According to reports from the Vietnam Trade Office in Pakistan and the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, the main cause of the current congestion is the disruption of overland transport between Pakistan and Afghanistan. At the same time, Pakistan has implemented new control measures on transit transportation. Moreover, most consignments of Vietnamese tea were exported to Afghanistan under contracts routed through transshipment at Karachi.
Notably, congestion at Karachi Port is not limited to Vietnamese goods but is considered a force majeure situation on a large scale, seriously affecting not only Vietnam’s shipments but also Pakistan’s own import, export, and transit activities.
According to updated information from Pakistan, approximately 11,000 containers of transit cargo bound for Afghanistan are currently stuck at Karachi Port. In addition, around 25,000 import containers and 15,000 export containers of Pakistan have yet to be cleared. This situation stems from a temporary suspension of operations by Pakistani transport associations in protest against new policies related to penalties for vehicles and drivers, causing severe disruptions to Pakistan’s domestic supply chain.
Prolonged congestion has forced Vietnamese tea exporters to bear substantial container detention and storage costs, posing risks of declining product quality and seriously affecting cash flow, bank loan repayment capacity, and the livelihoods of tea growers.
To safeguard the legitimate interests of Vietnamese enterprises, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has instructed the Vietnam Trade Office in Pakistan to proactively and continuously engage with relevant Pakistani authorities, including port authorities, customs, and related agencies, while requesting Pakistan to consider special measures to facilitate the clearance of Vietnamese tea shipments.
At the same time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, has sent official diplomatic notes to Pakistani authorities, urging flexible and favorable handling of the stalled Vietnamese tea consignments, in the spirit of friendship and economic–trade cooperation between the two countries.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan has directly worked with the leadership of Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, including the Deputy Minister in charge of Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as the Minister of Commerce, requesting special consideration for Vietnamese goods and calling for non-mechanical application of transit suspension measures.
The options currently being actively discussed between the Vietnamese and Pakistani sides include allowing the onward transit of the tea containers currently stuck at Karachi Port to Afghanistan when security and transport conditions permit.
If onward transit is not possible, consideration is being given to allowing re-export to a third market. As a last resort, re-importation of the goods back to Vietnam would be considered to minimize losses for enterprises.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that it will continue to closely monitor the situation, maintain regular engagement with the Pakistani side, instruct the Trade Office to provide daily updates, and proactively propose appropriate and feasible solutions to protect the legitimate interests of Vietnamese enterprises.
At the same time, the Ministry has called on tea exporters to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Tea Association and the Vietnam Trade Office in Pakistan, and to provide complete documentation related to their consignments. Enterprises are also urged to proactively review contract terms, alternative logistics options, and financial capacity in order to work with state authorities to select the most optimal handling solutions.
In the coming period, exporters are advised to strengthen market risk assessments, diversify transport routes and delivery terms, and reduce dependence on high-risk transshipment corridors.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasized that supporting the resolution of difficulties faced by export goods, particularly key agricultural products such as tea, remains a top priority. Accordingly, the Ministry will continue to act proactively and decisively with relevant partners to ensure the early clearance of goods and to minimize losses for enterprises and farmers.
Source: vneconomy.vn
