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COMMODITY GROUPS SUBJECT TO PROCEDURES AT IMPORT BORDER GATES ARE HIGH RISK GOODS

VCN- The Prime Minister has just signed Decision No. 15/2017 / QD-TTg of 12th May 2017 promulgating the list of imported goods subject to Customs clearance at the import border gate, including 17 sensitive commodity groups with a high risk level (such as tax administration, specialized management, security, national defense, environment etc.) which need to be strengthened at the border. How will the new regulation change Customs procedures of enterprises?

commodity groups subject to procedures at import border gates are high risk goods
Import-export activities at Da Nang port. Photo: Ngoc Linh.

On 21st January 2015, the Government issued Decree No. 08/2015 / ND-CP detailing and implementing measures to implement the Customs Law on Customs procedures and Customs inspections. Accordingly, Clause 2, Article 4 stipulates: “Based on the situation of export and import in each period, the Prime Minister shall decide on the list of imported goods subject to Customs procedures at import border gates.” In accordance with the Customs Law 2014, Clause 2, Article 4 of the above-mentioned Decree No. 08/2015 / ND-CP, the Ministry of Finance has already reported and submitted to the Prime Minister for promulgation of Decision No. 15/2017 / QD-TTg of 12th May 2017 on the list of goods subject to Customs procedures at import border gates, including 17 sensitive commodity groups with a high risk in management (such as tax administration, specialized management, security, national defense and environment) which need to strengthened at the border.

These goods include: (1) Cigarettes, cigars and other preparations of tobacco for smoking, snoring, chewing and snuffing; (2) alcohol; (3) beer; (4) passenger cars of less than 16 seats; (5) Two-wheeled or three-wheeled motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of over 125 cm3; (6) Aircraft and yachts; (7) Gasoline of all kinds; (8) Air conditioners of 90,000 BTU or less; (9) playing cards; (10) Joss papers; (11) Goods subject to animal quarantine according to the list prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; (12) Goods subject to aquatic product quarantine as stipulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; (13) Goods subject to plant quarantine according to the list prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; (14) Explosive substances and explosive pre-substances in accordance with the list prescribed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade; (15) Goods affecting security and the national defense according to the list as prescribed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade; (16) Scrap on the list prescribed by the Prime Minister; (17) Goods subject to self-defense, antidumping, anti-subsidy taxes in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Commodity groups from (1) to (10) are on the list issued with the HS code. For commodity groups from (11) to (17), the HS codes shall be declared and promulgated by the Prime Minister and the specialized management Ministries.

The Decision has also specified various kinds of goods (on the List and not on the List) and the same bill of lading which is subject to Customs clearance at the border gate.

However, with the aim of encouraging enterprises to develop production and facilitate some cases of special-purpose imports, the Decision has also stipulated that imported goods belonging to the list may be conducted Customs procedures at the border gate or other places in the following cases:

First, equipment, machinery and materials imported for the construction of factories or works are subject to Customs procedures at customs offices directly managing factories and warehouses.

Second, raw materials, supplies, equipment, machinery, components and spare parts used for processing and production shall be cleared from Customs offices where the plants or production facilities are located.

Third, temporarily imported goods for participation in trade fairs, exhibitions or product introductions shall be subject to Customs procedures at Customs offices where fairs, exhibitions or products display.

Fourth, the imported goods in the duty-free shops shall be conducted Customs procedures at the customs offices that directly manage the duty-free shops.

Fifth, the goods imported into the non-tariff area shall be conducted Customs procedures at the Customs office managing the non-tariff area.

Sixth, imported goods for emergency aid under Clause 1, Article 50 of the Customs Law shall be transported to places where natural calamities or epidemics occur or emergency relief is requested.

Seventh, specialized goods used for security and the national defence according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 50 of the Customs Law shall be conducted Customs procedures at Customs offices at the request of the Customs declarants.

Eight, gasoline is taken from the bonded warehouse to the Customs clearance sites where the trader operates a petroleum storage system.

Nine, the imported goods in the same container are cleared at the Customs office managing the retail place.

Ten, other cases as decided by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Finance to direct the Customs offices to intensify the control high-risk imported goods in the management, ensuring the requirements of tax administration, the national defence and security and the quality of goods on the list of imported subject to Customs procedures at the border gate. This decision comes into effect on 1st July 2017.

