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PROHIBITED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IMPORTS ARE SEIZED

VCN- On 3rd May 2017, the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport said that a shipment of prohibited medical equipment imports was discovered when perpetrators camouflaged them in goods in transit.

prohibited medical equipment imports are seized
A used CT scanner was camouflaged in goods in transit.

The shipment was found and seized by the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in coordination with the Department of Anti-smuggling and Investigation under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Police Crime Department on smuggling (C74) under the Ministry of Public Security and the Police Crime Investigation Division of Economic Management and Positions (PC46) under the Police of Ho Chi Minh City.

Reportedly, this shipment was detected by the competent force when it was in transit to Cambodia through Xa Mat border gate. The prohibited medical equipment imports included a used CT scanner (declared as Japanese origin, new 100%) with 10 bales weighing 5.7 tons and worth over 3.2 billion vnd.

Con Ong Transport Joint Stock Company which was located at 39B Truong Son Street, Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City directed by Mr. Dinh Huu Thanh (born in 1975), residing in Cam Thuong Ward, Hai Duong City declared the imported goods as 100% new in order to avoid the application for permits of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

A few days ago, the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport also issued a decision on criminal prosecution for smuggling of Olympic Science and Technology Company Limited at 1/54 Lu Gia, Ward 15, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City directed by Mr. Nguyen Kien Hung, born in 1987, ID No. 385384231 issued on 8th January 2016 at 423 Hamlet 1, Gia Rai Town, Gia Rai District, Bac Lieu province due to the import of medical equipment of 50 electronic heart measuring machines with wrong declaration of goods in order to avoid the application for import license of the Ministry of Health with the value of the shipment of over 500 million vnd.

According to the Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, many perpetrators have taken advantage of the transit route to Cambodia for smuggling, which was a new smuggling trick. Customs authorities have intensified inspection and strictly controlled this route, detected many smuggling cases, seized contraband goods on the way of transportation to Cambodia and then back through routes among Cambodia, Tay Ninh, An Giang or Binh Phuoc, etc to be smuggled into Vietnam for consumption.

By Le Thu/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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ORIGIN OF IMPORTED ALUMINUM CLOSELY INSPECTED

VCN- This is requested by the General Department of Vietnam Customs for provincial and municipal Customs departments to strengthen the inspection of origin for imported aluminum subject to special preferential tax rate.

origin of imported aluminum closely inspected
Operational activity at North Hanoi Customs Branch Photo: N.Linh

Specifically, the General Department of Vietnam Customs required local Customs units to strictly comply with the provisions of the Ministry of Finance’s Circular No.38/2015/TT-BTC, the circulars of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on C/O enjoying special preferential tax rate; and verification procedures of origin issued together with Decision No. 4286/ QD-TCHQ of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and guiding documents of the Ministry of Finance.

In case of suspicion on the validity of the C/O, the information declared on C/O, or the actual origin of the imported goods (such as signs of forged signature and C/O seal, and the inconsistency between information declared on the C/O and the documents under Customs dossiers, and suspicion on the origin criteria declared on the C/O or through the physical inspection (if any), the origin is different from declarations and regulations on direct transport …), the provincial and municipal Customs Departments have to send reports and relevant dossiers to the General Department of Customs for verification.

During waiting for the verification results, the import goods shall not enjoy the special preferential tax rates but shall enjoy the MFN preferential tax rates.

Besides, the General Department of Vietnam Customs directed the units to review the C/O of the imported aluminum shipments, which were enjoyed special preferential tax rate from January 1st, 2016 to the end of April 2017. If detecting signs of violation, actively implementing post clearance audit and reporting the results to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

By Ngoc Linh/Ngoc Loan

Source: http://customsnews.vn

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COSCO SHIPPING BOUNCES BACK TO PROFIT

Shanghai-listed COSCO Shipping Holdings Co, a unit of China Cosco Shipping Corporation Limited (Cosco Shipping), has returned to profit in the first quarter of 2017, driven by a recovery in the container shipping market.

The company posted a net profit of CNY 270 million (USD 39.1 million) for the quarter, against a net loss of CNY 4.46 billion reported in the corresponding three-month period of 2016, mainly due to a first quarter investment income of CNY 274 million compared to an investment loss of CNY 2.11 billion for the previous year’s quarter.

The shipping firm’s revenues for the first three months surged by 48 percent to CNY 20.1 billion from CNY 13.5 billion seen a year earlier, while its operating profit reached CNY 425 million, bouncing back from an operating loss of CNY 4 billion.

