https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/63816/feed China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co, (COSCO Group) is a government-owned shipping and logistics services group based in Beijing. The company is one of the largest in the world in terms of the number of container ships, and has several listed arms: COSCO Pacific Ltd, China COSCO Holdings Company Ltd, COSCO International Holdings Ltd, Cosco Investment (Singapore) Ltd, Cosco Shipping Company Ltd. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Mandy Zuo,Carol Yang Mandy Zuo,Carol Yang As global energy supplies are put under strain by Iranian disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, state-owned Chinese oil giant PetroChina has said its overall operations remain stable because most of its imports do not pass through the strait. However, the company’s investment operations in the Middle East had been “impacted to varying degrees”, as crude oil and natural gas imported through the strait accounted for about 10 per cent of its total operating volume, PetroChina... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3348534/3-chinese-ships-exit-strait-hormuz-petrochina-stresses-operations-stable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3348534/3-chinese-ships-exit-strait-hormuz-petrochina-stresses-operations-stable?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Two Chinese container ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday on their second attempt to leave the Gulf after turning back on Friday, ship-tracking data showed. The critical waterway has effectively been shut since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28. The vessels ‌sailed in close formation out of the strait and into open waters, data on the MarineTraffic platform showed. “Both vessels successfully crossed on a second attempt today, marking the first container vessels to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3348455/chinese-container-ships-pass-through-strait-hormuz-second-attempt-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3348455/chinese-container-ships-pass-through-strait-hormuz-second-attempt-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:27:59 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has accused a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings of lying about the country’s response to an arbitration initiated by the company over the seizure of two strategic ports. Mulino’s rebuttal on Thursday was in response to claims several days earlier by the Panama Ports Company (PPC) that his government had failed to file a response to the company’s request for arbitration by the deadline of March 13. The company filed the request after... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347254/panama-president-accuses-ck-hutchison-subsidiary-lying-about-arbitration-response?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347254/panama-president-accuses-ck-hutchison-subsidiary-lying-about-arbitration-response?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:29:44 +0000 Kevin Li Kevin Li Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison has said it will pursue “all available legal remedies” through both national and international proceedings to resolve a dispute over its two Panama Canal ports seized by authorities in February. Amid the widening conflict in the Middle East which could further complicate its multibillion-dollar global ports sale, the company downplayed the possible impact of a Strait of Hormuz blockade on its business, saying its diversified network could even benefit from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347206/ck-hutchison-vows-pursue-all-legal-remedies-over-seized-panama-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347206/ck-hutchison-vows-pursue-all-legal-remedies-over-seized-panama-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:02:41 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Cosco Shipping Ports, a unit of state-owned giant Cosco Shipping, reported modest earnings growth for 2025, as management expects to expand in emerging markets amid rising geopolitical risks to global trade. Net profit rose 1.1 per cent to US$312.1 million, and revenue increased 11 per cent to US$1.67 billion, according to its 2025 results. Total container throughput climbed 6.2 per cent to 153 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The company’s overseas terminals saw strong growth, with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3347064/china-based-cosco-shipping-ports-expects-limited-impact-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3347064/china-based-cosco-shipping-ports-expects-limited-impact-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:31:12 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has accused Panama of missing a deadline for international arbitration initiated by the company, as it confirmed its offices had earlier been raided by alleged “armed security forces”. Panama Ports Company (PPC) on Tuesday also accused authorities of silencing the country’s press and disregarding the rule of law, as it continued to paint the Central American nation as a risk to foreign investors following the seizure of its two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346839/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-missing-arbitration-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346839/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-missing-arbitration-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:10:49 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick A United States diplomat has told Brazilian port industry executives that Washington does not want a Chinese company to win the concession for a major container terminal in Santos, the largest port in Latin America, in the latest sign that the race for one of Brazil’s most prized