AMIDST reports COSCO Shipping and OOCL face massive additional costs as a result of Trump Administration imposts on Chinese carriers and owners/operators of Chinese-built vessels, COSCO Shipping and OOCL have affirmed their commitment to US trades.
While neither company has a direct service between ANZ and North America, both are active, to a modest extent, in transhipment over Asian ports.
According to work undertaken by HSBC, COSCO Shipping and its subsidiary OOCL face the greatest impact from the USTR impositions, c.US$1.6 billion and $654 million respectively in 2026, modelled at $600 per container extra on the main trade between Shanghai and the West Coast.
The carriers have nevertheless stated their intention to maintain all standards after the 14 October fees begin to come into effect.
“While the port service fees may pose certain operational challenges, COSCO SHIPPING Lines remains confident in our ability to ensure stable and reliable services in the United States. We are committed to maintaining stable capacity deployment and service quality, consistently delivering reliable, secure, and high-quality logistics solutions,” the company said.
“At the same time, we are actively enhancing our product portfolio to meet the evolving demands of the U.S. market. We will maintain competitive rates and surcharges, along with related policies that align with market conditions.
“COSCO SHIPPING Lines has been deeply engaged in the U.S. market, strictly complying with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, and policy requirements. We have always been a trusted partner in facilitating U.S. import and export trade. Moving forward, we will demonstrate resilience and determination, with a commitment to service excellence and value delivery, as we continue to serve the U.S. market.”
For its part, OOCL said it remains “deeply committed” to the U.S. market.
“We remain fully compliant with all U.S. policies and regulations. Despite the financial burden imposed by these fees, our commitment to the U.S. market is clear and strong. For decades, OOCL has been a trusted partner in facilitating U.S. exports and imports, consistently delivering reliable, secure, and high-quality logistics solutions. That commitment has not changed,” the carrier said.
“OOCL continues to uphold our reputation for integrity and operational excellence. Our focus remains on continuously improving schedule reliability, ensuring safety and security, and honouring every service commitment. We are actively enhancing our product offerings to meet evolving demands of the U.S. market, and we will continue to deliver unparalleled service quality while maintaining competitive market-level rates and surcharges in line with prevailing market practice.
“OOCL’s future in the U.S. is firm. We will remain steadfast in protecting our customers’ interests and providing a comprehensive range of dependable services under the OOCL brand. We are committed to maintaining our market share and safeguarding our reputation for reliability and excellence. Through transparent communication and proactive engagement, we will keep our customers informed and confident in our ability to meet their needs.”
New analysis by research consultancy Maritime Strategies International, released today [24 September] cites emerging evidence that the demand side of the container shipping industry will prove better-insulated from tariffs than was expected earlier in the year, while a dynamic where Chinese exporters continue to export their manufactured goods surplus - above all to emerging economies - has significantly buoyed trade so far this year.