According to baothanhhoa.vn, the Thanh Hóa Department of Industry and Trade held a business matchmaking conference on 11 September to connect local export-import enterprises with logistics providers, aiming to optimize supply chain costs and competitiveness.
Export Scale and Structural Gaps
The province currently hosts 333 enterprises exporting goods to 68 countries and territories, with key product categories including textiles and garments, stone cladding, cement, automobile tires, and petrochemical products. However, most exports are transacted under FOB (Free On Board) terms, limiting local logistics firms to domestic road transport only. A significant volume of import-export cargo continues to rely on external logistics ecosystems — especially in Hai Phong — revealing both a constraint and substantial untapped potential for integrated services within Thanh Hóa.
Systemic Bottlenecks Identified
Conference participants highlighted several structural limitations: limited service capacity; dominance of medium- and small-scale logistics firms; lack of value-added integrated offerings; absence of a regional logistics center and inland container depot (ICD); and low automation and inventory management standards in existing warehousing infrastructure. Moreover, collaboration between provincial logistics firms and foreign-invested enterprises (FDIs) or large trading groups remains weak. Many major shippers maintain fixed supply chains with out-of-province partners and are not yet prepared to shift operations to Thanh Hóa.
Policy Roadmap and Strategic Goals
Nguyễn Tiến Hiệu, Director of the Thanh Hóa Department of Industry and Trade, emphasized that logistics is a strategic pillar for provincial development under Party Central Committee Resolution No. 58-NQ/TW and the 19th Provincial Party Congress Resolution. The provincial People’s Committee has approved a Logistics Services Development Plan targeting 2025, with orientation to 2030, and is drafting a new Party Committee resolution focused on logistics development through 2030, with a vision extending to 2045. Key priorities include channeling more cargo through Nghi Sơn Port, optimizing supply chains, reducing transportation costs, and attracting multinational shipping lines and logistics conglomerates to invest in Thanh Hóa.
The Department of Industry and Trade aims to institutionalize regular, substantive dialogue among stakeholders, co-develop tailored service packages, enhance provincial competitiveness, retain existing cargo flows, and generate new freight volumes — ultimately positioning Thanh Hóa as a national logistics hub.
Source: baothanhhoa.vn
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