infrastructure assets has become a front in the broader rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Kevin Murakami, the US consul-general in Sao Paulo, made the comments on March 5, at an event organised by Grupo A Tribuna,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3346804/washington-signals-it-wants-china-kept-out-brazils-largest-port-auction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3346804/washington-signals-it-wants-china-kept-out-brazils-largest-port-auction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:12:22 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Beijing has increased its inspections on Panama-flagged vessels entering Chinese ports, a source from the shipping industry said, an action intended to raise the Latin American country’s stress level after its courts voided the operating rights of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison in the Panama Canal. Port state control (PSC) – the inspection regime countries may deploy to verify the compliance of foreign ships with various international standards – was being used as a form of leverage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung,Oscar Liu Emily Hung,Oscar Liu The Panamanian government has asked Chinese shipping giant Cosco to reconsider its decision to suspend operations at the Balboa port amid geopolitical tensions surrounding the strategic gateway and Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings. Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza told reporters on Friday that Cosco’s decision had caught the government off guard. “The Cosco issue has actually taken us a bit by surprise. All cargo is important, and certainly, Cosco cargo is important for us,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:58:48 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong should move beyond a “city-centred” approach that merely seeks Beijing’s policy support and instead take steps to align with national priorities by advancing the internationalisation of the yuan and supporting mainland Chinese enterprises’ global expansion, observers have said as this year’s “two sessions” came to a close. With the annual political gathering ending amid the widening war in the Middle East, observers also said Beijing would expect local companies to pursue investments... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346563/what-are-hong-kongs-next-best-steps-after-two-sessions-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346563/what-are-hong-kongs-next-best-steps-after-two-sessions-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:23 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Carol Yang Xinyi Wu,Carol Yang Ships near the Strait of Hormuz are broadcasting Chinese affiliations in an apparent bid to avoid attack, at a time when Iran’s new supreme leader vows to keep the strategic waterway closed. The crews of at least 11 vessels sitting in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf had their transponders set to announce Chinese links on Friday afternoon, according to Kpler’s MarineTraffic data platform. The broadcasts were a defensive measure, said Cui Shoujun, director of the Institute of International... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3346542/strait-hormuz-transiting-ships-flash-china-owner-signals-evade-iran-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3346542/strait-hormuz-transiting-ships-flash-china-owner-signals-evade-iran-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:45:56 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings is seeking US$2 billion in damages from the Panamanian government over what it described as the “illegal takeover” of the operations of two ports at either end of the strategic canal. In a statement issued on Friday, the Panama Ports Company (PPC) said it had submitted the claim for arbitration against the country under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, vowing it would not “relent” or seek “token relief” for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345828/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-seeks-us2-billion-panamas-takeover-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345828/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-seeks-us2-billion-panamas-takeover-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:14:45 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Major shipping lines are suspending services and diverting vessels across the Middle East as escalating military tensions threaten a prolonged disruption of global supply chains, with the critical Strait of Hormuz chokepoint effectively closed to commercial traffic following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The crisis has ensnared both oil tankers and container ships, creating a maritime bottleneck that could ripple through international commerce. As of Monday, 132 container ships with a combined... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3345291/shipping-firms-suspend-gulf-routes-iran-war-leaves-132-vessels-trapped?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3345291/shipping-firms-suspend-gulf-routes-iran-war-leaves-132-vessels-trapped?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has condemned the uninvited takeover of its Panama ports by the country’s authorities, calling it unlawful and the “culmination of a campaign” against its subsidiary that operated the terminals. The conglomerate, led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, made the remarks on Tuesday, a day after the Panama Maritime Authority acted on a presidential decree allowing it to take over and operate the Balboa and Cristobal ports at either end of the Panama Canal for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:41:30 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The United States has issued a warning that Peru risks eroding its sovereignty after a court ruling limited state oversight of a Chinese-controlled megaport, prompting a sharp rebuke from Beijing and intensifying geopolitical tensions over a strategic hub on South America’s Pacific coast. The dispute centres on the Port of Chancay, a US$1.3 billion deep water facility located about 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Lima and majority owned by China’s state-run shipping giant Cosco Shipping... