In the supply chain management problem at the Hai Phong gateway, choosing the wrong storage infrastructure can turn a profitable shipment into a loss due to storage fees. With main port yards constantly overloaded and indoor warehouses limited by both load capacity and height, the Off-Dock Open Yard model emerges as a perfect alternative solution. Discover how leading FDI enterprises and Shipping Lines are applying this to optimize budgets for storing containers, steel coils, project machinery, and heavy industrial goods.

The Picture of Hai Phong Seaport Market & Actual Logistics Cost Pressures

Hai Phong is currently the largest import-export cargo transit hub in the North, gathering a key seaport system ranging from river port clusters (Chua Ve, Hoang Dieu), Dinh Vu and Nam Dinh Vu port clusters to the Lach Huyen international deep-water port (TC-HICT). The cargo throughput via the Hai Phong seaport area continues to grow strongly, accompanied by the dense operational frequency of container shipping routes connecting directly to the US, Europe, and intra-Asia.

However, the hot growth in cargo volume is posing a tough problem for import-export enterprises, Freight Forwarders, and industrial manufacturers. The market in recent years has witnessed erratic fluctuations in freight rates, blank sailings, vessel delays, and a shortage of buffer infrastructure for off-port cargo storage.

The boom in heavy industry, energy, machinery manufacturing, and infrastructure construction in the North means the flow of goods does not stop at standard containers, but also sees a sudden increase in bulky industrial goods, steel coils, concrete structures, project machinery, and finished vehicles.

In the context of port yards being constantly overloaded during peak seasons and indoor warehouse rentals being too expensive, the demand for Hai Phong container storage and Open Yard Storage solutions is becoming an urgent cost problem that needs an answer.

Infrastructure & Cost “Bottlenecks” in the Hai Phong Market

To find a solution, we must first break down 3 infrastructure and cost bottlenecks:

1. Exponential increase in container DEM/DET penalty fees

• Demurrage (DEM – Container storage fee at the port yard): Incurred when containers cannot complete Customs procedures, face price consultations, inspections, or encounter issues with Import Licenses/C/O. Shipping lines usually only offer 3–7 days of free DEM, after which the penalty fee per container/day will increase progressively and become very expensive.
• Detention (DET – Empty container storage fee at private warehouse): Incurred when a business tows a container to a private warehouse to unload but cannot return the empty shell to the shipping line’s designated yard on time because the private warehouse is overloaded or the return yard refuses to accept it due to lack of space.

2. Wasted costs when storing bulky & weather-resistant goods

Many industrial commodities with weather-resistant characteristics or oversized dimensions do not necessarily need to be placed in a Covered Warehouse:

• Expensive indoor warehouse rental: Indoor warehouse rental prices are 2 – 3 times more expensive than open yards. Putting steel, concrete piles, machinery, or chemical Jumbo bags into a closed warehouse causes a massive budget waste.
• Technical limitations of closed warehouses: Standard warehouse systems are constrained by warehouse door height, the turning radius of large cranes, and especially Floor Load Capacity — typically only withstanding 3 – 5 tons/m², unable to store steel billets or heavy equipment.

3. Traffic pressure & Empty Running costs

Hai Phong applies strict regulations on traffic flow and controls tractor-trailer loads on arterial roads (Nguyen Binh Khiem, Dinh Vu, Chua Ve). Prolonged traffic jams at the Port gates during peak hours cause container trucks to waste hours just waiting to drop off goods, increasing fuel costs and opportunity costs for the vehicles.

The Open Yard Model Integrated with Bonded Warehouse: The Cost Optimization Problem

Facing practical pressures, the Off-Dock Open Yard integrated with a Bonded Warehouse model is the storage solution recommended by supply chain experts.

Cost optimization thanks to the “Off-Dock Storage” strategy

• Cut DEM/DET fees: As soon as the container shipment arrives at the Port but is not ready to be delivered to the factory, businesses can proactively complete procedures to withdraw the container to a satellite open yard. Container storage tariffs in Hai Phong at off-port yards are often 30% to 40% lower than main port tariffs.
• Save 50% on cargo warehousing costs: For shipments of raw materials, structures, and project equipment, choosing to store in an open yard instead of renting a closed warehouse helps businesses save at least half of their monthly space costs.

