The first half of 2025 has seen a significant decrease in new shipbuilding orders placed on Chinese shipyards, a trend that can be attributed to the upcoming US Trade Representative (USTR) port fees, set to take effect in October 2025.
China, which has long been the leader in the global shipbuilding market, has experienced a drop in its market share from 72% to 52% due to the looming port fees. Despite still receiving the largest share of global new shipbuilding orders, this decline signals a shift in the global shipping industry, driven by new regulatory changes.
Beginning in October, an $18.00 per net tonne fee will be applied to Chinese-built and Chinese-operated vessels calling at US ports, with a minimum of $120.00 per container. The USTR plans to gradually increase this fee, reaching $33.00 per tonne and a minimum of $250.00 per container by April 2028.
Chinese carriers will face additional penalties, with an extra charge of $50.00 per net tonne, rising to $140.00 per net tonne by April 2028.
Recent developments include the exemption of smaller ships from these fees and the decision to charge the fee only once during a vessel’s rotation. However, with ongoing trade negotiations between the US and China, there is still potential for further adjustments to the fee structure.
As carriers figure out how to adapt and pass these new fees on, exporters and importers are left in a state of uncertainty. Global Freight Services are closely monitoring the situation.