Enterprises should pay close attention to the following key points to ensure smooth customs clearance and minimize the risk of cargo delays or administrative penalties.

1. Applicable Legal Basis

Currently, Customs authorities conduct customs procedures, inspections, and supervision for imported and exported chemicals based on a strict legal framework, including:

This shows that chemical declaration is no longer merely an administrative procedure but is now being managed under stricter requirements for transparency and enterprise accountability.

2. Enterprise Responsibilities in Customs Declaration

Under the new guidelines, the customs declarant is the party fully and solely responsible before the law for the truthfulness and accuracy of all declaration documents.

Even minor discrepancies in chemical names, concentrations, or technical descriptions may result in additional explanations, intensive inspections, or reclassification of HS codes by Customs authorities.

3. Regulations on Confidentiality of Chemical Composition Information

Many enterprises often encounter difficulties in providing detailed chemical composition information due to concerns about protecting proprietary technology or commercial formulas.

However, according to Official Letter 16292/CHQ-GSQL, certain technical information is NOT considered confidential information.

This means enterprises cannot refuse to provide MSDS or SDS documents on the grounds of protecting product formulas or technology confidentiality.

4. Obligation to Provide Technical Documents for Inspection

Since the above information is not considered confidential, enterprises are obligated to proactively provide all relevant technical documents to Customs authorities during customs procedures.

Providing these documents is mandatory for Customs authorities to:

• Inspect and accurately determine HS codes
• Apply the correct specialized management policies for the shipment
• Determine requirements related to quality inspection, import permits, or chemical declaration procedures

5. Recommendations from THT Cargo Logistics

The new regulations strongly emphasize enterprise accountability and the transparency of technical documentation in chemical import and export activities.

Proper preparation from the beginning will help enterprises:

• Reduce customs clearance delays
• Minimize warehouse and container storage costs
• Avoid risks of administrative penalties
• Improve stability in chemical import and export operations

6. Conclusion

Official Letter 16292/CHQ-GSQL demonstrates that chemical import and export management in Vietnam is becoming increasingly stricter, particularly regarding chemical composition declarations and transparency of technical documentation.

In this context, enterprises should proactively:

• Standardize chemical documentation
• Carefully review MSDS/SDS and COA documents
• Verify chemical compositions and HS codes accurately
• Coordinate closely with logistics providers and customs brokers

Comprehensive preparation from the beginning will significantly reduce risks arising during chemical customs clearance procedures.

I. PROCEDURE FOR RESETTING VNACCS PASSWORDS & UPDATING DIGITAL SIGNATURES

Applicable to businesses in the following situations:

• Forgotten or lost VNACCS administrator account passwords
• Need to update new Digital Signature information for customs declarations

1. Required Electronic Documents

2. Submission Process

Processing time: Within 03 working days from the date Customs receives complete and valid documents.

II. PROCEDURE FOR RESETTING NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW ACCOUNTS

Depending on the status of the registered email account, businesses may follow one of the two methods below:

Case 1: Registered Email Is Still Accessible

Businesses can quickly recover their password by:

Case 2: Registered Email Is No Longer Active or Accessible

Businesses must follow a support process similar to the VNACCS password reset procedure.

Processing time: Within 03 working days from the date Customs receives complete and valid documents.

III. TECHNICAL SUPPORT INFORMATION

During the implementation process, if businesses require direct support from Vietnam Customs, please contact:

Conclusion

Understanding the procedures for resetting VNACCS passwords and National Single Window accounts can help businesses minimize disruptions in import-export operations.

Businesses should:

• Closely manage account information and Digital Signatures
• Prepare complete electronic documentation from the beginning
• Proactively handle any system or account changes when issues arise

1. Enterprise Rights When Customs Valuation Has Not Been Finalized

According to the new guidance, for shipments that have already been customs cleared or conditionally released but are still pending final customs valuation determination, enterprises are still allowed to proactively continue their business operations.

This guidance helps businesses avoid unnecessary delays in business operations while customs authorities continue the valuation review process.

2. Time Limits for Temporary Release of Goods

Enterprises should pay close attention to the following timelines in order to avoid procedural violations or delays:

Proper timeline management is critical to ensure compliance with customs procedures and avoid additional administrative risks.

3. Responsibilities of Enterprises

To facilitate a smooth customs clearance and valuation process, the Customs Department requires enterprises to maintain active and transparent cooperation throughout the review process.

Failure to provide sufficient supporting documentation may result in extended review timelines or additional customs inspections.

4. Why This New Guidance Matters for Businesses

Official Dispatch No. 15808 provides significant support for enterprises by allowing faster circulation of goods and reducing warehouse congestion risks while customs valuation is still under review.

