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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Apr 25, 2025 (Fri)

Uncertainty surrounds US Port Fees on Chinese dry bulkers amid vague US intentions

Selecting vessels for chartering and changing vessel allocation patterns

　The United States plans to impose port entry fees on Chinese-related ships from October. The dry bu ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80The+United+States+plans+to+impose+port+entry+fees+on+Chinese-related+ships+from+October.+The+dry+bulk+market+is+paying+close+attention+to+the+impact+on+ships+owned+and+operated+by+Chinese+shipping+companies.+There+are+concerns+that+port+entry+fees+will+cause+Chinese+shipowners+and+Chinese+leased+ships+to+lose+their+competitiveness+in+U.S.+trade%2C+which+is+likely+to+lead+to+more+selective+chartering+and+changes+in+shipping+patterns.+Some+of+the+charter+chains+%28chain+structures+of+charter+contracts%29+of+Japanese+operators+also+include+a+small+number+of+ships+leased+from+Chinese+companies+or+owned+by+Hong+Kong+shipowners.+A+Japanese+carrier+official+has+indicated+that+their+response+policy+will+be+to+%E2%80%9Cavoid+calls+at+US+ports+by+allocating+ships+creatively.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+80%2C000+or+55%2C000%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+port+entry+fee+system+was+announced+by+the+Office+of+the+United+States+Trade+Representative+%28USTR%29+on+April+17.+Its+impact+on+Chinese-built+ships+owned+and+operated+by+non-Chinese+shipping+companies+is+quite+limited+due+to+exemptions+for+small+and+medium-sized+ships+and+ballast+ships+calling+at+ports.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWith+the+waiver+of+port+entry+fees+for+ballast+ships%2C+the+impact+on+bulk+cargo+exports+such+as+grain+and+coal+from+the+US+by+non-Chinese+shipping+companies+has+been+almost+completely+eliminated%2C%E2%80%9C+said+a+Japanese+carrier+official.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+transportation+of+U.S.+imports%2C+such+as+steel%2C+cement%2C+and+petroleum+products%2C+by+Chinese-built+ships+is+also+exempt+if+they+are+small+and+medium-sized+ships%2C+such+as+Handysize+and+multipurpose+cargo+ships%2C+and+MR+%28Medium+Range%29+product+carriers.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+the+document+released+on+April+17+uses+two+descriptions+for+the+dead+weight+tonnage-based+size+of+the+small+and+medium-sized+ships+that+are+eligible+for+the+exemption%2C+which+is+open+to+different+interpretations%3A+%E2%80%9Ccapacity+of+55%2C000+dwt+or+less%E2%80%9C+and+%E2%80%9Cindividual+bulk+capacity+of+80%2C000+dwt+or+less.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Many+people+in+the+tramper+market+interpret+this+as+meaning+that+%E2%80%9Cships+transporting+bulk+cargo+of+80%2C000+dwt+or+less+will+be+exempt.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+an+overseas+shipping+company+official+pointed+out%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+wording+is+vague%2C+and+we+cannot+make+a+final+judgment+until+we+understand+the+intention+of+the+USTR+officials+when+they+wrote+it.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80As+a+result%2C+the+transportation+of+US+import+cargo+using+vessels+at+the+borderline+of+the+size+limit%2C+such+as+the+Chinese-built+60%2C000-dwt+Ultramax+and+70%2C000-dwt+LR+%28Large+range%29+1+product+carriers%2C+remains+somewhat+uncertain.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+US+excludes+Chinese+shipping+companies+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80On+the+other+hand%2C+there+are+few+exemptions+for+ships+owned+and+operated+by+Chinese+shipping+companies%2C+and+they+will+likely+be+forced+to+pay+port+entry+fees+regardless+of+their+ship+types+or+ballast+condition.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+port+entry+fee+will+start+at+%2450+per+net+ton+%28a+unit+of+cargo+loading+volume%29+of+the+vessel+on+October+14.+It+will+increase+to+%2480+in+April+next+year%2C+%24110+in+April+2027%2C+and+%24140+in+April+2028%2C+with+each+vessel+being+charged+a+maximum+of+five+times+per+year.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80For+a+27%2C000+net+ton+Kamsarmax+bulker+owned+and+operated+by+a+Chinese+company%2C+the+port+entry+fee+is+projected+to+be+%241.35+million+%28approximately+190+million+yen%29+from+October+this+year+and+%243.78+million+%28approximately+530+million+yen%29+from+April+2028+onwards.