COSCO Shipping Holdings carried 4.65 million TEUs during the quarter, representing a jump of almost 54 percent compared to 3 million TEUs handled in the same period in 2016, while its revenue from shipping routes surged by 70 percent to CNY 17.1 billion from CNY 10 billion in the respective periods.

The company’s terminal business saw a 7.5 percent increase in volumes, reaching a total throughput of 29.9 million TEUs in the first quarter of 2017.

World Maritime News Staff

Nguồn: http://worldmaritimenews.com/

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YANG MING EXPECTS 2ND STAGE OF RECAPITALIZATION BY JUNE

Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) expects to complete the second stage of its recapitalization by June 2017.

At that time, Yang Ming will be announcing the identities of the investors who participated in this round of issuance, as well as the details of this offering.

The announcement was made as the shipping firm informed that its shares will resume trading on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on May 4, 2017 in accordance with the company’s capital reduction plan.

Yang Ming said that it is expected that the shares will trade at a value exceeding twice the value before the voluntary suspension of trading on April 20, undertaken in light of Yang Ming’s recapitalization plan which was announced in early 2017.

“Our recapitalization plan will initially allow Yang Ming to reduce its equity capital, after which infusion of new capital is then obtained from various private and public investors,” the company earlier said. The recapitalization plan is said to be one of the several components of Yang Ming’s comprehensive plan aimed at improving the company’s financial structure.

In 2016, Yang Ming posted a full-year net loss of USD 493 million, significantly widened when compared to a loss of USD 258 million seen in 2015.

Due to recent improvements in the shipping sector, along with increased cargo volumes, Yang Ming said that it has cut its business loss for the fourth quarter of 2016 to USD 62 million, and that it “remains optimistic for continued improvements into the first quarter of 2017.”

Source: http://worldmaritimenews.com/

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IMPORTED GOODS TO CONTRIBUTE CAPITAL ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY VAT

VCN- Enterprises which contribute capital to establish are not required to declare and pay VAT in accordance with Point a, Clause 7 of Circular 219/2013 / TT-BTC.

imported goods to contribute capital are not required to pay vat
Customs operations at Cai Lan port, Quang Ninh province. Photo: Thu Trang.

That is a response of the General Department of Vietnam Customs for the proposal of Nghi Phong Joint-Venture Company Limited to import machinery and equipment to Vietnam to contribute capital without paying VAT on import.

According to analysis of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Article 2 of Circular 219/2013 / TT-BTC guides the implementation of the Law on Value Added Tax as follows: The taxable objects are goods and services used for production, business and consumption in Vietnam (including goods and services purchased from organizations and individuals overseas), excluding those not subject to VAT as provided in Article 4 of this Circular.

In addition, Article 3 of Circular 219/2013 / TT-BTC also stipulates: “VAT payers are organizations and individuals producing and trading goods and services subject to VAT in Vietnam, without discriminating types of business, form, and organization of business (hereinafter referred to as business establishments) and organizations and individuals importing goods or purchasing services from abroad which are subject to VAT (hereinafter referred to as importers), including … “.

Accordingly, under Article 2 and Article 3 of Circular No. 219/2013 / TT-BTC, when importing goods into Vietnam, enterprises must pay VAT on import, excluding those not subject to VAT guided in Article 4 of this Circular. Then, enterprises which contribute capital such as fixed assets to establish are not required to declare and pay VAT under Point a, Clause 7, Article 5 of Circular No. 219/2013 / TT-BTC.

By Thu Trang/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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COAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY NEARLY 7 TIMES IN QUANTITY

VCN- This is noteworthy information related to export activities Vietnam in the first months of 2017.

coal exports increased by nearly 7 times in quantity
Coal exports increased by nearly 7 times in quantity.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, from the beginning of 2017 to 15th April 2017, the total coal exports reached 504,663 tons with the total value of $US 79.438 million.

Thus, compared to the same period in 2016, the total volume and value of coal exports have increased strongly. In particular, the total coal export volume increased by 6.7 times and the value of coal exports increased by more than 13 times.

With the total value of exports increased more than the output, the average export price of this commodity also increased compared to the same period last year.

Specifically, the average price of coal exports in the same period in 2016 was only $US 79 per ton, while in 15th April 2017, coal exports soared to over $US 157 per ton.

Notably, many years ago, China was one of the major markets importing Vietnam’s coal. However, from early 2017 to date, China has been no longer import market of Vietnam.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, by the end of first quarter of 2017, the major import markets of Vietnam’s coal had been Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and South Korea.