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3343384/us-china-clash-over-perus-chancay-megaport-after-court-bars-regulator-oversight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3343384/us-china-clash-over-perus-chancay-megaport-after-court-bars-regulator-oversight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:04:25 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings is expected to move forward with selling its remaining port assets, despite Panama’s Supreme Court nullifying its contract for two terminals at either end of the country’s geostrategically vital canal, according to experts. But the effort by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate to offload the rest of its ports would still face scrutiny from Beijing and local authorities, and the overall deal might need to be re-evaluated, experts told the South China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Last weekend’s US raid on Venezuela has shone a spotlight on the wider strategic concerns in play in South America, including the US-China rivalry in countries such as Peru. The country is a key hub for mineral exports to Asian markets, but it has tried to maintain a balance between Beijing and Washington. China has funded a strategically important port on Peru’s Pacific coast, but it has remained “broadly aligned” with US interests, according to analysts. Washington also regards it as part of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339392/can-peru-keep-both-china-and-us-onside-increasingly-volatile-environment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339392/can-peru-keep-both-china-and-us-onside-increasingly-volatile-environment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 03:54:35 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s US$22.8 billion global ports sale hung in the balance at the end of 2025, nearly 10 months after it was first announced, as a veteran political commentator said the most expensive terminal acquisition in history was unlikely to come to fruition amid geopolitical tensions. What began as a strategic exit for billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate devolved into a high-stakes geopolitical stand-off between Washington and Beijing over the control of global trade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338430/could-2026-be-make-or-break-year-ck-hutchisons-panama-ports-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338430/could-2026-be-make-or-break-year-ck-hutchisons-panama-ports-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:15:08 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Beijing has appointed a former executive of a state-owned shipping giant, which is eyeing a major stake in Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s stalled global ports sale, as a deputy director at its liaison office in the city. Zhang Yong, who previously served as executive vice-president of the Cosco Shipping Group, will replace Qi Bin, who was appointed in November 2024, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Wednesday. The liaison office’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338252/cosco-executive-zhang-yong-appointed-deputy-beijings-liaison-office-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338252/cosco-executive-zhang-yong-appointed-deputy-beijings-liaison-office-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 04:59:28 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The United States on Thursday underscored its maritime security partnership with Panama, as a high-stakes dispute involving China, US investors and a Hong Kong conglomerate continues to cloud the future ownership of key ports at the Panama Canal. US Ambassador Kevin Cabrera boarded the US Coast Guard cutter Alert during a port visit in Panama City, praising joint operations ranging from counter-narcotics missions to search-and-rescue efforts carried out with Panama’s Ministry of Public... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3336974/us-highlights-panama-security-ties-china-linked-canal-ports-deal-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3336974/us-highlights-panama-security-ties-china-linked-canal-ports-deal-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:59:58 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Houthi rebel groups in Yemen signalled in November they would halt attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea if the Gaza ceasefire held, allowing a possible end to two years of costly detours for cargo shipping between Asia and Europe. Dutch financial services group ING called the potential reopening of Red Sea shipping lanes a “key thing to watch for in container shipping” next year. And it would have particular significance for China: the world’s biggest merchandise... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3335200/return-red-sea-shipping-3-scenarios-chinese-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3335200/return-red-sea-shipping-3-scenarios-chinese-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:30:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has announced plans to consolidate the cruise operations of four central state-owned enterprises into a single entity that will reportedly operate the largest fleet in Asia, as part of a broader efficiency drive. China Tourism Group – one of the four companies – was designated as the operator of the venture at a signing ceremony hosted by China’s state-owned enterprises watchdog on Friday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. After the deal goes through, the venture will operate Asia’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3333950/chinas-cruise-industry-makes-waves-new-deal-creates-asias-largest-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3333950/chinas-cruise-industry-makes-waves-new-deal-creates-asias-largest-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters All crew members have been evacuated from the container ship One Henry Hudson after a fire and explosion disrupted the vessel’s power and crane operations at San Pedro port on Friday, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said. Hazardous materials have been identified in several bays at the port, and firefighters are wearing protective gear and using self-contained breathing equipment. Marine units continue cooling the ship’s exterior, with no personnel allowed below deck, the LAFD said. TV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3333799/container-ship-fire-los-angeles-port-triggers-hazardous-material-alerts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3333799/container-ship-fire-los-angeles-port-triggers-hazardous-material-alerts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 11:51:32 +0000 Haining Gao,Junjie Wang Haining Gao,Junjie Wang – https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3333630/trump-xi-summit-aftermath?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3333630/trump-xi-summit-aftermath?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:03:58 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China has accused the United States of trying to undermine its relations with Greece after US ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle urged Athens to sell the Chinese-operated port of Piraeus. Guilfoyle called the presence of China’s state-owned shipping giant Cosco at the port in the south of Greece “unfortunate”, in an interview last week with Greek broadcaster Antenna TV. “But I think there are ways around it, that something could be worked out, whether you pursue a path of enhancing output in other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333506/china-accuses-us-undermining-ties-greece-envoys-piraeus-port-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333506/china-accuses-us-undermining-ties-greece-envoys-piraeus-port-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:06:37 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The agency that runs the Panama Canal is “moving fast” to pre-qualify bidders to build two new container terminals, with one-on-one meetings involving potential operators set for the first week of December, its chief administrator has said, amid the stalled sale of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s stakes in two existing ports. Panama Canal Authority administrator Ricaurte Vasquez stressed on Friday at a maritime conference in the United States that the new, board-led process “eliminates the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331954/panama-moving-fast-pre-qualify-bidders-build-2-new-port-terminals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331954/panama-moving-fast-pre-qualify-bidders-build-2-new-port-terminals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:35:34 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The Panama Canal Authority has met key industry players ahead of tendering a US$2.6 billion project to build two new port terminals, a move that Hong Kong analysts have called a high-stakes strategic manoeuvre. The consultation was announced by the authority on Monday, as a separate multibillion-dollar sale of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings’ existing port stakes remained stalled amid broader frictions between the United States and China. The authority said it had “launched a consultation... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330577/panama-seeks-partners-us26-billion-port-plan-may-ease-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330577/panama-seeks-partners-us26-billion-port-plan-may-ease-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:30:58 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The fallout from the US-China port fee battle is still rippling through the global shipping sector as companies scramble to adapt. Yet, despite the drama, industry players still expect China to retain its edge as a leading shipbuilder – especially if the sector presses ahead with its green transition plans. The United States imposed steep new levies on Chinese-linked vessels entering American ports earlier this month as part of a wider push to curtail China’s dominance of global shipbuilding,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3329799/why-chinas-shipyards-still-have-clear-edge-over-rivals-despite-us-port-fee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3329799/why-chinas-shipyards-still-have-clear-edge-over-rivals-despite-us-port-fee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:00:32 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang A senior Panamanian official said on Monday that Panama will remain flexible and potentially reach an agreement with CK Hutchison as the Latin American country navigates the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. “We are working on a plan in case that [Panama’s Supreme Court] ruling goes against the extension of the contract” for CK Hutchison, said Jose Ramon Icaza, Panama’s minister of canal affairs. “In that case, we have to step in as the Panama Maritime Authority to take... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329723/panama-ports-deal-ck-hutchison-gets-encouraging-signs-panamanian-government?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329723/panama-ports-deal-ck-hutchison-gets-encouraging-signs-panamanian-government?