Hai Phong Port expects to earn revenues of 1.23 trillion VND (58.6 million USD) from handling 19 million tonnes of cargo this year, up 300 million USD and 1.5 million tonnes against last year.

"We will make great efforts to realise the target. However, the results partly depend on factors of business environment, demand of traders and economic development," said Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy director of the Hai Phong Port administration office.

To better satisfy demand of enterprises, the company has invested in raising the port's loading capacity, he said.

Particularly, the port had invested about 1.5 trillion VND (71.4 million USD) into Tan Cang Hai Phong or New Hai Phong Port in Dinh Vu with seven wharves over a total area of 47.5ha, with combined loading capacity of 7 million tonnes of cargo per year. It is the only port in Hai Phong capable of welcoming 20,000 tonne vessels.

"Six wharves have been put into operation and the port expects to start operation of its 7th later this month," Thanh said.

Duong Thanh Binh, chairman of the management board of the Hai Phong Port , said that bold investment in upgrading equipment and technologies at the port has helped improve loading capacity, shorten the time for handling cargo as well as increase the volume of cargo undergoing customs clearance procedures at the port.

Appropriate equipment and technology selection played a significant role because it must be suitable to the financial capacity of each enterprise and at the same time ensure loading requirements – quick, accurate and safe, he added.

In the first quarter of this year, the port handled 4.4 million tonnes of cargo, up 7 percent against the same period last year.

Besides Hai Phong Port , the city has eight others, including Vat Cach, Dinh Vu and Nam Dinh Vu, Song Cam, Dien Dien, Doan Xa, Hai An and a port for seafood. The complex of ports in Hai Phong City makes it the biggest in the northern area and the second largest in the country.

All ports in the city handled a total 10.9 million tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of this year, up 11.8 percent from the same period last year./.