By Thai Binh/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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SPOTTED: WORLD’S LARGEST BOXSHIP STARTS SERVICE

Image Courtesy: Maersk

The 20,568 TEU Madrid Maersk, the first vessel in Maersk Line’s 2nd generation Triple-E class, called the Port of Tianjin in China on April 27 as the first port on its maiden voyage. 

The newbuilding was delivered from South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) to its owner last month.

Madrid Maersk, which features a length of 399 meters and a width of 58.6 meters, is currently the largest boxship in the world built so far.

Deployed in the company’s Asia – Europe service network, the 196,000 gross-ton Madrid Maersk is the first in a series of eleven 2nd generation Triple-E vessels. It is also the first of the 27 vessels Maersk Line ordered in 2015.

Maersk Line is expected to take delivery of the remaining vessels until the end of 2018. As disclosed, these ships will replace older and less efficient tonnage.

The company’s remaining order book consists of ten 2nd generation Triple-E, nine 15,226 TEU and seven 3,596 TEU boxships.

Source: http://worldmaritimenews.com/

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HAPAG-LLOYD ADDS FOUR NEW INTRA-MEDITERRANEAN, BLACK SEA SERVICES

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has decided to launch four new services within the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. 

The services in question are the TPS Service, the TBS Service, the WBS Service and the GTS Service and they are expected to commence on May 1, 2017.

With the first sailing of MV Diane A ex Istanbul on May 3, the TPS Sevice will have the following port rotation: Istanbul (Mardas & Kumport & Marport) – Gemlik (Borusan) – Istanbul (Kumport & Marport) – Poti – Samsun – Istanbul (Mardas & Kumport & Marport).

The second service, the TBS Service is scheduled to start on May 4 with the first sailing of MV MSC Kreta ex Istanbul.

Port rotation of the TBS Service will be as follows: Istanbul (Kumport & Marport & Mardas) – Burgas – Varna – Istanbul (Kumport & Marport & Mardas).

The WBS Service is planned to commence on May 9 with the first sailing of MV Alegri ex Varna.

The WBS Service will have the following port rotation: Istanbul (Marport) – Varna – Constanta – Istanbul (Marport) – Gemlik (Borusan) – Piraeus (eff. end of May) – Tangier – Casablanca – Piraeus (eff. end of May) – Gemlik (Borusan) – Istanbul (Marport).

The fourth service, the GTS Service, is to start also on May 9 with the first sailing of MV Jean – Pierre A ex Istanbul.

Port rotation of the GTS Service will be as follows: Haifa – Ashdod – Antalya – Istanbul (Kumport & Marport & Mardas) – Evyap – Gemlik – Istanbul (Kumport & Marport & Mardas) – Piraeus – Thessaloniki – Izmir – Haifa.

Last week, Hapag-Lloyd also revised its Black Sea-Mediterranean Express Service (BMX Service).

The new port rotation of the BMX Service will be as follows: Piraeus – Istanbul (Kumport & Marport) – Novorossiysk – Odessa – Constanta – Istanbul (Kumport & Marport) – Piraeus.

The revised BMX Service is scheduled to start on May 7 with the first sailing of MV Louisa Schulte from Piraeus.

Source: http://worldmaritimenews.com/

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VIETNAM-LAOS TRADE TENDS TO DECREASE

VCN- Although Vietnam’s export to Laos has maintained the stable growth rate, in the overall, the trade relations between the two countries are on the downward trend.

 
Chart show the import-export turnover between Vietnam and Laos from 2013 to the first quarter in 2017, the unit calculated “million USD”. Chart: T. Binh.

Cannot reach the level of “billion USD”.

The statistic results of the General Department of Customs show that in 2011, the total value of export turnover between Vietnam and Laos stopped at $US 734 million. Of which, the exports of Vietnam were $USD 274 million, and the imports from the neighbouring country were $USD 460 million.

But by 2013, the total trade value between the two countries has grown to $US 1.091 billion. Of which, Laos maintained its trade surplus with a surplus of $US 245.7 million.

The “billion USD” mark has been maintained for three straight years (2013, 2014 and 2015). In particular, 2014 reached the highest figure of $US 1.287 billion and the import turnover from Laos were $US 802 million and the exports of Vietnam to the neighbouring country reached $US 485 million.

In 2015, the turnovers started to slowdown. Although it was still keeping the total value of over $US 1 billion, the results for the whole year were reduced by $US 166 million compared to the previous year ($ 1.121 billion).

And by the last year, the foreign trade between the two countries has been removed from the “billion USD” milestone set up three years ago, as the turnover only reached $US 823 million.

The main reason for this decline is that imports of goods from Laos are continuously decreasing.

