Over 254 million tonnes of cargo handled via ports in H1 hinh anh 1Goods is loaded onto trucks at Da Nang Port in Da Nang city (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Up to 254.8 million tonnes of cargo were handled via seaports during the first half of this year, up 17 percent year on year, the Vietnam Maritime Administration (VMA) has reported.

This includes 8.7 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of freight containers, up 28 percent against the same period last year, and fulfilling 57 percent of the target set for 2018.

During the period, 38 Vietnamese container ships carried about 69.9 million tonnes of cargo, representing a year-on-year rise of 9 percent, according to the administration.

The VMA coordinated with relevant agencies to conduct 11 administrative procedures in all the 25 maritime administrations, while proposing streamlining 31 out of the 101 administrative procedures.

However, the agency said transportation businesses still face numerous difficulties due to the low volume of cargo and low transportation fees, plus stagnant projects on dredging navigation lines.

The VMA will invest more in building and upgrading navigation infrastructure and lines in the time ahead.

Vietnam has a total of 42 public navigation lines stretching 935.9km and 10 specialised navigation lines.-VNA
VNA