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:39:00 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As China and the United States begin charging additional port fees on Tuesday, analysts warn the global shipping industry faces growing uncertainty and turmoil – though Beijing’s exemption of domestically built vessels is expected to limit the impact. China announced retaliatory port fees last Friday and released implementation details in the first hour of Tuesday – the same day the Chinese and US measures took effect. Fees will be waived for vessels built in China and for empty vessels arriving... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3328979/china-and-us-impose-rival-port-fees-global-shipping-industry-braces-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3328979/china-and-us-impose-rival-port-fees-global-shipping-industry-braces-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen Observers are optimistic that China and Peru will be able to avoid a “Panama moment” over the joint Chancay Port project, despite further political turmoil in the Latin American country. Dina Boluarte’s presidency came to an end after less than three years last week with a landslide 122-0 impeachment vote in the legislature, following public discontent over her handling of security and corruption scandals. Jose Jeri, former president of the Congress, will take over as interim president until a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328845/will-perus-chancay-port-be-next-panama-moment-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328845/will-perus-chancay-port-be-next-panama-moment-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:00:07 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China will levy phased fees on US-linked vessels calling at its ports starting next Tuesday, a retaliatory action set to take effect the same day as similar surcharges that were announced in April by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Having been granted approval by the State Council, China’s cabinet, Beijing will apply the fees to vessels under several classifications: those owned or operated by US enterprises, organisations and individuals; those whose owners or operators... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3328537/china-hits-back-trumps-port-fees-reciprocal-charges-us-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3328537/china-hits-back-trumps-port-fees-reciprocal-charges-us-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:15:30 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As a new US port fee targeting China-built or -operated vessels is set to take effect in two weeks, China has revised its international maritime transport rules to allow retaliatory measures, including charging special fees or restricting access to Chinese ports. China will implement necessary countermeasures against any country or region that imposes or supports discriminatory bans, restrictions or similar measures targeting Chinese operators, vessels or crews, according to the revision... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3327389/china-issues-retaliatory-rules-ahead-us-port-fee-targeting-chinese-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3327389/china-issues-retaliatory-rules-ahead-us-port-fee-targeting-chinese-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Less than three weeks before the US port fee targeting China-built or China-operated vessels is scheduled to take effect, some major carriers have begun adjusting their vessel deployment to avoid or absorb the extra cost rather than resorting to imposing a surcharge on clients – at least initially. “On the transpacific, there are early signs of a reduction in the deployment of Chinese-built vessels,” shipping consultancy Sea Intelligence said in a report last week. After tracking vessel... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3326952/us-port-fee-hits-china-vessels-carriers-are-already-dodging-blow-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3326952/us-port-fee-hits-china-vessels-carriers-are-already-dodging-blow-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:00:10 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China has launched its first direct break-bulk shipping service to Peru’s Chancay port, as it steps up its trade, investment and influence in Latin America. A vessel operated by Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers departed last week from Suzhou in eastern Jiangsu province on its maiden voyage to the strategic gateway, with the journey expected to take about 32 days in total, according to local media outlet Suzhou Daily. The ship, named Greensuape, is carrying more than 30,000 tonnes of cargo,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3325728/china-launches-first-direct-break-bulk-shipping-route-perus-chancay-port?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3325728/china-launches-first-direct-break-bulk-shipping-route-perus-chancay-port?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:00:11 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese shipping companies are working with global partners to reduce their US exposure and explore more regional market opportunities, as the industry braces for the introduction of steep new US port fees in October. Washington plans to charge Chinese-linked vessels hefty fees to enter US ports as part of a drive to rein in China’s globally dominant shipyards, and the controversial new levies are already driving deep changes in the shipping industry. “The container shipping industry is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3324007/chinas-shipping-firms-lean-alliances-ride-out-us-port-fee-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3324007/chinas-shipping-firms-lean-alliances-ride-out-us-port-fee-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu CK Hutchison Holdings’ controversial US$23 billion deal to sell 43 overseas ports – including two at the Panama Canal – will not be completed this year, group co-managing director Frank Sixt said in a post-results briefing on Thursday. Sixt updated analysts about the progress of the proposed sale after the company posted a 92 per cent plunge in its interim profit, as various one-off costs amounting to HK$10.47 billion (US$1.3 billion) weighed on its performance, according to an exchange... