The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on 1 August 2020. Trade between the Port of Hamburg and Vietnam, which has already increased in recent years, should continue to benefit from this agreement the Port said.
In a statement the Port of Hamburg acknowledged that COVID-19-related issues will of course affect trade between Germany and Vietnam through 2020. However, the Port said it has seen positive growth in the Vietnam shipping region in the recent past.
In 2019, a new record quantity of 106,000 standard containers (TEU) was moved between Hamburg and Vietnam. This increase of 15 percent compared to the previous year is also due to direct connections which are now offered by the carriers for this route.
The free trade agreement between the EU and Vietnam promises to create new market incentives that result in increased transport volumes between those markets. Customs barriers are to be dismantled for this.
This applies in particular to deliveries of goods from Europe, for which 99% of all customs duties are to be reduced within ten years. The EU, in turn, will reduce tariffs to 84% of Vietnamese products to 0% when the free trade agreement comes into force. After seven years, this is to be the case for 99% of the tariffs.
Five scheduled services connect the Port of Hamburg with Vietnam, with ports in both the north and south of the country being approached. In addition to two container services, three multi-purpose services are operated.
The import of goods from Vietnam to Hamburg mainly consists of machinery and equipment, including electronic products and household appliances followed by chemical products, metals and wood products. The main goods leaving the port of Hamburg for Vietnam are chemical products, paper and cardboard as well as food and beverages.
