Bangkok Terminal Logistics Co., Ltd.

Good news! Exporters are getting help, reducing import fees for empty containers
The container shortage, a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been ongoing for a long time, causing exporters to bear twice as much shipping costs.
Thai exporters have reduced import fees for empty containers.
The container shortage, a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been ongoing for a long time, causing exporters to bear twice as much shipping costs.
As Asia, including Thailand, has resumed exporting goods to the United States and Europe, generating income for exporters to recover and open their eyes once again, but on the other hand, exports from the United States to Asia have decreased, resulting in a shortage of containers recently, resulting in continuous increase in freight rates.
At the 1/2021 Joint Public and Private Sector Committee on Commerce (JPC Commerce) meeting, chaired by Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, the following measures and solutions were disclosed:
- Export products that do not require containers, such as agricultural products or rubber wood, can be transported by ship. A number of ships have been prepared and will be operational in the third week of February.
- The reduction of import fees for empty containers was proposed by the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) to the Cabinet meeting on 9 February.
- Allowing 400-meter ships from 6 shipping lines to dock at Laem Chabang without having to request permission as previously requested by the private sector. The Ministry of Commerce, the private sector, and the Port Authority of Thailand have ordered them to apply for a permit, which will take only 1 day. They will then be able to dock at the port for a period of 2 years.
Additional measures for exporting goods to China have pushed for more emphasis on land transport via Thai border checkpoints to Laos, Vietnam and China, reducing the use of containers at ports, which are not yet fully open.
Currently, 40 out of 97 border checkpoints are open, and 3 more are being expedited to open:
- Pa Saeng Checkpoint, Ubon Ratchathani Province
- Chiang Khan Checkpoint, Loei Province
- The Lost Sok Pier, Nong Khai Province
Therefore, negotiations must be made to open more border checkpoints to facilitate land transport instead of sea transport.
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