According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the total amount includes over 5 million TEUs of container throughput, a year-on-year increase of 14%.
In March alone, nearly 61 million tonnes of goods was handled at seaports, up 9% over the corresponding period last year, including nearly 2 million TEUs of container shipments, up 13% over the same period in 2019.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers through seaports was reported at more than 1.6 million people, a sharp decrease of 36% from the same period in 2019.
According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the volume of shipments through seaports was not affected much by the pandemic and still increased, although at a slower rate than that of the previous years.
However, the number of passenger cruises and passengers moving through seaports fell significantly. Only two international cruises arrived at Vietnamese seaports in March, almost a 100% decrease compared to the same period last year.
The Vietnam Maritime Administration said that it has simplified six administrative procedures and will continue to streamline an additional seven to facilitate enterprises amid the pandemic.
The agency has also proposed the Finance Ministry and relevant agencies extend the deadlines to pay taxes, insurance fees and other fees for firms hit by the pandemic.
