Sailing schedules from Cat Lai (HCMC) to Port Klang

Cat Lai is a river port, so this route starts on an intra-Asia feeder. The feeder takes containers south to Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor, at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia. PTP is Malaysia's leading transshipment hub, and cargo moves onto a second vessel there for the run up to Port Klang.

Maersk's current schedule shows transit of 14 to 16 days, with about 1 sailings a week operated by Maersk. Sailings are sparse, so a missed cut-off means a week's wait. Book early before Tet and throughout Q4.

The connection wait at PTP sets your real arrival date. If the connecting vessel runs late at PTP, Port Klang arrival slips with it. When you promise a delivery date to a buyer in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor, add that buffer. Track the container by B/L number.

Most containers at Port Klang are discharged at one of two terminals. Westports, on Pulau Indah, is the main gateway for containers bound for central Peninsular Malaysia. Northport, run by MMC Ports, is a multipurpose gateway port. Which terminal you get depends on the carrier and the service.

The consignee reads the arrival notice to find the terminal, then books a haulier to move the container to the warehouse. Destination charges at Port Klang include THC, D/O and port fees. Who pays depends on the incoterms (FOB, CIF, DAP and so on), so spell it out in the contract.

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) allows pre-arrival processing. The carrier files the manifest at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives. Under Customs Act 1967 section 78B, the consignee files the import declaration, Customs No. 1 (K1), before the ship berths, along with permits from other agencies where the goods need them. Cargo that needs no physical inspection and has all permits in order can be released immediately. Duties can also be paid in advance.

Malaysia revised its sales tax from 1 July 2025. Essentials such as rice, chicken, beef, vegetables and eggs stay exempt, while non-essential goods face 5% or 10%. The tax applies to both locally made and imported goods. The consignee should check the HS code before fixing a DDP price.

To claim ATIGA import duty rates, the shipment needs an electronic Form D certificate of origin issued by the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). The two countries exchange e-Form D through the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), and Malaysia grants the preference based on the e-Form D received through that gateway. The goods description, HS code and invoice number on the C/O must match the declaration. A one-line mismatch can lead Malaysian customs to reject the preference.

MAQIS, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services, inspects food, plants, animals and fish at the border. Food importers register with FoSIM under Malaysia's Ministry of Health. Importers and agents register with MAQIS, and permits are applied for through Dagang Net ePermit. For seafood and farm produce, ask the consignee which certificates are required (quarantine, health). The Vietnam side must obtain them before the vessel sails.

Homexim handles FCL/LCL ocean freight, export clearance in Vietnam and trucking containers to Cat Lai. Each shipment has one person in charge from start to finish.

Import clearance in Malaysia is handled by the consignee or their customs broker. Homexim sends the document set early so they can file in advance. Quotes itemize every charge, and this page does not publish rates.