https://www.scmp.com/rss/324076/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s economy first took off as a trading hub, and then as a global financial centre. Given its advantageous location, it’s only natural that it should be a logistics and transport powerhouse. It’s not for nothing that some of our most famous tycoons of the last century made their names in shipping. Since major ports along coastal China have taken some of the shine off the city, it is even more important that we stay competitive and maintain our strategic maritime edge. That includes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 22:45:10 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin David Chan* is among the few remaining ship machinery maintenance masters at the Po Chong Wan temporary industrial area in Hong Kong’s Aberdeen. Chan, in his seventies, entered the trade in the 1960s as an apprentice in Ap Lei Chau, an islet off Aberdeen, repairing propellers, gearboxes and other machinery on wooden fishing boats and cargo ships. At the time, the area was one of the city’s four major fishing villages. After years of hard work, he went solo and relocated to the Po Chong Wan site... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350591/no-mood-work-veteran-ship-mechanics-future-clouded-aberdeen-marina-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350591/no-mood-work-veteran-ship-mechanics-future-clouded-aberdeen-marina-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang An oil tanker sailing under the flag of Hong Kong has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf of Oman, as a US blockade continues to target vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, according to a maritime data firm. The tanker, AVA 6, departed from a port in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, Beijing time. It passed through the Strait of Hormuz sometime between 4am and 2pm on Thursday, according to data from Mingkun Technology, a Chinese maritime information provider based... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350423/hong-kong-flagged-oil-tanker-passes-through-strait-hormuz-test-us-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350423/hong-kong-flagged-oil-tanker-passes-through-strait-hormuz-test-us-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:29:35 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has denounced proposed tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as a worrisome step in the wrong direction, while noting that several thousand stranded seafarers remain the international shipping community’s foremost concern. “Freedom of navigation has to be one of the pillars of free trade, and it would be a retrograde step – a really bad step,” said John Denholm, chair designate of the ICS, referring to the idea of charging vessels to transit the oil... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350067/hormuz-blockade-shipping-industry-slams-transit-fees-20000-seafarers-still-stranded?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350067/hormuz-blockade-shipping-industry-slams-transit-fees-20000-seafarers-still-stranded?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:00:27 +0000 Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced “serious concerns” over China’s intensified inspections of Panama-flagged vessels, vowing that the US “stands firmly” with Panama amid the Latin American country’s escalating fallout with Beijing. Rubio said China’s recent actions “raise serious concerns about the use of economic tools to undermine the rule of law in Panama, a sovereign nation and vital partner for global commerce”. “Detentions, delays, or other impediments to the movement of vessels... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:34:46 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Marina development is finally making headway in Hong Kong after decades of being largely dead in the water. The plan to revamp an area in Aberdeen should be welcomed, as long as public access remains part of efforts to chart a course for the city to become a premier maritime gateway in Asia. The goal is to convert a section of the southwest coast of Hong Kong Island into a new marina with 200 berths, a clubhouse and about 250 private flats by 2032. On Wednesday, the Development Bureau said it... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348132/hong-kong-must-factor-community-needs-marina-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348132/hong-kong-must-factor-community-needs-marina-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:45:14 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China denied on Friday that it had intensified inspections of Panama-flagged vessels in retaliation for Panama’s decision to strip a Hong Kong-based conglomerate of port concessions at both ends of the Panama Canal, accusing Washington of seeking to seize control of the strategic waterway. During the daily press briefing at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, spokesman Lin Jian charged that the US had made “repeated wrongful allegations” about the inspections that exposed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348217/china-denies-retaliating-against-panama-ships-accuses-washington-canal-grab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348217/china-denies-retaliating-against-panama-ships-accuses-washington-canal-grab?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:09:58 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong and Hainan should forge a strong partnership and explore new models of cooperation, the city’s leader has said, urging the business sector to capitalise on the mainland Chinese province’s free-trade port status by offering professional services in areas such as finance, law and accounting. