China’s Ministry of Transport has imposed penalties on several international and domestic shipping companies for violations related to freight rate regulations. Among those fined are global industry leaders such as MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and Evergreen.
Inspections conducted in the ports of Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Ningbo during the final quarter of 2025 revealed discrepancies between officially declared tariff procedures and actual pricing practices, with significant deviations identified.
The Ministry described the penalties as a strong warning to the sector, urging companies to improve tariff compliance and strengthen transparency in reporting. Authorities also stated that inspections at Chinese ports will be further intensified to maintain market discipline.
The move follows earlier tense discussions in March between Chinese officials and executives of Maersk and MSC regarding terminal operations linked to the Panama Canal, highlighting Beijing’s increasing regulatory scrutiny over global shipping companies.
