On February 21, at Song Than station, Di An city (Binh Duong province), Vietnam Railway Corporation organized the "Departure ceremony of the first international intermodal train in the year of Giap Thin 2024" transporting agricultural goods. Export production from Song Than to Zhengzhou, Henan province (China).

The train consists of 21 carriages, including 9 refrigerated containers carrying fruits and food. The estimated time from Song Than to Zhengzhou is 9-10 days. According to the plan, the next trains will run once a week.

Mr. Hoang Gia Khanh, General Director of Vietnam Railway Corporation, said that this is the first shipment in the year Giap Thin 2024 departing from Song Than station to Zhengzhou (Ha Nam, China) following Prime Minister's direction on strengthening connectivity and perfecting the logistics system to promote consumption and export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

Choosing Binh Duong to organize the departure ceremony of an international intermodal train carrying agricultural products exported to China has many meanings because Binh Duong is a province in the Southeast region, located in the southern key economic region. and is one of the most dynamically developing localities in the region.

The train transporting exported agricultural products from Song Than, Binh Duong to Zhengzhou, Henan, China on February 21, 2024. Photo: TD

In Vietnam, logistics costs in the agricultural industry account for 20 - 25% of product costs, while other countries only account for about 12 - 14%. The freight railway from Binh Duong to China helps businesses reduce costs by half compared to before, thereby creating more opportunities to compete on price.

Also according to Mr. Khanh, international rail transport between Vietnam and China is experiencing many changes, and output is continuously increasing. Many businesses choose rail transport because it shortens the time compared to waiting for transshipment at the border, especially when congestion occurs. The process of import and export procedures for cargo ships is also more convenient.

Previously, in September 2023, Binh Duong province organized the launch of an international intermodal train transporting export goods from Song Than station to China. Accordingly, the first export shipment transported by the international convoy is a shipment of cassava starch, used as food, with an amount of 499.7 tons, packed in 19 40" containers.

The shipment of Hung Duy Import-Export-Trading-Service Limited Liability Company located in Hoa Thanh town, Tay Ninh province has export customs procedures handled by the Customs Department of Binh Duong province. The declaration is classified as green by the Automatic Data Processing System (VNACCS-VSIS) (exempt from checking detailed documents, exempting from physical inspection of goods and receiving automatic customs clearance).

Ms. Phan Thi Khanh Duyen - Deputy Director of Binh Duong Department of Industry and Trade said that the transportation of imported and exported goods through the railway station will speed up the speed of goods circulation, thereby promoting the production of goods of businesses. industry in the province, increasing import-export turnover of goods. "Another benefit in the future is to create conditions for the formation of a logistics center in Binh Duong province and the entire Southern region, leading to an increase in the supply of accompanying services," Ms. Duyen shared.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Danh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Duong province, countries around the world are focusing on developing railways to serve economic development with the advantages of fast, cheap and easy transportation. Connecting to transport goods internationally. For the province, the transportation of international freight by rail through Song Than station contributes to solving the overload of freight by road, accelerating the speed of goods circulation, thereby promoting production of goods by businesses in the area, increasing import-export turnover of goods.