Why has the volume of goods cleared through Cau Treo Border Gate decreased sharply?

Since August, the volume of goods cleared through Cau Treo International Border Gate (Huong Son, Ha Tinh ) has decreased sharply. On average, this border gate receives about 350 vehicles entering and exiting the country per day, down 22% compared to the same period in 2022.

This time of year in previous years was the busiest time for export activities at Cau Treo International Border Gate. However, at this time, import and export vehicles through Cau Treo International Border Gate are extremely gloomy. On average, Cau Treo International Border Gate receives about 350 vehicles entering and exiting the country each day, down 22% compared to the same period in 2022.

Vehicles from Laos to Vietnam via Cau Treo International Border Gate decreased sharply compared to the same period in 2022.

Captain Vo Anh Tuan - Head of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Border Guard Station said: "Since August, National Highway 8 in Bolikhamxay province of Laos has suffered serious landslides, causing traffic disruption. Although Lao agencies and units have made efforts to fix and handle the problem, the road section where the incident occurred has not yet been repaired. Therefore, traffic is extremely difficult, so the number of people and vehicles passing through Cau Treo Border Gate has decreased significantly compared to the same period last year."

Not only was there difficulty on the Lao side, during the October floods, National Highway 8A section through Eo Co Gai (at Km 82+300, near Cau Treo International Border Gate) suffered a landslide, causing traffic congestion. At that time, the authorities had cleared the landslide but traffic was still not smooth. Therefore, businesses were not "keen" on customs clearance through Cau Treo International Border Gate; the volume of goods and vehicles passing through the border gate also decreased sharply.

Along with the difficult traffic, recently, Laos has issued a number of policies such as: adjusting the load of cargo vehicles; increasing import and export tax rates from 0% to 10 - 30% for agricultural and mineral products; changing procedures for issuing certificates of origin of goods... These policies cause difficulties for businesses when trading with Laos. As a result, import and export activities through border gates are also affected.

Why has the volume of goods cleared through Cau Treo Border Gate decreased sharply?

Officers of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch carry out customs clearance procedures for businesses.

According to statistics from the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch, from August to now, the unit has opened 1,686 customs declarations (down 12% compared to the same period in 2022) with a total import-export turnover of more than 60 million USD (down 32.6% compared to the same period in 2022). Thereby, the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch collected more than 26.6 billion VND in budget revenue (down 79% compared to the same period in 2022).

Some key import and export items through Cau Treo International Border Gate have decreased sharply, such as: Redbull energy drink (97% decrease in the number of declarations, import turnover and tax paid to the state budget); ore (46% decrease in the number of declarations, 80% decrease in import turnover and 73% decrease in tax paid to the state budget); cassava chips (77% decrease in the number of declarations and 87% decrease in import turnover).

“It is the dry season in Laos, normally, from November, cassava chips will be imported in large quantities, but this year due to inconvenient transportation, businesses have taken a detour through Cha Lo International Border Gate ( Quang Tri ). In addition, key imported goods through Cau Treo International Border Gate such as Redbull energy drink, ore, cassava chips... have also decreased sharply, greatly affecting the unit's state budget collection results" - Mr. Hoang Trong Vinh, Head of the Business Department of Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch shared.

Why has the volume of goods cleared through Cau Treo Border Gate decreased sharply?

Customs forces coordinate with border guards to inspect and monitor vehicles entering and exiting through Cau Treo International Border Gate.

Mr. Le Minh Duc - Head of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch emphasized: "In preparation for the upcoming Lunar New Year, the unit has implemented many solutions to increase support and create maximum convenience for import and export enterprises. Accordingly, the branch promotes the application of electronics to shorten customs clearance time for enterprises; promptly remove difficulties and obstacles for enterprises in implementing customs clearance procedures... Currently, the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch is also proposing to all levels and sectors to make recommendations to the Lao Government on repairing Road 8 through Bolikhamxay province to facilitate import and export activities through Cau Treo border gate".

Phan Tram

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