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China’s Special Port Fee on U.S. Vessels Takes Effect on October 14

Huanqiu Times reported that on October 14, China’s Ministry of Transport issued the “Measures for Collecting Special Port Fees on U.S. Vessels,” consisting of ten articles and effective immediately upon publication. The following are Articles 2 through 5.

Article 2: Foreign vessels engaged in international maritime transport that dock at Chinese ports must pay the Special Port Fee for Vessels if they meet any of the following conditions:

  1. The vessel is owned by U.S. enterprises, organizations, or individuals;
  2. The vessel is operated by U.S. enterprises, organizations, or individuals;
  3. The vessel is owned or operated by enterprises or organizations in which U.S. entities directly or indirectly hold 25% or more of the equity (including voting rights or board seats);
  4. The vessel is registered under the U.S. flag;
  5. The vessel was built in the United States.

Vessels built in China under conditions (1) – (4) above are exempt from the fee. Empty vessels entering Chinese shipyards solely for repairs, as well as other vessels granted exemptions upon review, are also exempt.

Article 3: The specific fee rates are as follows (rounded up to the nearest gross ton):

  1. From October 14, 2025, RMB 400 per gross ton;
  2. From April 17, 2026, RMB 640 per gross ton;
  3. From April 17, 2027, RMB 880 per gross ton;
  4. From April 17, 2028, RMB 1,120 per gross ton.

Each vessel is subject to the special port fee for no more than five voyages per year, with April 17 marking the start of each annual billing cycle.

Article 4: The fee shall be collected by the maritime administration authority of the port where the vessel docks and managed or used according to relevant national regulations.

Article 5: If a vessel docks at multiple Chinese ports during the same voyage, the special port fee is payable only at the first port of call. For vessels making more than five voyages to Chinese ports in a year, the fee applies only to the first five voyages, with subsequent voyages exempt upon proof of prior payments.

Source: Huanqiu Times, October 13, 2025
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/4OiMfb2DneG

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