BUSINESS

China’s Shipbuilders Won’t Be Only Ones Hurt by Planned U.S. Port Fees, Experts Say

Published: Apr. 23, 2025 6:59 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

The Chinese-built liquefied natural gas container ship "Maria Cristina" undergoes a trial voyage on Oct. 21, 2024. Photo: China Shipbuilding Dalian Shipbuilding Industry

Damage from a U.S. plan to impose steep docking fees on Chinese-built ships will likely spread beyond Chinese shipbuilders to all stakeholders — including global shippers and end customers, according to industry insiders.

The phased policy, unveiled by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on April 17, aims to revive domestic shipbuilding and counter China’s dominance in the industry.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

The U.S. will impose steep docking fees on Chinese-built ships starting mid-October 2024, aiming to support domestic shipbuilding; fees will rise incrementally until 2028.
By 2028, Chinese ships could pay up to $9.24 million per U.S. port call; global voyage costs could rise 40%-50% for Chinese carriers and 15% for others using Chinese-built vessels.
Industry insiders warn the policy will impact global shippers and consumers but have limited effect on China’s shipbuilding dominance.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

China Cosco Shipping Corp. Ltd.: China Cosco Shipping Corp. Ltd. is likely the most affected Chinese carrier by the new U.S. port fee policy. Nearly 60% of Cosco’s container fleet comprises China-built vessels. About half of its ships, operated by one subsidiary, call at U.S. ports, and all its future vessel deliveries are also China-made, making the company highly exposed to the new fee structure.

Clarksons Research: According to the article, Clarksons Research is cited as a data provider in the shipping industry. It notes that U.S. maritime trade accounts for only 12% of global maritime trade and that Chinese shipyards currently hold over half of all global vessel orders, suggesting that U.S. measures may have limited impact on China’s shipbuilding industry.

Linerlytica: Linerlytica is a data provider cited in the article for its analysis of the global container shipping fleet. According to Linerlytica, nearly 60% of China Cosco Shipping Corp. Ltd.'s container fleet is China-built, and China-built vessels make up 29% of the global container fleet and 70% of vessels currently being constructed.

AI generated, for reference only