China fines nine shipping companies and seven NVOCCs for freight rate violations, warning of intensified inspections and compliance measures.
The Chinese Ministry of Transport announced that nine international container shipping companies and seven local non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) have been fined for practices that violate freight rate regulations. In its message to the sector, the ministry emphasized that these penalties serve as a 'warning' and announced that inspections would be intensified.
Freight Rate Inspection from China to Global Container Lines: Penalties for 9 Carriers and 7 NVOCCs
Among the companies penalized are leading players in the sector such as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM Group, Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express, and Evergreen Marine. It was also noted that smaller carriers like Wan Hai Lines, SM Line, Emirates Shipping Line, and TS Lines were included in the list of violations.
According to the ministry's announcement, inspections were carried out in August, September, and November of 2025 at the ports of Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Ningbo. The evaluations assessed whether the companies fulfilled their notification obligations regarding freight rates.
The inspections revealed that some companies had not completed their freight rate notification procedures, and in some cases, discrepancies were found between the reported rates and the prices actually applied.
The Chinese Ministry of Transport stated that 'serious discussions' were held with the companies and administrative sanctions were imposed. The ministry also requested that carriers improve their freight rate notification systems, strengthen their internal audit mechanisms, and fully comply with regulatory obligations.
The announcement indicated that inspections would be further intensified in the upcoming period, and violations related to the freight rate notification system would continue to be rectified within the legal framework.
This latest development follows Chinese authorities calling Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company executives for discussions in March. These discussions were assessed as a warning following the two companies' initiatives regarding port operations in the Panama Canal region.
On the other hand, according to a report by the British newspaper Financial Times, Chinese officials have requested that companies exercise caution in the process of transferring terminal operations acquired from CK Hutchison by the Panamanian government. It was reported that CK Hutchison is also considering initiating arbitration proceedings against APM Terminals.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