In particular, from $US 802 million in 2014, the imports of goods from the neighbouring country dropped to $US 587 million by 2015 and only reached $US 345.3 million in the last year.

So, in just 3 years (from 2014 to 2016), the imports from Laos decreased by $US 456.7 million, equivalent to a decline of 57%.

In terms of quantity of goods, the goods imported from Laos are quite modest and monotonous with 5 main groups: Maize; ore and other minerals; fertilizer; Wood, wood products; Ordinary metals.

Looking at the fluctuation of the import and export activities between Vietnam and Laos over time, it is easy to see the dependence on a few items (especially the imports from Laos mainly depends on wood, wooden products). Therefore, when these groups have several changes in turnover, it will greatly affect the trade turnover between the two countries.

Opportunities to export of Vietnam

In the context of trade relations between the two countries showing signs of going down, we realize that there are still signs of optimism. That is the stable growth of the exports of goods from Vietnam to Laos. The growth is in both turnover value and commodity category.

In 2011, Vietnam had only 10 groups of goods exported to Laos in 2011, but by 2016 this number increased to 17 groups. Among them, in 2016, there were 7 groups of goods with the turnover of $US 10 million or more. The largest was iron and steel reached $US 76 million; followed by gasoline at $US 61.5 million; vehicles of transportation and spare parts reached $US 50.5 million …

On the other hand, in terms of turnover value, compared with 2011, the total value of the Vietnam’s exports to Laos in 2016 increased by 74%, equivalent to an increase of $US 204 million.

The export results of Vietnam to Laos in particular and the trade relations between the two countries in general are modest compared to the total value of export turnover of hundreds of billions USD a year in our country, but with a small as Laos, the changes as mentioned above are also remarkable.

In the first quarter in 2017, the total value of export and import turnover between the two countries reached $US 236 million, of which the exports of Vietnam were $US 135 million, and the imports were $US 101 million.

The results above have decreased slightly by $US 13 million compared to the same period in 2016, because while the export turnover of our country increased by $US 2 million, the import turnover went down by $US 15 million.

By Thái Bình/Kiều Oanh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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CALCULATING VAT FOR IMPORTED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

VCN – Regarding the request from Tri Viet Service Company Limited on guiding the regulations on VAT for medical equipment, the General Department of Customs guided in detail as below:

calculating vat for imported medical equipment

Operational activities at the Pho Bang Customs Branch under Ha Giang Customs Department. Photo: T.Trang

According to the General Department of Customs, some items without written certification of the Ministry of Finance, but with HS codes at the List of VAT issued together with Circular No. 83/2014/TT-BTC dated June 26, 2014 of the Ministry of Finance will be calculated VAT in different ways up to each case.

As described in Clause 1, Article 4 of Circular No. 83/2014/TT-BTC: products are not subject to tax or subject to VAT rate of 5 % or 10% in accordance with the VAT Law and Normative Legal Documents guiding the implementation of VAT Law will abide by the provisions in those documents. Particularly, cultivation, husbandry, aquatic and marine products; medical equipment or instruments must comply with clauses 3, 4, 5 of Article 4 of the Circular No. 83/2014/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance.

Besides, in clause 5, Article 4 of Circular No. 83/2014/TT-BTC stipulates: Medical equipment and instruments, including special-use medical machinery and instruments such as scanners, screeners and radiography machines for medical examination and treatment; devices and instruments used exclusively in surgery and wound treatment; ambulances; blood pressure and cardiovascular meters, blood transfusion tools; syringes and needles; contraceptive devices and other special-use medical equipment, must comply with the VAT List promulgated together with Circular No. 83/2014/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance.

It is acknowledged that, in the recent times, the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs issued some Documents guiding the VAT for imported medical machinery to implement in accordance with the guidance in clause 8, Article 1 of Circular No. 26/2015/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance.

Some Documents are: Document No. 8159/BTC-TCT dated June 18, 2015 of the Ministry of Finance, Document No. 17278/BTC-TCT dated November 20, 2015 of the Ministry of Finance; Document No. 743/BTC-TCHQ dated January 17, 2017 of the Ministry of Finance; Document No. 2446/TCHQ-TXNK dated April 12 2017 of the General Department of Customs. In which, clause 1 of Document No. 743/BTC-TCHQ of the Ministry of Finance clarified this issue.

The General Department of Customs requested the Tri Viet Service Company Limited study provisions mentioned above for implementation. If any other obstacles, the Company should contact with Customs Authority where Customs declaration registered for further instructions.

By Thu Trang/ Huyen Trang

Source: http://customsnews.vn/