China Fines Carriers and NVOCCs for Under-Declaring Freight Rates
China's Ministry of Transport has issued penalties to nine ocean carriers and seven NVOCCs, including CMA CGM and MSC, for discrepancies in declared freight rates. Investigations at Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Ningbo ports revealed that actual charges to shippers were higher than…
China's Ministry of Transport (MOT) has imposed fines on nine major shipping lines and seven Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs) this month. The penalties stem from investigations that uncovered instances of freight rates being under-declared to the authorities. Among the companies cited were prominent carriers such as CMA CGM and MSC.
The discrepancies were identified during inspections conducted between August and November 2025 at key Chinese ports, specifically Guangzhou (CNGZU), Qingdao (CNQDG), and Ningbo (CNNGB). These inspections revealed that the actual freight charges applied to shippers were not consistent with the rates that had been officially filed or declared by these entities.
