The revised port fee proposal has a limited impact on most segments
Last week, the U.S. Trade Representative released a revised proposal for American port fees targeting ships built and operated by China. This updated version takes a more moderate approach and is expected to have a limited impact on tankers, bulk carriers, and LPG carriers built or owned by China.
Key exemptions, such as ships arriving empty, short voyages under 2,000 nautical miles, and small vessels, mean that most U.S. exports of crude oil, dry bulk, and LPG will remain unaffected.
The proposal, set to take effect on October 14, 2025, primarily applies to:
-
Ships operated by China, with fees starting at $50 per net ton, rising to $140 by 2028, and limited to five port calls per vessel each year
-
Ships built in China and operated by non-Chinese entities are subject to reduced fees, starting at $18 per net ton or $120 per container, gradually increasing to $33 per net ton or $250 per container.
All EMF tankers are built in South Korea and will not be subject to these fees.
General port fees are not expected to cause significant issues
For car carriers, a fixed fee of $150 per CEU will be imposed on all ships not built in the United States, regardless of their construction location. Although this results in additional costs, the structure remains straightforward and manageable, and owners have the option to offset these fees by ordering U.S.-built ships with a three-year grace period.
In summary:
The revised proposal is generally advantageous for the maritime market as a whole, with minimal drawbacks for tankers, bulk carriers, and LPG carriers built in China. For car carriers, the new fee structure results in some additional costs but provides flexibility and an adjustment period. A public hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2025.
Source: Fearnleys, Clarksons, and Reuters