From 2025 to 2022, the cargo throughput of Ho Chi Minh City ports showed a downward trend, decreasing from 61.8% to 55.1%, while the cargo throughput of Barion Head Seaport increased from 31.7% to 36.6%.

A recent report from the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport stated that the Cai Mep Thi Vai port group in Bariotou currently accounts for over 16% of the total cargo unloaded through sea ports and 35% of the national container cargo.

STRONG TRANSFER OF GOODS THROUGH THE DATA 

The Cai Mep – Thi Vai port cluster also accounts for 50% of the container volume in the South, behind the Cat Lai port of Ho Chi Minh City (accounting for 50% of the total container volume in the country). 

According to the cargo statistics of the 4th Maritime Port Group of the Maritime Safety Administration (including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and Long An), the total cargo volume through the Maritime Port Group steadily increased from 2015 to 2022, as shown below: it reached 150.8 million tons in 2015; In 2016, it reached 177.6 million tons; In 2017, it reached 184.8 million tons; In 2018, it reached 203 million tons; In 2019, it reached 297 million tons; By 2020, it reached 298.8 million tons; In 2021, it reached 298.4 million tons, and in 2022, it reached 295.6 million tons (a slight decrease).

In Group 4, the seaport of Ho Chi Minh City and the seaport of Ba Ria – Vung Tau have the largest throughput capacity and proportion. Specifically, the seaport of Ho Chi Minh City, in 2015 reached 93 million tons, accounting for 61.8%; in 2016 reached 100 million tons, a proportion of 56.6%; in 2020 will reach 163 million tons, accounting for for 54.6%; In 2021, it will reach 164.6 million tons, weight 55.2% and in 2022 will reach 163 million tons, weight 55.1%… Thus, it can be seen that the proportion of goods through the seaport of Ho Chi Minh City. HCM is on a downward trend, from 61.8% to 55.1%. Particularly, container cargo in the period 2025 – 2022 has decreased from 76.3% to 46.7%.

Meanwhile, the total volume of goods through Ba Ria – Vung Tau seaport has increased gradually over the years and the proportion is as follows (2015 – 2022): 2015 is 47.8 million tons – 31.7%; 2026 is 62.9 million tons – 35.4%; 2017 was 61.4 million tons – 33.2%; 2018 was 68.4 million tons – 33.7%; 2019 is 107.8 million tons – 36.2%; 2020 is 113.2 million tons – 37.9%; 2021 is 113.7 million tons – 38.1%; and 2022 is 108 million tons – 36.6%. This statistic shows that the proportion of goods throughput of Ba Ria – Vung Tau seaport has increased gradually from 31.7% to 36.6%. Particularly, container cargo increased from 19.3% (2015) to 48.2% (2022).

The average growth rate of goods through the seaport of Ho Chi Minh City is 9.95% and the seaport of Ba Ria – Vung Tau is about 15.5%. According to the Department of Maritime Affairs, in the period 2015 – 2022, there has been a movement of goods from Ho Chi Minh City seaport to Ba Ria – Vung Tau seaport, mainly in Cai Mep – Thi Vai area.

Seaport Group 4 is the largest group of seaports in Vietnam, and also the most important group of seaports, accounting for 43% of the total volume of goods through the seaport system of the country. Still, according to the Maritime Administration, the volume of goods through Vietnam’s seaports in 2022 will reach 733 million tons, up 4% compared to 2021 (it will reach 703 million tons in 2021, up 2% compared to 2020). Particularly for seaport group 4, the throughput of goods in 2021 will reach approximately 300 million tons. 

PRIORITY FOR DEVELOPMENT GROUP OF PORTS NUMBER 4

According to Decision No. 1579/QD-TTg dated September 22, 2021, of the Prime Minister approving the master plan for the development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the period of 2021 – 2030, with a vision to 2050, Seaport group No. 4 is planned to ensure throughput by 2030 from 461 to 540 million tons, especially for container cargo from 23 to 28 million TEUs.

In particular, Cai Mep seaport is planned to be an international transshipment gateway port; the Thi Vai wharf area is planned to serve inter-regional socio-economic development, has a general wharf, container terminal, bulk cargo, etc. Can receive ships with a maximum tonnage of up to 250,000 DWT (full load). 

Ba Ria – Vung Tau province aims to concentrate all investment resources, develop the Cai Mep – Thi Vai seaport system to become a gateway port, international transshipment port of special level of the country; to develop the seaport and logistics industry of Ba Ria – Vung Tau into the key economic sector of the province.

Specifically, from 2021 through 2025, this province strives for the total output of goods through the province’s seaport system to reach about 375 million tons, an average of about 75 million tons/year. There are 69 planned ports in the whole province, so far 48 projects have been put into operation with a capacity of 141.5 million tons/year. Particularly, Cai Mep – Thi Vai area has 35 wharves, 22 wharves have been put into operation (19 official projects, 3 temporary exploitation projects), with a capacity of 117.8 million tons/year, including 7 container ports with a capacity of 6.8 million TEUs/year. 

Ho Chi Minh City’s seaports, and wharf areas currently receive ships of smaller tonnage, from 30,000 to 45,000 DWT; Particularly, Hiep Phuoc Wharf (Nha Be District) can receive ships with a tonnage of up to 70,000 DWT.

Decision 1579/QD TTg also stipulates that the direction of port planning on the Saigon River is to relocate and renovate according to the land use and urban spatial development plan of Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Prime Minister’s Decision No. 791/QD TTg of August 12, 2005, the port on the Saigon River will be relocated to the Port District of Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, the ports on the Saigon River (Saigon New Port, Nha Rong Port, Khanh Hoi Port of Saigon Port, Tan Thuan Dong Port, Rau Qua Port) and Ba Son Shipyard will be relocated. The specific relocation progress depends on the implementation progress of the HCMC overall plan and the production and operation situation of each port, with the principle of not causing congestion, waste, and limiting adverse effects on production, commerce, and national defense security, and stabilizing employment opportunities for workers.

Source: Vneconomy