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3321872/ck-hutchison-first-half-profit-drops-92-one-costs-uk-vodafone-three-merger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3321872/ck-hutchison-first-half-profit-drops-92-one-costs-uk-vodafone-three-merger?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:12:43 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US seeks to curb China’s shipbuilding dominance, South Korea is looking to capitalise by expanding its overseas footprint through shipyard investments in the Philippines and Vietnam. Analysts said South Korean shipbuilders may view the move as a way to tackle constraints that have diminished their competitiveness against China, such as limited capacity, labour shortages and tensions with domestic trade unions. Shifting operations to Southeast Asia, where labour costs are lower, could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3321734/trumps-curbs-chinas-shipbuilding-edge-spur-south-korean-investments-asean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3321734/trumps-curbs-chinas-shipbuilding-edge-spur-south-korean-investments-asean?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:00:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings may win Beijing’s support through its plan to bring in a mainland Chinese company as a strategic investor in the controversial sale of its global port stakes, but the change in tack has also fuelled uncertainty, experts have said. Analysts said that the planned US$23 billion deal to sell CK Hutchison’s 43 overseas ports, including two at the Panama Canal, could become a bargaining chip between the US and China as they held trade talks in Sweden. Experts weighed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319895/will-ck-hutchisons-plan-tap-mainland-chinese-firm-panama-ports-deal-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319895/will-ck-hutchisons-plan-tap-mainland-chinese-firm-panama-ports-deal-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:01:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Edith Lin,Jeffie Lam Lam Ka-sing,Edith Lin,Jeffie Lam Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings has said it plans to invite a major strategic investor from mainland China to join as a “significant member” of a consortium seeking to buy its global port stakes, after a deadline for exclusive talks on the US$23 billion deal expired at the weekend. Hours after CK Hutchison’s announcement on Monday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jiakun said the central government “would regulate in accordance with the law” and safeguard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319768/talks-deadline-ck-hutchison-us23-billion-panama-ports-deal-passes-sunday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319768/talks-deadline-ck-hutchison-us23-billion-panama-ports-deal-passes-sunday?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:01:14 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As US President Donald Trump reiterates his desire to acquire Greenland – part of a broader push to assert influence in the Arctic – Chinese scholars are debating whether the world’s second-largest economy should become more involved in the region, particularly by developing shipping routes. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) – the shortest passage between the Asia-Pacific region and western Eurasia – has drawn growing attention as global warming makes its icy waters navigable for longer periods each... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3319561/trumps-arctic-strategy-stirs-debate-over-chinas-polar-shipping-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3319561/trumps-arctic-strategy-stirs-debate-over-chinas-polar-shipping-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Talks between China and the United States were “in a good place”, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said as negotiators work to turn a “framework” agreement reached at talks in Geneva and London into a concrete trade deal before a 90-day tariff war truce expires on August 12. Progress on a trade deal would help pave the way for a successful summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. That meeting could happen ahead of or on the sidelines of October’s Apec... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3319124/mixed-messages-us-ahead-possible-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3319124/mixed-messages-us-ahead-possible-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:00:14 +0000 Frank Chen,Igor Patrick Frank Chen,Igor Patrick The head of a US congressional committee on Thursday, warned Panama over Chinese influence on the Panama Canal, following reports that leading Chinese state-owned conglomerates are bidding for port concessions there now for sale by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings. In his letter to Minister of Maritime Affairs and Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority Luis Roquebert, Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, expressed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/money-wealth/article/3318655/us-house-committee-chair-warns-panama-about-chinese-influence-over-panama-canal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/money-wealth/article/3318655/us-house-committee-chair-warns-panama-about-chinese-influence-over-panama-canal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:23:26 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The US$23 billion sale of global port stakes by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison could be subject to substantial changes if it is not already on the verge of collapse, with Chinese and Panamanian authorities possibly rejecting the terms, legal and logistics experts have said ahead of the deal’s deadline for exclusive negotiation. Their analysis followed national security and anti-monopoly concerns cited by both countries, with a recent news report suggesting that a state-owned shipping company was now... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314784/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-ports-sale-thin-ice-amid-us-china-tensions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314784/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-ports-sale-thin-ice-amid-us-china-tensions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:30:07 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese companies are showing growing interest in shipping goods to the West via the Northern Sea Route – an icy Arctic passage that opens up each summer – according to Rosatom, the Russian company that operates infrastructure along the route. The firm anticipates a significant uptick in voyages by Chinese companies along the NSR during the coming summer-autumn shipping season, and is adding more nuclear-powered icebreakers to its fleet to handle the growing traffic flow. Cargo traffic on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3314324/how-china-driving-surge-shipping-traffic-along-arctic-sea-routes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3314324/how-china-driving-surge-shipping-traffic-along-arctic-sea-routes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Transpacific shipping routes are set to witness a dramatic uptick in container traffic over the coming weeks, as businesses rush to front-load shipments to take advantage of a temporary reduction in US and Chinese tariffs, analysts said. The 90-day truce announced by China and the United States on Monday is expected to trigger an immediate surge in demand for container shipping, with some analysts warning the increase in shipments could be so large that it creates bottlenecks at American... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3310118/shipping-demand-set-explode-firms-rush-exploit-us-china-tariff-pause?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3310118/shipping-demand-set-explode-firms-rush-exploit-us-china-tariff-pause?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 07:00:09 +0000 A US proposal to charge exorbitant port fees to shipping companies that use China-built ships encountered stiff resistance from US businesses and industry groups in a hearing on Monday. The office of the United States Trade Representative mooted the proposal a month ago to charge ships with China links additional fees of up to US$1.5 million per US port call. The move – based on a USTR investigation into China’s purported efforts to achieve dominance in maritime, logistics and shipbuilding... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3303723/proposed-us-port-fee-hike-chinese-ships-opposed-american-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3303723/proposed-us-port-fee-hike-chinese-ships-opposed-american-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:01:20 +0000 The United States Trade Representative has aimed a torpedo at China’s shipbuilders and shipping operators, proposing hefty port fees for shipping companies that operate vessels that are built in China. The proposal, posted on the US government’s Federal Register on Friday, is up for public comment until a hearing scheduled for March 24. It’s based on the results of the a USTR Section 301 investigation that was launched last April and concluded last month. The probe found that China has targeted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3300029/ustr-makes-waves-proposal-hefty-port-fees-china-built-and-operated-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3300029/ustr-makes-waves-proposal-hefty-port-fees-china-built-and-operated-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 09:00:07 +0000 Chinese shipping lines and container manufacturers are facing further challenges and geopolitical uncertainties after US President Donald Trump rolled out a plan on Thursday to levy reciprocal tariffs on America’s trade partners. The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, a key benchmark for global shipping rates compiled by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, fell 7.27 per cent last week to 1,758.82, marking its fifth consecutive weekly decline. The index peaked at 3,733.80 in July, as global... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3298718/storm-clouds-gather-chinese-shipping-lines-trump-threatens-more-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3298718/storm-clouds-gather-chinese-shipping-lines-trump-threatens-more-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Feb 2025 09:45:08 +0000 Zhang Jun assiduously followed the news as Chancay port in Peru was developed into the biggest deep water project of its kind on the long Pacific coast of South America. His Nanjing-based company, Jiangsu Haosanyou Information Technology, helps shippers of marine cargo find business along China’s supply chains via the internet. For Zhang, the US$3.5 billion megaport, which was inaugurated on November 14, foreshadows a boom in Chinese e-commerce in Latin America, where conventional Chinese trade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3287737/mega-port-reshapes-china-latin-america-trade-amid-us-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3287737/mega-port-reshapes-china-latin-america-trade-amid-us-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:00:15 +0000