China’s Ministry of Transport Introduces Special Port Charges on US-linked Vessels

We are pleased to have been quoted by Lloyd's List in their recent article on China port fees. On 10 Oct 2025, China's Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced new special port charges applicable to US-linked vessels. These charges took effect on 14 Oct 2025, and comprise of yearly increments.

Details of such vessels must be reported to China's maritime authorities at least seven days prior arrival, or departure of last port, whichever is later. Special port fees will need to be paid before entry or exit formalities will be granted. With these measures implemented on short notice, several ships were seen diverted to non-Chinese ports or delayed at anchorages awaiting further orders.

Vantage Shipbrokers' Research Desk issued a brief on the recent developments, with key points summarised below.

- Short-term freight rates see upward support due to operational disruptions and last-minute routing changes.

- The broader market impact remains limited as fleet deployment can easily adjust.

- Affected tonnage may opt out of Chinese trade lanes due to cost implications.

- Changes are more likely to affect individual owners/operators rather than a structural impact to the market

- MOT’s note that port fees may be dynamically adjusted based on prevailing circumstances or include “other vessels approved for exemption” suggests further refinements ahead

For a deeper dive into our full research brief, reach out to Research@vntg-corp.com.