China imposes penalties on major companies over violations of freight rate regulations

May 19 ------ The Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China has announced administrative penalties against multiple international shipping and freight forwarding companies following inspections that uncovered violations of freight rate filing regulations in the country’s container shipping market.

According to Ministry of Transport Announcement No. 1 of 2026, inspections were carried out in August, September, and November 2025 at the ports of Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Ningbo. Authorities reviewed compliance with mandatory freight rate filing requirements for international container liner shipping companies and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs).

The ministry found that a total of nine international container shipping companies and seven NVOCC operators had violated relevant regulations. The infractions included failure to properly complete freight rate filing procedures and discrepancies between declared and actual freight charges.

The companies named in the penalties include major global carriers such as Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen Marine, Wan Hai Lines, SM Line, Emirates Shipping Line, and TS Lines, along with seven non-vessel operating common carriers.

Under Article 38 of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on International Maritime Transport, the ministry imposed administrative penalties and held compliance talks with companies involved in more serious breaches. "Next, our ministry and the provincial transportation authorities authorized by the ministry will intensify their inspections of enterprises’ compliance with freight rate filing and correct any violations in accordance with the law," said the Ministry in its statement.

Source: safety4sea.com