WEEK 38 FINDS U.S. IMPORTERS NAVIGATING CAPACITY CUTS AND SERVICE CHANGES AS CHINA’S GOLDEN WEEK APPROACHES
U.S. importers are preparing for potential disruptions ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday beginning October 1. Ocean carriers are executing significant capacity cuts, suspending services, and redeploying vessels to keep supply aligned with soft demand. Air cargo volumes from China remain subdued but are expected to see a short-term lift driven by e-commerce and general cargo demand.
HOW ARE CARRIERS MANAGING TRANSPACIFIC CAPACITY AHEAD OF GOLDEN WEEK?
Carriers are tightening capacity through a combination of blank sailings and service suspensions, with Ocean Alliance members leading a sharp rise in void sailings during Weeks 40 and 41. Gemini partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will suspend the TP9/WC6 service after the final sailing of the Synergy Keelung 539E departing Xiamen on September 23, while ONE, HMM, and YML previously suspended the PS5 service linking Qingdao, Ningbo, Long Beach, and Oakland. Importers are being advised to book early to secure space and prepare for rolling as carriers consolidate sailings ahead of the holiday.
WHAT DID CBP FINALIZE ON THE JAPAN TARIFF FRAMEWORK?
CBP and the Department of Commerce finalized the tariff framework implementing Executive Order 14345, setting a 15 percent tariff on most Japanese imports and establishing updated procedures for automobiles, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. The changes took effect September 16 with a short transition period for in-transit cargo. Read the full article for detailed HTSUS references and FTZ guidance: https://www.greenworldwide.com/cbp-finalizes-tariff-implementation-for-japanese-imports/
HOW WILL USTR PORT FEES ON CHINESE-BUILT VESSELS IMPACT OPERATIONS?
Carriers are proactively restructuring vessel deployments in advance of the U.S. Trade Representative’s new port fees on Chinese-built or operated ships, set to take effect October 14, 2025.
Reported network changes include:
- Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd swapping 60,000 TEUs across six China-built vessels on TP12/US2 (Central China/South Korea to USEC via Panama Canal).
- Evergreen diverting part of its NUE service capacity to LATAM trade lanes.
- CMA CGM, MSC, COSCO, and OOCL monitoring the policy, with further updates expected as implementation nears.
Temporary disruptions and schedule adjustments are likely during this transition as carriers complete vessel swaps and redeployments.
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR THE CHINA–U.S. AIR MARKET?
China’s airfreight market remains soft, with exports to the U.S. down about 10 percent year-on-year and flight approvals still limited, keeping overall lift constrained. Part of available capacity has been shifted to Southeast Asia routes, and typhoon season continues to create risks of short-term airport closures in East and South China. Despite these challenges, e-commerce and general cargo demand are expected to rise modestly in the coming week.
WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE PORT OF LONG BEACH INCIDENT?
Salvage and recovery operations continue at Pier G following the September 9 incident in which 67 containers fell from the vessel Mississippi. Unified Command reports that all unaffected containers aboard the vessel were secured as of September 14. Salvage teams, port labor, and federal, state, and local agencies are continuing to recover containers from the two affected bays, with 32 containers retrieved from the water to date.
Cargo operations at the Port of Long Beach remain largely unaffected. A 500-yard safety zone is still in effect around the vessel, and the Coast Guard continues to coordinate navigation of commercial vessels with Jacobsen Port Pilots and port officials. The investigation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board, is ongoing.
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