On 23 September, the Green Logistics Forum 2024, hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City, gathered leading experts and businesses from the logistics and transportation sector, including Göteborg Port, Tân Cảng Sài Gòn, Koper Port, Maersk, GEODIS Việt Nam, and various local logistics companies. This event aimed to explore sustainable solutions and address challenges in logistics, especially in the context of rising transportation costs and environmental concerns.
EuroCham’s Transportation and Logistics Sector Committee (TLSC) Vice Chairman, Eric Herding, represented the chamber as a panelist in Session 2: Logistics Transportation Cost Trends between Vietnam and the EU. Eric provided an in-depth analysis of the transportation cost dynamics between the two regions, noting factors such as oil price fluctuations, evolving trade policies, and intense competition within the shipping industry. He forecasted that cost unpredictability will likely persist due to these external factors and recommended businesses engage in long-term strategic planning across the entire logistics value chain.
A significant focus of the discussion was the competitiveness of Vietnam’s logistics sector, which faces high operational costs compared to European counterparts. Eric stressed the importance of not only improving cost competitiveness but also addressing sustainability concerns, such as carbon emissions. He discussed the need for sustainable solutions and investment in renewable energy logistics, referencing Vietnam’s Power Development Plan and its relevance to wind energy.
Eric also emphasised the importance of public-private collaboration to bridge infrastructure gaps, particularly in renewable energy logistics, noting that 18% of the cost of renewable energy projects is tied to logistics. Additionally, he addressed the impact of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on Vietnamese exporters, which underscores the importance of investing in green logistics and sustainable infrastructure to remain competitive in the European market.
The forum concluded with a call for closer cooperation between the government and private sector to ensure that Vietnam’s logistics industry can meet both economic and environmental challenges, aligning with global sustainability goals.
