plan to suspend the transportation of long, heavy, oversized and overloaded cargo at the terminal from August 5.  

The port operator advised carriers and their customers to adjust their plans to transfer goods from the port at Ho Chi Minh to other ports.  They also asked all incoming ships to inform ports in advance of the expected number of imported containers and empty cargo on board within the next two weeks.  They hope that they will be able to better arrange their yards to handle shipments  with this information, but if they cannot reduce the volume, they may impose quotas on imports or stop taking cargo ships.  

The reason why this port took these steps is its yard reached its maximum capacity.  In order to creat more space, the Saigon Newport Company is also asking Vietnamese customs officials for permission to move containers that have been waiting at the port for more than 90 days. They recommend moving the containers to inland container warehouses and will be responsible for ensuring that the seals on the boxes and the goods are in good condition.  

COVID-19 cases in Vietnam are increasing every day, mainly in the south, and it is expected to increase further in the coming days.  Affected by the epidemic, many foreign companies in Vietnam announced the closure of factories.  

We hereby remind the forwarders and shippers who have trade contacts with Vietnam recently to pay close attention to the logistics situation in real time and prepare for delay.  Beware of customs clearance at the destination port, buyer abandoned goods, non-payment and other problems, so as not to affect the shipment and not make further losses.