A well-prepared valuation dossier helps enterprises:

• Reduce the risk of prolonged customs explanations
• Avoid delays in business operations
• Improve customs compliance transparency
• Minimize unexpected logistics and storage costs

5. Conclusion

The latest guidance under Official Dispatch No. 15808/CHQ-NVTHQ reflects a more flexible and business-supportive approach in customs valuation management.

While enterprises are now allowed to continue business operations before final customs valuation is completed, proactive preparation of customs documents and valuation evidence remains essential to ensure compliance and avoid future risks.

For businesses engaged in import-export activities, especially FDI enterprises and manufacturers with high-volume shipments, effective customs valuation management is increasingly becoming a critical part of supply chain stability and operational efficiency.

However, due to the specialized nature of these cargoes (used equipment, oversized and overweight machinery), many businesses are still facing challenges in understanding the legal procedures and actual operational requirements.

Through this article, THT Cargo Logistics would like to share detailed insights from a real Case Study based on the latest legal regulations and operational practices.

1. Legal Basis & Policies for Bonded Warehouse Storage for Re-Export

To ensure legal compliance from the planning stage, businesses should clearly understand the guidance provided in Official Letter No. 14808/CHQ-GSQL issued by the Customs Department, together with the Law on Foreign Trade Management and Decree 167/2025/NĐ-CP.

2. THT’s Practical Capabilities in Handling Project Machinery Cargo

Beyond legal and customs compliance, the packing, unloading, warehousing, and preservation of “giant machines” such as container gantry cranes require a logistics provider with strong infrastructure capabilities and extensive hands-on operational experience.

THT Cargo Logistics is currently handling multiple transportation and warehousing projects for:

The operational process requires close coordination between:

• On-site operation teams
• Specialized transportation providers
• Bonded warehouse operators
• Customs clearance and documentation teams

To ensure:

• Safe cargo handling and warehousing operations
• Project timeline compliance
• Full compliance with customs regulations and cargo management requirements

3. Conclusion

Handling used machinery cargo in bonded warehouses is not simply about understanding regulations correctly. It also requires seamless coordination between on-site operations and customs procedures.

With a commitment to professional system-based operations, THT confidently provides comprehensive, safe, and cost-optimized solutions for machinery and project equipment shipments.

In the context of global supply chains continuously being affected by Red Sea conflicts, port congestion, blank sailings, container equipment shortages, and changing customs regulations, traditional logistics operations are exposing businesses to increasing levels of risk.

Especially for projects involving:

• Production line imports
• Factory setup projects
• Factory relocation projects
• High-value industrial equipment imports

a delayed shipment is no longer simply a transportation issue. It can trigger a chain reaction across the entire operational process.

That is why logistics technology in 2026 is rapidly transforming how enterprises manage machinery imports and global supply chains.

1. The Biggest Change Is No Longer “Tracking”

Many businesses still believe that logistics technology simply means container tracking or more accurate ETA updates.

However, the biggest transformation today is that enterprises are shifting from “shipment tracking” to “real-time logistics risk management.”

This is becoming the key difference in an increasingly volatile global supply chain environment.

Businesses today no longer only need to know:

• Where the container is
• What the ETA is

More importantly, they need the capability to:

• Detect disruptions early
• Forecast delay risks
• Proactively adjust operational timelines
• Minimize impacts on production planning

2. Many Enterprises Detect Problems Too Late

Today, many companies only realize logistics issues after operations have already been impacted.

Common situations include:

• Last-minute vessel schedule changes
• Container rollovers to later sailings
• Congestion at transshipment ports
• Shortages of chassis and port handling equipment

However, most businesses only recognize the seriousness of the issue when:

• The actual ETA becomes significantly delayed
• Installation schedules must be postponed
• Onsite engineers are left waiting for equipment
• Factories begin lacking materials for operations

At that stage, businesses are often forced into “firefighting mode,” leading to substantial additional costs such as:

• Demurrage and detention fees
• Warehouse storage costs
• Emergency transportation expenses
• Overtime labor costs
• Production disruptions

For FDI enterprises, the largest losses are often not transportation costs themselves, but rather the cascading impact on factory operations and project timelines.

3. Prepare Compliance From the Planning Stage

One of the most common mistakes businesses make is only reviewing documentation after cargo has already been loaded or is about to arrive at port.

In reality, compliance-related issues should be reviewed from the planning and sourcing stages.

Businesses should prepare and confirm early:

• HS codes
• Technical documents
• Applicable import regulations
• CO/CQ certificates
• Machine specifications

Early preparation significantly reduces risks such as:

• Incorrect customs declarations
• Missing documentation
• Customs clearance delays
• Additional container and warehouse storage costs

4. Real-Time Visibility Is Becoming Mandatory

For machinery import projects with strict installation and operational timelines, real-time ETA visibility is no longer a competitive advantage — it is gradually becoming a mandatory requirement.

When enterprises gain better supply chain visibility, departments such as:

• Purchasing
• Import-export
• Warehouse
• Production planning
• Onsite engineering

can coordinate more proactively during project execution.