By Viet Ha/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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VIETNAM RETURNS TO IMPORT SOME AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM INDIA

VCN- From May 10, 2017, the Indian agricultural products which were suspended from import will be imported into Vietnam again.

viet nam nk tro lai mot so mat hang nong san tu an do
The Indian agricultural products which were suspended from import will be imported into Vietnam again.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has issued Decision No.1644/ QD-BNN-BVTV on continuing to import of high-risk commodities carrying serratus from India. Agricultural products include: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), Cassiatora (Cassia spp), Cocoa bean (Theobroma cacao), Common Bean (Phaseolus spp) and Tamarind (Tamarindus indica).

The Plant Protection Department notifies the Indian phytosanitary authorities to strengthen phytosanitary to strictly prevent entities subject to phytosanitary in the export goods to Vietnam.

At the same time, strengthening the phytosanitary measures for the above agricultural products from India to ensure that entities subject to the phytosanitary cannot enter Vietnam.

Earlier, on March 1, 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a document No. 558/QD-BNN-BVTV on temporary import of these agricultural products due to the high risk of infection with Caryedon serratus Olivier which can cause a great damage to the agricultural products in stock, cause damage to Goundnuts, Cassiatora, Cocoa bean, Common beans and Tamarind.

By Xuan Thao/ Ngoc Loan

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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ELECTRONIC INVOICES MUST BE USED FROM 2018

VCN- The target of the Finance is that by 2020, electronic invoices must be used with 90% of businesses or 90% of goods traded by electronic invoices on the basis of the roadmap from 2018.

phai su dung hoa don dien tu tu nam 2018
Tax operations at the Hanoi Taxation Department. Photo: Thuy Linh.

That is the provision of the draft Decree replacing Decree No. 51/2010 / ND-CP of 14th May 2010, and Government’s Decree 04/2014 / ND-CP of 17th January 2014 regulating invoices for sales and service provisions which have just been finalized by the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, from 1st January 2018, the subjects use electronic invoices / electronic invoices with tax codes for the sales of goods and services as follows: Enterprises and State units use electronic invoices from the time they receive their tax codes periodically and transfer invoice data to the tax offices (enterprises which are established under the Law in industrial parks, economic zones or hi-tech zones; enterprises and banks with charter capital of 15 billion vnd or more); enterprises and organizations which use electronic invoices have tax codes (some newly established companies, enterprises and organizations which purchase invoices from tax offices such as enterprises which violate regulations on management and use of invoices, enterprises at a high risk according to the notice of the tax authorities and other organizations and individuals subject to tax invoices before 1st January 2018 must use electronic invoices with codes of tax authorities as reported by the tax authorities).

From 1st January 2019, the tax authorities will apply electronic invoices for 30% of the remaining enterprises and organizations. From 1st January 2020, the tax authorities will apply electronic invoices for 80% of enterprises and organizations with tax codes. At the same time, the tax authorities will start implementing electronic invoices for business households with annual revenue of 3 billion vnd or more.

Reportedly, the Taxation has stepped up the electronic tax declaration and payment by connecting the tax system with the tax service providers through the Internet (T-VAN). As a result, by the end of March 2017, out of 581,875 businesses operating, there were 576,056 enterprises (accounting for 99%) filing tax declaration electronically and 565,099 enterprises (accounting for 97%) registering electronic tax payment at commercial banks.

Thus, nearly 100% of businesses applying online tax declaration is the basis for the Taxation to speed up the application of electronic invoices. In the coming time, the General Department of Taxation will continue to coordinate with related units to hire information technology services with service providers in order to expand the application of electronic invoices with the authentication code of the tax authorities.

The use of electronic invoices can bring many benefits. Till now, there have been 656 enterprises making electronic invoices with the number of 277.98 million invoices.

Businesses using electronic invoices nomarlly have a large number of invoices per month (over 3 million invoices), have information technology infrastructure in important industries and fields. These are large enterprises (located in the top 500 large enterprises of the country) providing direct goods and services to consumers.

According to the assessment of the tax authorities, all provinces and cities in the country basically have used electronic invoices, but mainly in the two key cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City. They are also large enterprises operating in the field of trade, services, IT infrastructure with less risks.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phung, the Director of the Department of Large Enterprises, under the General Department of Taxation: “In the first pilot phase, electronic invoices have received the support of many businesses operating in the fields of aviation, banking, electricity and telecommunications. At present, the tax office has a mechanism to encourage enterprises to use for long-term expansion in the country. To a certain stage of development, the tax authorities will require enterprises to use electronic invoices instead of using paper invoices”.

