Chinese shipping companies are adjusting fleet deployments and leaning on global alliances to reduce exposure to steep new US port fees set to take effect in October, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported.

Washington plans to impose hefty charges on Chinese-linked vessels entering US ports, aiming to curb China's dominance in global shipbuilding. The move is already prompting strategic shifts across the industry.

Cosco Shipping Holdings, the listed arm of state-owned Cosco Shipping Group, said the container industry is undergoing "unprecedented historical evolution and is expanding into emerging and regional markets.

In the first half of 2025, Cosco reported a 9.5 per cent rise in Chinese mainland services, 5.2 per cent growth in intra-Asia routes and 11.9 per cent expansion in other international markets. Transpacific services rose 4.7 per cent.

Orient Overseas International Ltd (OOIL), a Cosco subsidiary, warned that US port fees would have a "relatively large impact but noted that shifting trade patterns could offer opportunities in segmented markets.

Analysts said Chinese firms are working with global partners to reassign vessels and reduce US exposure. Cosco and OOCL, both in the OCEAN Alliance, are expected to deploy more non-Chinese ships on US routes.

Wu Jialu of Citic Futures said fleet assessments began in August, with carriers like CMA CGM likely to lead cost-saving deployments. Other alliances are also adapting due to widespread use of Chinese-built vessels.

The Premier Alliance, including HMM, ONE and Yang Ming, announced route splits to remove 10 Chinese-built ships from US West Coast services. Linerlytica said this would help reduce exposure to the new fees.

Haitong Futures analyst Xu Yi warned that continued reductions in Chinese-built vessel deployments could lead to unstable capacity during peak seasons and long-term shortages.

Xu added that the fees may accelerate efforts to diversify shipping finance away from China, given the sector's reliance on Chinese capital.

Cosco also operates a global port terminal network across 39 ports and 379 berths. It is reportedly in talks to acquire assets from CK Hutchison.

The company posted first-half 2025 revenues of 109.1 billion yuan (US$15.3 billion), up 7.8 per cent year on year, with profits rising nearly 4 per cent to 17.5 billion yuan.