The most optimal cargo groups for Open Yard exploitation

Off-dock open yard storage services perfectly meet the needs of 4 key cargo groups:

• Group 1 – Containers & Empty Depot: Containers waiting for customs clearance, Flat Rack/Open Top containers, empty container gathering yards for shipping lines.
• Group 2 – Metals & Heavy industrial materials: Steel coils, steel beams, steel billets, stainless steel, precast concrete piles, sewer pipes, granite, construction scaffolding.
• Group 3 – Machinery & Vehicles: Excavators, specialized cranes, wind power equipment, finished automobiles, trucks, electric motorbikes waiting for export/import.
• Group 4 – Jumbo bagged / PE shrink-wrapped Palletized goods: Minerals, plastic resins, chemicals in Jumbo bags or waterproof packaged pallets.

Exploiting the power of a Bonded Warehouse located right at the Yard

The combination of an Open Yard and a Bonded Warehouse on the same premises brings a dual advantage:

• Postpone tax obligations: Imported goods/containers deposited into the yard area belonging to the Bonded Warehouse do not yet have to pay import-export taxes and VAT, helping to optimize cash flow.
• Execute Value-Added Services (VAS): Businesses can legally conduct tallying, sorting, repackaging, sealing, or transferring goods/stripping containers to trucks under Customs supervision.

Criteria for Choosing a Standard Container & Cargo Storage Unit in Hai Phong

To ensure absolute safety for high-value goods, businesses need to pay attention to rental yards based on the following 5 technical criteria:

1. Floor Capacity

• Minimum Technical Requirements: High-strength concrete or tightly compacted crushed stone, load-bearing from 8 – 15 tons/m².
• Significance to Enterprises: Ensures stacking 3-4 tiers of containers and safely storing steel coils, heavy machinery without subsidence.

2. Traffic Connectivity

• Minimum Technical Requirements: Located on roads without load/time bans, near Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway, National Highway 5 intersections.
• Significance to Enterprises: Convenient entry/exit for container trucks and super-heavy/oversized cranes, saving time and fuel costs.

3. Security & Fire Prevention

• Minimum Technical Requirements: Enclosed fences, 24/7 CCTV, Heavy-duty truck scale station, Open yard lighting & Fire prevention systems.
• Significance to Enterprises: Goods stored long-term are absolutely protected, minimizing risks of loss or damage

4. Multi-functional Integration

• Minimum Technical Requirements: Adjacent to Standard Warehouse and Bonded Warehouse systems in the same compound.
• Significance to Enterprises: Flexibly move goods from Yard to Closed Warehouse during bad weather or when changing storage purposes.

5. Synchronous Lifting Services

• Minimum Technical Requirements: Availability of specialized Reach Stackers for containers, large-capacity Forklifts, cranes.
• Significance to Enterprises: Proactively load and unload goods quickly, reducing turnaround time for tractor-trailers.

Yard & Bonded Warehouse Infrastructure Solutions of Vietnam Post Logistics in Hai Phong

Fully meeting the stringent technical standards of a modern Off-Dock Depot center, Vietnam Post Logistics provides large-scale integrated yard and warehouse infrastructure solutions right at the logistics hub of Hai Phong.

Actual 15,000 m² yard infrastructure capacity

• Large-scale open yard area: With 15,000 m² of systematically planned open yard, Vietnam Post Logistics completely satisfies the needs for Hai Phong container storage, steel and project machinery storage, and acts as an empty container drop-off yard for shipping lines.
• Super load-bearing yard foundation: The yard foundation is reinforced with concrete/crushed stone for high load capacity, accommodating Reach Stackers stacking containers 3-4 tiers high and perfectly withstanding metal items and steel billets weighing tens of tons.
• Strategic connecting location: Situated in a prime location near key Hai Phong seaport clusters and arterial traffic routes. Tractor-trailers can move easily, completely free from time/load bans, helping to optimize transport radius.

Integrated ecosystem: Open Yard, Standard Warehouse, Bonded Warehouse

• The 15,000 m² open yard is located directly on the premises alongside the Standard Warehouse and Bonded Warehouse systems that have been put into standardized operation.
• Businesses only need to work with a single focal point to manage open yard storage, standard warehouse storage, and goods waiting for customs clearance at the Bonded Warehouse.
• A team of professional logistics specialists provides package support for Customs procedures, cargo inspection, sealing, and quick customs clearance declarations.

Flexible cooperation methods

• Long-term yard leasing: For shipping lines acting as empty container Depots, or manufacturing corporations storing fixed raw materials/finished products.
• Subdivided yard leasing by area (m²): For businesses with small to medium cargo storage needs.
• Synchronous value-added services: Readily available specialized lifting equipment, electronic weighbridges, packaging, loading/unloading, and last-mile transportation services.

Vietnam Post Logistics is committed to bringing optimal yard infrastructure solutions, helping businesses smash worries about storage costs and be completely proactive in their supply chain in Hai Phong. 

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