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80As+a+result%2C+ships+owned+and+operated+by+Chinese+shipping+companies+will+lose+their+competitive+edge+and+may+be+excluded+from+trade+to+and+from+the+US%2C+shifting+to+other+routes+such+as+South+America+or+Australia.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+How+far+will+it+be+traced%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80One+focal+point+is+how+far+into+the+chartering+chain+Chinese+companies%E2%80%99+involvement+will+be+traced.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+document+released+on+April+17+states+that+port+entry+fees+for+Chinese-owned+and+operated+ships+are+%E2%80%9Cpaid+by+the+operator+%28listed+on+the+port+entry+declaration+form%29%2C%E2%80%9C+but+it+is+not+clear+whether+China%E2%80%99s+involvement+will+be+traced+back+to+the+registered+shipowner+or+actual+shipowner.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80An+overseas+shipping+company+official+said%2C+%E2%80%9CFor+example%2C+will+a+ship+owned+by+a+Chinese+leasing+company+and+operated+by+a+European+operator+pay+port+entry+fees%3F+We+can%E2%80%99t+be+certain+until+a+certain+amount+of+time+passes+after+the+start+of+operations+and+the+full+picture+becomes+clear.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Japanese+shipping+operators%E2%80%99+charter+chains+include+vessels+leased+from+China+that+are+bare+boat+chartered+by+European+shipowners%2C+as+well+as+vessels+chartered+from+Hong+Kong+shipowners.+Therefore%2C+they+are+closely+watching+the+USTR%E2%80%99s+future+decisions+on+the+scope+of+application.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+Japanese+carrier+official+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+USTR+appears+to+be+compiling+a+list+of+Chinese+shipping+companies+that+will+be+subject+to+the+port+entry+fees%2C+and+it+is+unlikely+that+the+fees+will+apply+to+anyone+else.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+treatment+of+Hong+Kong+shipping+companies+and+Chinese+shipping+companies+in+Singapore+is+also+attracting+attention.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80There+are+many+shipping+companies+in+Hong+Kong+that+have+built+long-standing+cooperative+relationships+with+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry+and+shippers.+In+recent+years%2C+the+Chinese+government%E2%80%99s+tightening+of+control+over+Hong+Kong+has+undermined+its+position+as+a+shipping+center.+However%2C+the+Trump+administration%E2%80%99s+policy+against+China+has+dealt+a+further+blow+and+may+accelerate+the+shift+to+Singapore+and+other+countries.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Concerns+about+tariff-induced+depression+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAlthough+the+impact+on+non-Chinese+dry+tanker+companies+is+now+limited%2C+I+don%E2%80%99t+think+there+is+anyone+in+the+shipping+industry+who+can+truly+relax+and+feel+at+ease.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80One+shipping+broker+points+out+this.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+US+has+been+making+so+many+changes+in+terms+of+the+port+entry+fees+in+recent+weeks.+It+could+soon+change+the+policy+180+degrees+again+and+tighten+restrictions+on+Chinese-built+ships.%E2%80%9C+%28Shipping+broker%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80He+added%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+business+of+Japanese+shipowners+ordering+new+ships+from+Chinese+shipyards+and+chartering+them+for+medium+to+long+term+of+five+to+six+years%2C+which+has+been+on+the+rise+in+recent+years%2C+may+be+on+the+decline.+At+the+very+least%2C+the+risk+remains+as+long+as+President+Trump+is+in+office.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80An+executive+at+a+Japanese+big+carrier+said%2C+%E2%80%9CA+bigger+concern+than+U.S.+port+fees+is+the+global+recession+caused+by+tariffs.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+Trump+administration%E2%80%99s+tariff+policy+has+caused+further+turmoil+in+stock+and+financial+markets.+If+the+tit-for-tat+tariff+battle+between+the+U.S.+and+China+continues+for+a+long+time%2C+rising+costs+will+dampen+consumption%2C+casting+a+shadow+over+the+economies+of+both+the+U.S.+and+China.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+deterioration+of+seaborne+cargo+movements+will+spread+from+manufactured+goods+and+agricultural+products+to+raw+materials+and+energy.+Unless+the+tariff+dispute+has+a+soft+landing%2C+bigger+risks+lie+ahead.%E2%80%9C+%28Executive+at+a+Japanese+big+carrier%29+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7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