The train consisting of 21 carriages, including 9 refrigerated containers carrying 200 tons of agricultural products for export, departed from Song Than international transit station (Binh Duong) to China.

News from Vietnam Railways Corporation, Vietnam Railways Corporation has just held the "Departure Ceremony of the first international transit train in the year of the Dragon 2024" transporting agricultural products for export from Song Than to Zhengzhou, Henan Province (China). The train from Song Than station to China will run 1 trip/week. The train consists of 21 carriages, including 9 refrigerated containers carrying fruits and food. The time from Song Than to Zhengzhou is expected to be 9-10 days. According to the plan, the next trains will run 1 trip/week. Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation, said that this is the first shipment in the year of the Dragon 2024 departing from Song Than station to Zhengzhou (Henan, China) carried out under the direction of the Prime Minister on strengthening connectivity and perfecting the logistics system to promote the consumption and export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products. Choosing Binh Duong to organize the departure ceremony of the international train carrying agricultural products for export to China is meaningful because Binh Duong is a province in the Southeast region, located in the Southern key economic zone and is one of the most dynamically developing localities in the region.

Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation. Photo: VNR

Halving logistics costs In Vietnam, logistics costs in the agricultural sector account for 20-25% of product costs, while in other countries they only account for about 12-14%. The railway route transporting goods from Binh Duong to China helps businesses reduce costs by half compared to before, thereby increasing the opportunity to compete on price. According to Mr. Khanh, international transport by rail between Vietnam and China is undergoing many changes, with output continuously increasing. Many businesses choose rail transport because it shortens the time compared to waiting for transshipment at the border, especially when there is congestion. The process of carrying out import and export procedures for cargo ships is also more convenient.

The freight railway from Binh Duong to China helps businesses reduce costs by half compared to before.

Previously, in September 2023, Binh Duong province launched the International Transit Train to transport export goods from Song Than station to China. Accordingly, the first export shipment transported by the International Transit Train is a shipment of cassava starch, used as food, with a quantity of 499.7 tons, packed in 19 40" containers. The shipment of Hung Duy Import-Export-Trade-Service Company Limited located in Hoa Thanh town, Tay Ninh province, was cleared for export customs procedures by the Binh Duong Provincial Customs Department. The declaration was classified as green by the Automatic Data Processing System (VNACCS-VSIS) (exempt from detailed file checking, exempt from actual goods checking and automatic customs clearance). Ms. Phan Thi Khanh Duyen, Deputy Director of the Binh Duong Department of Industry and Trade, said that the transportation of import and export goods through the railway station will speed up the circulation of goods, thereby promoting the production of goods of enterprises in the province, increasing the import and export turnover of goods. In the future, it will create conditions for the formation of a logistics center of Binh Duong province and the whole Southern region, leading to an increase in the supply of accompanying services. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Danh, Vice Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee, for the province, international freight transport by rail through Song Than station contributes to solving the overload of freight transport by road, speeding up the circulation of goods, thereby promoting the production of goods of enterprises in the area, increasing the import and export turnover of goods. Song Than is the largest freight station in the South. Currently, the station is being upgraded and renovated by the Ministry of Transport, and it is expected that in the period of 2025-2030, the capacity will be increased to 3.5 million tons per year. In recent times, the Government and the Prime Minister have always paid attention to international freight transport by rail. Most recently, on February 6, 2022, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 13/CD-TTg on strengthening logistics connectivity to promote the consumption and export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products. The dispatch assigned the Ministry of Transport to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to support the exploitation of the Vietnam - China international railway container transport route to increase the volume of agricultural, forestry and fishery goods transported by rail to minimize congestion and road congestion at border gates.

Phan Trang (Government Newspaper)

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/hon-200-tan-nong-san-xuat-khau-tu-ga-song-than-di-trung-quoc-102240222161003316.htm