Box ship building in China hits new heights with 68.5% of global orders
China has become the undisputed front-runner in containership building, with an orderbook, extending to 2030, ...
XOM: GO GREEN NOWKNIN: BOUNCING OFF NEW LOWS HON: BREAK-UP PRESSURECHRW: UPGRADESZIM: LAGGARDFWRD: LEADINGMAERSK: OPPORTUNISTIC UPGRADETSLA: GETTING OUTDSV: DOWN BELOW KEY LEVELLINE: DOWN TO ALL-TIME LOWS AMZN: DEI HURDLESAAPL: DEI RECOMMENDATIONAAPL: INNOVATIONF: MAKING MONEY IN CHINAMAERSK: THE DAY AFTER
XOM: GO GREEN NOWKNIN: BOUNCING OFF NEW LOWS HON: BREAK-UP PRESSURECHRW: UPGRADESZIM: LAGGARDFWRD: LEADINGMAERSK: OPPORTUNISTIC UPGRADETSLA: GETTING OUTDSV: DOWN BELOW KEY LEVELLINE: DOWN TO ALL-TIME LOWS AMZN: DEI HURDLESAAPL: DEI RECOMMENDATIONAAPL: INNOVATIONF: MAKING MONEY IN CHINAMAERSK: THE DAY AFTER
Shippers and forwarders on the Asia-Europe trade are faced with new charges after carriers confirmed that they would be adding a further 6% to freight rates in response to the Chinese government’s decision to introduce VAT on ocean shipments.
Late last month, Hapag-Lloyd sent a circular to customers that stated that it would be “required to collect the full applicable amount of this VAT from the customer on behalf of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] government and remit it to the government”.
It added: “In light of the above, Hapag-Lloyd will be required to comply. We need to collect an additional 6% of value-added tax (VAT) as well as any other applicable local and/or provincial taxes or charges, as now constituted or as they may be modified, if and where relevant. The tax is applicable to all ocean freight and charges payable in China, with effect from August 1, 2013 based on the issuance date of the invoice.”
But the new tax’s introduction has already prompted efforts to find ways to avoid it.
One forwarder told The Loadstar he believed it would result in container line customers looking for other ways of paying their freight charges. “Whether it is a freight forwarder or a BCO [beneficial cargo owner], I’m sure they will change their INCOTERMS, most likely to freight on board (FOB),” he said
By paying freight charges in a non-China jurisdiction, carrier customers will be able to avoid the Chinese VAT charge, and the source argued that the introduction of the new tax was likely to have the opposite effect to that intended.
“The Chinese government is going to lose a load of trade that would have seen cash flow going through China, and instead we are now looking to pay freight in Hong Kong or Singapore,” he said.
At least two of his accounts were actively switching their freight bills from a pre-paid to an FOB model, while several shipping lines are taking pre-paid freight through Hong Kong and Singapore.
The introduction of VAT coincides with most of the major lines announcing further general rate increases to be introduced on 1 September, news that is fast becoming a monthly event.
Yesterday Maersk Line sent an advisory to customers announcing the implementation of a $400 per teu from Asia to Northern Europe, and $500 per teu to Mediterranean ports. This followed announcements from Mediterranean Shipping Co and Hapag-Lloyd of $500 per teu GRIs around the same time, while CMA CGM has opted for a $450 per teu rate hike.
At the end of last week, the Asia-North Europe spot rate on the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index slipped 4.3% to $1,436 per teu, little more than 10 days after most carriers on the trade had attempted a GRI of $300-500 per teu.
Comment on this article
Michael Kusuplos
August 15, 2013 at 9:11 pmHighly recommend that all of those thinking about changing the INCOTERMS 2010 Rules to avoid the Chinese VAT to look very carefully as to exactly which INCOTERM they employ. FOB may not be the best one to use.
Nick Coverdale
August 16, 2013 at 9:31 amMichael , Very good point ,I actually was discussing this very point of buying FCA instead of fob on INCOTERMS LINKEDIN
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Help-law-student-3347103.S.264832850?qid=4166baba-3730-474f-b424-42b9695c025f&trk=group_most_recent_rich-0-b-ttl&goback=%2Egmr_334710
For the discussion on fob , scroll down to to around message 15 to 20
Nick Coverdale
August 16, 2013 at 3:51 amHi Gavin,
Good on Loadstar. I always follow your articles as you always report the market “as it is”.
I posted on four different linkedin sites but never got one single comment. Believe me – for air freight this a massive problem, but many people seem to be hiding under the bed hoping it will just go away, which it won’t.
SALES TAX ON FREIGHT FROM CHINA
From 01.08.2013 the 6 per cent sales tax must be charged on freight prepaid cargo from China. In the airfreight industry, where do people stand? Whilst the majority of cargo is on freight collect basis, air cargo agents prepay the MAWB, so according to what I have been told, the airline should add this 6 per cent to the freight, but then who is air cargo going pass this onto? The overseas customer?
With ocean, the rules are the same but I heard (maybe just hearsay) two shipping lines have been granted an exception and do not need to charge the shipper the tax.
If anybody out there knows more about this subject please share it with us.