Between January and September, the total volume of cargo transported through Da Nang Port hit over 5 million tons, up 12% against the same period last year.  This helped the port earn 443 billion VND in revenue, up 26%, and make a profit of 126 billion VND, up over 45%.

Da Nang Port

These positive results suggest that Da Nang Port is on course to reach its target of handling 7 million tons of cargo, including 300,000 TEUs, by the end of the year.

The General Director of Da Nang Port, Mr Nguyen Huu Sia, said “Although the port has recorded significant growth over recent years, it is facing fierce competition from other ports in neighbouring localities.  In particular, many other regional cities and provinces are focusing on expanding their ports to increase the volume of cargo being transported through them”.

The General Director continued, “Quang Nam Province is implementing the 2^nd phase of its Truong Hai Port expansion.  Under the project, another 171m-long wharf will be put into operation in March 2017 which will help the provincial port to reach a total capacity of 3 million tons per year, including 150,000 TEUs.  Once fully operational, the port is expected to attract more business from the province’s Tam Thang industrial park (IP), and Quang Ngai Province’s Vsip IP”.

Tien Sa Port

Mr Sia said that between 2016 and 2018, a total of around 1,800 billion VND is expected to be spent on upgrading the Da Nang Port.  Of this, around 900 billion VND will come from the company’s budget. 

He remarked that the 2^nd phase of the Tien Sa Port expansion project is being kept on schedule, and it is expected to be put into operation by mid-2018.

Regarding the construction of the Lien Chieu Port, Mr Sia asked whether the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the Da Nang People’s Committee (PC) would give them permission to provide funding and mobilise human resources for the project.

However, Mr Nguyen Duc Tri, the General Director of Hoa Tho Textile and Garment company cum member of the Economics and Budget Board of the municipal People's Council, stressed the need for the city to appeal for private businesses to invest in the project.  He explained that this would help the port increase its competitiveness and facilitate domestic businesses to export their goods through the port.

Mr Tri said that the fees for loading and unloading cargo at the Da Nang Port are higher than those offered at other ports nationwide.

In reply, Mr Sia affirmed that the higher fees are only applied for cargoes transported from the city to the USA, Japan and European countries because the port does not yet operate direct routes to these foreign countries. 

From now until 2020, the Da Nang Port company will focus on diversifying its services for specialised high-tonnage ships, plus container and cruise ships.  Importance will also be attached to developing more services including logistics, packing, and delivering goods to warehouses.

The company recently asked the municipal PC to instruct local relevant agencies to, as soon as possible, carry out the dredging of the port's entrance channel and the area for ships to turn around.

Municipal People’s Council Vice Chairman Nguyen Nho Trung urged the company’s leaders to finalise their plans and development orientations for the Da Nang Port and submit them to the People’s Council for consideration.