The common view of many enterprises through dialogues with the tax office has shown that the implementation of electronic invoices not only brings companies tangible value such as cost and time savings but enterprises can also receive other intangible values ​​which can not be converted into money It is the opportunity value when enterprises provide customers with modern, convenient and fast services, contributing to raising the brand value of enterprises.

Since 2014, the Ministry of Finance has encouraged some enterprises to use electronic invoices instead of paper invoices, especially enterprises which have information technology infrastructure and comply with the Tax Law such as Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), Military Telecom Corporation (Viettel), Vietnam Airlines Corporation (VNA) and Saigon Railway Company.

By Minh Anh/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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ILLICIT COSMETIC PRODUCTS OF BILLIONS OF VND ARE DETECTED

VCN- Incorrectly declaring the name of the goods and breaking luggage seals to conceal prohibited goods are the tricks that perpetrators have used to smuggle cosmetics from abroad to Vietnam.

illicit cosmetic products of billions of vnd are detected
Illicit goods were seized by Customs officers. Photo: Q.H.

Upon the Official Telegraph No. 90 / CD-BCD of 13th July 2015, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has identified pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and supplementary foods as items on the list of key commodities to be strictly controlled. Thereby, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has requested the units to strengthen Customs control measures, promote international cooperation and inter-sectoral coordination to prevent violations in import, smuggling activities, illegal transportation of pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, supplementary foods as well as timely handling smuggling rings.

In order to concretize these instructions, the Customs force at all level shall strictly follow the process and procedures to closely inspect and supervise the shipments of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and supplementary foods, and at the same time, collect and analyze information on suspicious import consignments, thereby determining the criteria, risk management, flow control and conducting actual inspections of high-risk shipments. In addition, the Customs force also needs to strengthen control at the border gates and areas of Customs operation, especially in the northern and southwestern border provinces. On the other hand, the Customs force has regularly coordinated with local authorities to fight, arrest and timely handle violations related to pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and supplementary food.

Throughout the struggle, the Customs force has detected dozens of violations related to pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and supplementary food on both land border and air. Notably, the situation of taking advantage of doing business in transit, forging Customs dossiers to smuggle cosmetics tends to increase, with many cases worth up to billions of vnd.

Typically, on 7th January 2017, the Customs Branch of Moc Bai Border Gate received the declaration of independent transportation (transit goods) of XITLO Logistics Co., Ltd (located in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. ). The above shipment belonged to Customs declaration No. 500070700330 of 14th January 2017, container number OOLU 1937805 registered at the Customs Branch of Cai Mep port through Moc Bai border gate (Tay Ninh province). According to the Customs declaration of the company, the goods were household goods, including Kitchen shelves, kitchen floor mats, new 100%. The time of commencement of transportation from Cai Mep port was 14th January 2017 and the estimated time to Moc Bai border gate was 15th January 2017. However, on 17th January 2017, Mr. Le Phuong Minh (the representative of the company) transported goods to the supervisory area for Customs clearance at Moc Bai border gate. When Customs officers at Moc Bai border gate conducted procedures and process for the shipment, Mr. Minh was not present and left the goods behind. The shipment showed signs of breaking the seal of the shipping line and fake Customs seal. Accordingly, on 8th February 2017, the Customs force carried out physical inspections of the shipment and detected a large number of perfume, foreign wine and cigars which were worth about 8 billion vnd.

illicit cosmetic products of billions of vnd are detected

Then, on 17th February 2017, the Luggage Import Procedure Team (under the Customs Branch of Noi Bai International Airport – the Hanoi Customs Department) inspected and seized 32 parcels of cosmetics on a flight from Korea to Vietnam without any recipient, weighing 933.6 kg.

Not only did perpetrators deceive Customs officers through Customs declaration, but they also found many ways to smuggle cosmetics through the northern border area, especially the border province of Quang Ninh, including: Hair cream, shampoo and perfume which were detected by Customs officers on vehicles, trucks, even mixed with imported goods. In some cases, cosmetics were also gathered right near the border, so when the Customs officers seized illicit goods, they found it difficult to identify the owner.

For example, on 13th April 2017, the Customs Working Team – Border Guard at Bac Phong Sinh border gate discovered a man using hand carts to transport imported goods which were packed in cartons from China to Bac Phong Sinh, including 288 Aprilskin facial powder boxes; 1,920 Theskinface Lipsticks. Through the investigation, the owner of the illicit goods was identified as Mr. Bui Van Nam, born in 1997 (residing in An Tho, An Lao, Hai Phong). All goods had no legal documents in the area of Customs operation.

