- Carriers are adjusting vessel deployment ahead of the U.S. port fee on China-built and China-operated ships.
- On the Asia–North America west coast trade, the share of Chinese-built vessels has fallen from 25–30% to 20–25%.
- The east coast trade shows a similar but smaller decline, while the transatlantic market remains unchanged.
- Cosco Shipping Lines reaffirmed its commitment to stable U.S. services despite the upcoming fee.
With less than three weeks to go before the U.S. port fee on China-built or China-operated vessels takes effect, major carriers are already adjusting their deployment strategies. Instead of immediately passing the added cost on to customers, some lines are reshaping their vessel operations to manage the impact, as highlighted in a recent report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Shifts in Deployment Ahead of U.S. Port Fee
According to SCMP, recent tracking of vessel deployment in 2025 shows that on the Asia–North America west coast trade, the share of Chinese-built vessels has declined from 25–30 percent in the first half of the year to 20–25 percent in recent weeks. A similar, though less pronounced, trend has emerged on the Asia–North America east coast trade, while the transatlantic market has yet to see a comparable shift.
Industry observers note that carriers appear focused on rebalancing operations rather than introducing surcharges at this stage. Meanwhile, Cosco Shipping Lines confirmed its intention to maintain stable services in the U.S. market, stating that while the port service fees present operational challenges, the company remains confident in the strength of its route network.
Did you subscribe to our Daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: SCMP