This helps businesses:

• Reduce delay risks
• Limit emergency costs
• Minimize last-minute schedule changes
• Optimize production planning efficiency

5. Always Prepare Backup Logistics Plans

As global supply chains continue facing congestion, blank sailings, and geopolitical risks, businesses should avoid relying on a single fixed logistics scenario.

For critical shipments, companies should prepare:

• Buffer timelines
• Alternative transportation routes
• Backup trucking solutions
• Split shipment plans when necessary

This helps businesses:

• Reduce operational disruption risks
• Minimize impacts on installation schedules
• Avoid being caught unprepared during sudden disruptions

6. Insights From THT Cargo Logistics

The year 2026 marks a major transformation period for the logistics industry.

Technology today is no longer focused solely on container tracking or providing more accurate ETA updates. The more significant shift is that businesses are moving from passive operations to real-time logistics management.

As global supply chains continue facing volatility related to vessel schedules, congestion, geopolitical risks, compliance requirements, and lead times, companies with stronger supply chain visibility, faster disruption response capabilities, and better compliance management will gain major operational and production stability advantages.

At THT Cargo Logistics, we focus on supporting businesses through:

• Logistics risk management
• Operational timeline optimization
• Import-export compliance support
• Enhanced supply chain visibility

to help enterprises become more proactive in an increasingly complex global logistics environment.

As import-export activities continue to face stricter regulatory oversight, exporting controlled chemicals has become one of the highest legal risk areas for businesses.

Recent actions from regulatory authorities indicate that compliance enforcement is no longer limited to licensing procedures but is now expanding into retrospective reviews and traceability assessments of past export activities.

A recent case in Ho Chi Minh City clearly reflected this trend when authorities reviewed an FDI company’s chemical export license application while cross-checking compliance with Vietnam’s Chemical Law, related decrees, and implementing circulars.

Notably, the review process focused not only on current documentation but also required the company to provide historical export shipment data.

This highlights an important issue: many businesses still approach chemical exports as a simple administrative procedure, while in reality this sector requires end-to-end compliance covering business conditions, production management, technical documentation, and declared end-use purposes.

1. Increasingly Strict Licensing Reviews for Chemical Exports

During licensing reviews, authorities identified cases where businesses had not yet obtained the required licenses for producing or trading conditional chemicals but were still conducting export activities.

This is one of the most common compliance risks, especially among companies operating under combined manufacturing and processing models.

These issues may appear minor but can result in rejected applications or lengthy clarification requests.

More importantly, authorities are now requesting businesses to provide complete historical export records to assess overall compliance performance.

This means past compliance mistakes may be re-examined, potentially leading to tax reassessments and administrative penalties.

2. Legal Risks Go Beyond Licensing

Failure to fully comply with import-export regulations for controlled chemicals may not only delay customs clearance but can also expose businesses to administrative penalties and mandatory re-export requirements under applicable regulations.

Another frequently overlooked risk is the loss of document transparency and traceability.

When compliance data is not centrally managed, businesses may struggle significantly during audits or inspections, especially for shipments completed several years earlier.

3. What Should Businesses Do to Reduce Compliance Risks?

Given the tightening regulatory environment, businesses can no longer approach chemical import-export operations reactively.

Instead, companies should proactively establish a structured compliance management system from the outset.

3.1. For Businesses Importing Chemicals for Manufacturing Use

If the chemical mixture contains substances classified as specially controlled chemicals, businesses must:

• Declare the intended usage purpose
• Apply for the required import license for controlled chemicals

3.2. For Businesses Importing Chemicals for Commercial Trading

Businesses must comply with the following legal requirements:

• Obtain a conditional chemical trading certificate if the chemical mixture contains substances listed under Appendix II
• Apply for a controlled chemical import license if the mixture contains substances under Appendix III
• In cases where the mixture falls under both Appendix II and III categories, authorities will review licensing requirements based on controlled chemical regulations

These compliance requirements are increasingly being enforced through real-world inspections and audits conducted by authorities.

4. Insights from THT Cargo Logistics

Based on practical customs and logistics experience, THT Cargo Logistics believes that stricter regulatory oversight for controlled chemicals will continue in the coming years.

This trend is driven not only by domestic regulatory requirements but also by international commitments regarding chemical safety and control standards.

In contrast, reactive problem-solving after issues arise often results in significantly higher costs in both time and operations.

5. Conclusion

Exporting controlled chemicals is no longer just a standalone licensing procedure. It has become a continuous compliance process covering production, technical documentation, customs declarations, and logistics operations.

As regulatory authorities continue strengthening inspections and traceability reviews, businesses must proactively standardize their entire compliance process to ensure safe, stable, and legally compliant export operations.

Early preparation not only helps reduce operational risks but also creates a sustainable competitive advantage in import-export and supply chain management activities.