4,300 trucks stuck at China border with farm produce

Trucks seen near a border gate in Lang Son Province. Photo by VnExpress

Over 4,300 trucks carrying agricultural produce are stuck at the China border in Lang Son Province due to tightened Covid-19 safety measures on both sides and a labor shortage.

Customs clearance has slowed down due to the stepped-up pandemic safety measures and a shortage of loaders is causing further delays, according to the Agency of Foreign Trade.

Another reason for the pileup of trucks is China’s suspension of imports through other Vietnamese localities, meaning all goods are being rerouted through Lang Son.

An average of 825 trucks are cleared to enter China every day through three major gates.

Lang Son and Chinese authorities are working to speed up the clearance of perishable agriculture goods.

Vietnam’s agricultural exports to China have been held up on numerous occasions this year due to Covid-related restrictions.

China is one of Vietnam's top trading partners. The import-export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products between the two countries had grown strongly from $8 billion in 2015 to $11 billion last year.

China was Vietnam's second-largest export market for agricultural, forestry and fishery products behind the U.S., posting an export turnover of $8.4 billion in the first 11 months of the year, accounting for 19.2 percent of Vietnam’s total agricultural exports.