DETAILS of the Trump Administration’s new port fee regulations, released on Friday US time, has caused Wallenius Wilhelmsen to suspend its financial guidance for 2025.
The company told the Oslo Stock Exchange today [13 October] that the proposed modification of Annex III in the USTR section 301 sees fees concerning most ro-ro carriers increased from USD 14 per net ton to USD 46 per net ton. The fees will be payable as of tomorrow [14 October].
“Based on the substantial increase in fees compared to the previous update of Annex III, we are working diligently to evaluate the impact for Wallenius Wilhelmsen, our customers, and our trading pattern,” the company said in a statement to the exchange.
“We see the risk of higher costs linked to port fees in the near-term.
“Because of the above, and that the proposed fees being substantially above our expectations, we find it prudent to suspend our financial outlook for 2025 as communicated in the Q2 2025 report until further notice.
“Our Q3 2025 results are not impacted by the above port fees, but Q4 may be affected.”
Reporting a strong Q2 back on 12 August Wallenius Wilhelmsen said it had manoeuvred steadily through the second quarter with an EBITDA of USD 472 million. “We see the strong demand, in particular in shipping, continuing into Q3 and maintain our financial outlook for the year, expecting 2025 adjusted EBITDA to be in line with 2024,” president and CEO Lasse Kristoffersen said.
While most of the focus of the USTR recommendations and charges has been on container trades, PCTCs, ro-ros and other vehicle carriers have also been singled out, with impositions on all non-US-built and Chinese-operated vessels. Foreign-built PCTCs will attract a penalty of USD 150 per CEU (car equivalent unit).
In May this year Wallenius Wilhelmsen called on the USTR to “immediately withdraw” Annex III.