The volume of cargo passing Vietnamese ports in the first four months of this year rose by four per cent to about 215.3 million tonnes despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reported the Viet Nam Maritime Administration.

Container cargo accounted for more than 6.78 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs), a year-on-year increase of 12 per cent.

However, the administration said in April, the volume of cargo passing the ports recorded a seven per cent decrease compared to the same period last year to 53.8 million tonnes. Of which, container cargo was estimated at nearly 1.7 million TEUs, up slightly by three per cent over the same period last year.

During the first four months, the administration said the provinces having the highest growth in volume of cargo passing ports included Quang Ngai, up by 61 per cent to 8.76 million tonnes and Quang Tri up by 46 per cent to about 373,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year. Many other provinces and cities also had high growth at 27-36 per cent in volume of cargo passing ports, such as Nam Dinh, Can Tho and Da Nang.

Provinces and cities with strong reduction in volume of cargo passing ports included Quang Nam (down by 44 per cent) and Kien Giang (down by 36 per cent).

In the first four months, HCM City had the largest volume of cargo passing its ports nationwide but the volume dropped by 2.2 per cent year on year. — VNS