Commentary Breakbulk & Project Cargo ents a different outlook. Project cargo is for the longer term; there is a steady flow of cargo expected over 2025 as projects that have reached a final investment decision are already looking to charter tonnage.
Looming over all sectors has been the US Trade Representative’ s( USTR) Section 301 investigation and potential import tariffs on breakbulk and project cargoes. Under the latest iteration of the planned port fees released April 17, the majority of the MPV / HL fleet would escape the proposed fees targeting ships operated by carriers based in China and built by Chinese shipyards.
Project cargo may fare better than breakbulk when container ships widen their nets to improve returns. Luciavonu / Shutterstock. com
MPV / HL rates are expected to soften, but not to fall off a cliff the way container pricing has.
However, for Chinese-owned vessels, the costs could be substantial. According to a Journal of Commerce estimate, based on the initial $ 50 per net ton, the charges range from an average of $ 280,000 per ship to nearly $ 990,000 per ship for the open hatch MPVs that are significantly bigger.
Still, another shipper cautioned that the USTR port fee is“ not a done deal” and“ does not exist in isolation.”
“ There is a bigger picture we need to be mindful of,” the source said, pointing to the US Federal Maritime Commission’ s investigation on global chokepoints as another“ one to watch.”
email: susan. oatway @ spglobal. com
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64380 www. joc. com June 2025 | Journal of Commerce 15