By Quang Hung/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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BA RIA-VUNG TAU PCU: IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF CONTAINER CONTROL AT SEAPORTS

VCN- On 8th May 2017, at Vung Tau City, the Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs, Mr. Vu Ngoc Anh chaired the opening ceremony of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Port Control Unit. The ceremony was attended by the Australian Consul-General in Vietnam, Mr. Robert Chambers; the Vice Chairman of Ba Ria-Vung Tau People’s Committee, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long; and leaders of the Global Container Control Program.

ba ria vung tau pcu improving the efficiency of container control at seaports
Delegates cut the tape at the opening ceremony of the Container Control Unit.

The Global Container Control Program was a collaboration between the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Vietnam Customs) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

At the ceremony, the Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs, Mr. Vu Ngoc Anh said that in the context of increasing organizational crime; anti-smuggling and anti commercial fraud were very important tasks of Vietnam Customs. The tasks became even more difficult when the tricks of the criminals transporting illicit goods through container by sea became more sophisticated. Perpetrators often made use of loopholes in policies to smuggle or illegally transport prohibited goods by tricks such as concealing in goods transported by sea. Recognizing the effectiveness of the port facility control model within the framework of the Container Control Program, the Vietnam Government has approved the General Department of Vietnam Customs to participate in the program.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau Port Control Unit has been well trained to use risk analysis techniques and other useful tools to minimize negative impacts on free flow of trading. This has increased the efficiency of law enforcement and the promotion of trade.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau Port Control Unit was formed from a young and experienced staff. The participation of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Customs Department leaders kicked off great expectation of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Customs Department in particular and the General Department of Vietnam Customs in general in the work of anti-smuggling and combating prohibited goods which threat to human safety and social security”, the Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs emphasized.

The Container Control Program (CCP) is a part of Subprogram 1 “Transnational Organized Crime and Illegal Trafficking” within the framework of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the period 2012-2017 which was signed in July 2012 between the Government of Vietnam (represented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment) and UNODC.

The CCP is a joint initiative between UNODC and the World Customs Organization (WCO), which is designed to assist Governments in strengthening the capacity of law enforcement to improve the effectiveness of container control at seaports, minimizing the risk of transnational organized crime for the illegal transportation of narcotics, wildlife, weapons, etc., to organize transnational crime and other forms of illegal activities.

CCP is a program that has been implemented and has been successful in more than 50 countries in the world. Within the framework of the program, there have been nearly 60 Port Control Units (PCUs) to be established in Africa (Kenya, Morocco, Ghana and etc.,), America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile), Asia (India, Bangladesh) and Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand. And Vietnam.

In Vietnam, approved by the Government in Official Letter No. 1745 / TTg-QHQT on Vietnam joining the CCP, the Ministry of Finance authorized the leaders of the General Department of Vietnam Customs to sign the Letter of Agreement between the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam and UNODC about joining the Container Control Program on 6th February 2015. Currently, the CCP has been deployed at the Customs Department of Hai Phong City from March 2015 which was sponsored by the Canadian Government and the Customs Department of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province from November 2015 sponsored by the Australian Government.

Under the CCP, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Port Control Unit (BR – VT PCU) was officially established under Decision No. 3229 / QĐ-HQBRVT of 19th October 2016 of the Customs Department of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, with 9 members, including the Deputy Director of the Customs Department of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province as the Head of the unit and the remaining members of the Customs Branches and others as members.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau PCU is set up in the model of applying advanced risk management measures combined with anti-smuggling control activities to improve the efficiency of inspections and control of containers at seaports in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. The unit is responsible for receiving and processing information and implementing port control measures to prevent and combat smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods at Ba Ria – Vung Tau seaport. The key tasks include narcotics, wildlife, weapons, insidious goods, prohibited exports and imports.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau PCU has also been trained in basic and advanced method by the UNODC and the WCO and provided with workplace facilities, equipment and tools to support the work.

Some pictures at the opening ceremony:

ba ria vung tau pcu improving the efficiency of container control at seaports
The opening ceremony.
ba ria vung tau pcu improving the efficiency of container control at seaports
Delegates visit the Center of the container control.
ba ria vung tau pcu improving the efficiency of container control at seaports
ba ria vung tau pcu improving the efficiency of container control at seaports
Delegates and members of the Container Control Unit.

By Le Thu/ Hoang Anh

Source: http://customsnews.vn/

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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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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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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/