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s call followed a meeting with Feng Fei, the Communist Party secretary of the Hainan provincial committee, on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia annual... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3347807/hong-kong-hainan-can-forge-strong-partnership-build-strengths-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3347807/hong-kong-hainan-can-forge-strong-partnership-build-strengths-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:36:42 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong has a unique opportunity to become the natural home of next-generation marine insurance – if it chooses to seize it. Today, almost all blue-water ship liability is still insured through a small group of traditional mutual protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, many of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347130/hong-kong-has-chance-lead-world-marine-underwriting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347130/hong-kong-has-chance-lead-world-marine-underwriting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Cosco Shipping Ports, a unit of state-owned giant Cosco Shipping, reported modest earnings growth for 2025, as management expects to expand in emerging markets amid rising geopolitical risks to global trade. Net profit rose 1.1 per cent to US$312.1 million, and revenue increased 11 per cent to US$1.67 billion, according to its 2025 results. Total container throughput climbed 6.2 per cent to 153 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The company’s overseas terminals saw strong growth, with... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347064/china-based-cosco-shipping-ports-expects-limited-impact-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347064/china-based-cosco-shipping-ports-expects-limited-impact-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:31:12 +0000 Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai The war in Iran, culminating in the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has again exposed the world’s energy and maritime sector to acute vulnerabilities. The spike in oil prices and surging freight rates may grab headlines, but beneath these shocks lie fundamental questions about Asia’s – and Hong Kong’s – energy security, the resilience of shipping risk management and the urgent need to transform our maritime industry for a greener future. The Strait of Hormuz is not just a geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346529/iran-war-shows-urgency-hong-kongs-green-shipping-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346529/iran-war-shows-urgency-hong-kongs-green-shipping-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip There are few assets on earth as strategically sensitive as the ports flanking the Panama Canal. They sit at the hinge of global trade, where container ships glide between oceans and geopolitics moves just beneath the surface. That is why Panama’s seizure of two major port terminals operated by CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong conglomerate built by Li Ka-shing, deserves more than a passing headline. It is not simply a contractual dispute dressed up as constitutional housekeeping. It is a stress test... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344483/true-cost-panamas-port-seizure-lies-lost-predictability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344483/true-cost-panamas-port-seizure-lies-lost-predictability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has vowed to pursue all available legal options to defend its interests after a Panamanian court last month nullified its right to operate two ports along the country’s canal, while acknowledging that keeping the operations running was beyond its control. The conglomerate headed by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family said on Thursday that it had invited the Panamanian government to enter consultations to resolve the court verdict and protect its rights and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343356/ck-hutchison-pursues-all-legal-options-panama-ports-invites-consultations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343356/ck-hutchison-pursues-all-legal-options-panama-ports-invites-consultations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:18:57 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected criticism from Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday over a Supreme Court ruling that voided a long-standing port concession at the Panama Canal, arguing that the decision falls squarely within Panama’s constitutional and legal framework. Mulino’s comments came after China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued a sharply worded commentary condemning the court’s decision to declare unconstitutional the concession held by Panama Ports... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342425/panama-president-defends-judiciary-after-china-slams-canal-port-concession-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342425/panama-president-defends-judiciary-after-china-slams-canal-port-concession-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:52:38 +0000 Ambrose Li,Jeffie Lam,Leopold Chen Ambrose Li,Jeffie Lam,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison has launched arbitration proceedings to challenge a Panama court ruling that nullified its right to operate two ports at the country’s canal, hours after Beijing warned that the Central American nation would pay a heavy political and economic price. The conglomerate led by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family on Wednesday said it strongly disagreed with the ruling by the country’s Supreme Court over the Panama Canal ports, which could take effect this month. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342287/panama-could-pay-heavy-price-over-ck-hutchison-ports-ruling-beijing-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342287/panama-could-pay-heavy-price-over-ck-hutchison-ports-ruling-beijing-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:28:29 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings is expected to move forward with selling its remaining port assets, despite Panama’s Supreme Court nullifying its contract for two terminals at either end of the country’s geostrategically vital canal, according to experts. But the effort by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate to offload the rest of its ports would still face scrutiny from Beijing and local authorities, and the overall deal might need to be re-evaluated, experts told the South China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong is building a logistics hub for high-value goods, e-commerce and low-altitude economy in the Northern Metropolis mega development project, with authorities set to gauge industry interest in the first site of the cluster this year. The Transport and Logistics Bureau said on Friday that authorities aimed to attract leading logistics firms with tailored incentives, such as land grant arrangements and premium concessions, to a planned industrial cluster covering more than 30 hectares in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340213/hong-kong-plans-build-northern-metropolis-logistics-hub-smart-green-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340213/hong-kong-plans-build-northern-metropolis-logistics-hub-smart-green-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:53:38 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Previously, I put forward the argument that Hong Kong’s relevance in China’s opening up lies less in guarding its gateway role and more in developing new forms of partnership. Since then, Hainan has set up distinct island-wide customs operations from December 18. This is a turning point – one that invites Hong Kong to think not only about how to cooperate, but how to co-design the next phase of China’s engagement with the world. Hainan’s transformation is ambitious. Around 6,600 types of goods... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338196/how-hong-kong-can-work-hainan-ease-entry-chinas-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338196/how-hong-kong-can-work-hainan-ease-entry-chinas-market?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 08:30:10 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s US$22.8 billion global ports sale hung in the balance at the end of 2025, nearly 10 months after it was first announced, as a veteran political commentator said the most expensive terminal acquisition in history was unlikely to come to fruition amid geopolitical tensions. What began as a strategic exit for billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate devolved into a high-stakes geopolitical stand-off between Washington and Beijing over the control of global trade... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338430/could-2026-be-make-or-break-year-ck-hutchisons-panama-ports-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338430/could-2026-be-make-or-break-year-ck-hutchisons-panama-ports-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:15:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong could strengthen its position as a global wine trading hub by enhancing its logistics and storage services, according to a seventh-generation French winemaker overseeing a 200-year-old Burgundy estate. Erwan Faiveley, owner of wine labels Domaine Faiveley and Billaud-Simon, also praised the Hong Kong government’s decision to axe its wine tax in 2008 during his first fact-finding trip to the city and mainland China since the Covid-19 pandemic. “The greatest thing they’ve done was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3337911/can-hong-kong-mature-wine-hub-french-vineyard-owner-calls-new-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3337911/can-hong-kong-mature-wine-hub-french-vineyard-owner-calls-new-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Houthi rebel groups in Yemen signalled in November they would halt attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea if the Gaza ceasefire held, allowing a possible end to two years of costly detours for cargo shipping between Asia and Europe. Dutch financial services group ING called the potential reopening of Red Sea shipping lanes a “key thing to watch for in container shipping” next year. And it would have particular significance for China: the world’s biggest merchandise... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335200/return-red-sea-shipping-3-scenarios-chinese-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335200/return-red-sea-shipping-3-scenarios-chinese-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s status as a superconnector between mainland China and the rest of the world stems in no small part from its deep water port and supply chain prowess. As global trade volatility and competition erode that maritime reputation, it was encouraging to see signs of strength from new “partner port” ties unveiled recently. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said the partnerships with key maritime centres on the mainland and in South America “are of strategic importance” and true to Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334483/partner-port-ties-will-help-hong-kong-navigate-global-trade-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334483/partner-port-ties-will-help-hong-kong-navigate-global-trade-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:15:11 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong has established new “partner port” relationships with key maritime centres in mainland China and South America, the city’s leader has said, with shipping experts calling it a strategic move to enlarge market catchment areas and strengthen supply chains amid global trade volatility. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Monday that partnerships had been formed with Guangxi and Dalian ports on the mainland and Port San Antonio in Chile. “These ports are of strategic importance,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3333149/hong-kong-links-3-key-partner-ports-ride-out-trade-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3333149/hong-kong-links-3-key-partner-ports-ride-out-trade-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:55:24 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The decision to suspend new port fees on Chinese-built, owned, or operated vessels starting on Monday has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who say it undercuts US President Donald Trump’s claims of being tough on China. They are not alone in pushing back. While shippers see the move easing costs and boosting trade, labour unions are warning that it could weaken American maritime leverage, send the wrong signal to Beijing, and contradict the administration’s own rhetoric on holding China... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332258/us-china-port-fee-suspension-draws-major-backlash-well-huge-relief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332258/us-china-port-fee-suspension-draws-major-backlash-well-huge-relief?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 22:39:36 +0000 Bruce Pang Bruce Pang China’s trade has displayed remarkable resilience this year. Its goods trade expanded 4 per cent year on year for the nine months so far in yuan terms, according to customs data. Quarterly growth accelerated from 1.3 per cent at the start of the year, to 4.5 per cent by midyear and finally to 6 per cent. This steady momentum reflects both the robustness of demand and continued refinement of China’s trade structure. But the regional performance has been uneven. Exports to the United States fell... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3331833/hong-kong-holds-key-accelerator-role-chinas-trade-strategy-evolves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3331833/hong-kong-holds-key-accelerator-role-chinas-trade-strategy-evolves?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 22:30:07 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) start-up Stellerus Technology aims to be the world’s first provider of satellite-enabled three-dimensional wind data to help wind power, transport and insurance firms boost revenues, cut costs and manage risks, according to its founders. Stellerus, founded in 2023 by the university’s academics, would leverage China’s cost competitiveness in satellite manufacturing to make global 3D wind data collection economically viable, said Su Hui, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3330245/hong-kong-start-stellerus-eyes-worlds-first-supply-3d-wind-data-satellites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3330245/hong-kong-start-stellerus-eyes-worlds-first-supply-3d-wind-data-satellites?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 03:00:16 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The fallout from the US-China port fee battle is still rippling through the global shipping sector as companies scramble to adapt. Yet, despite the drama, industry players still expect China to retain its edge as a leading shipbuilder – especially if the sector presses ahead with its green transition plans. The United States imposed steep new levies on Chinese-linked vessels entering American ports earlier this month as part of a wider push to curtail China’s dominance of global shipbuilding,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329799/why-chinas-shipyards-still-have-clear-edge-over-rivals-despite-us-port-fee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329799/why-chinas-shipyards-still-have-clear-edge-over-rivals-despite-us-port-fee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:00:32 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang A senior Panamanian official said on Monday that Panama will remain flexible and potentially reach an agreement with CK Hutchison as the Latin American country navigates the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. “We are working on a plan in case that [Panama’s Supreme Court] ruling goes against the extension of the contract” for CK Hutchison, said Jose Ramon Icaza, Panama’s minister of canal affairs. “In that case, we have to step in as the Panama Maritime Authority to take... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329723/panama-ports-deal-ck-hutchison-gets-encouraging-signs-panamanian-government?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329723/panama-ports-deal-ck-hutchison-gets-encouraging-signs-panamanian-government?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:39:00 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Shipping companies are rushing to divert vessels and adjust their corporate structures, as they strive to minimise their exposure to steep new US and Chinese port fees that took effect on Tuesday. The United States has targeted Chinese-linked vessels with hefty charges as part of a broader push to curtail China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, prompting Beijing to impose similar duties on US-owned or operated ships in an apparent tit-for-tat move. European shipping giants Maersk and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329246/ships-divert-directors-resign-us-china-port-fees-rock-shipping-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329246/ships-divert-directors-resign-us-china-port-fees-rock-shipping-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 02:00:31 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng The full impact of the US removing import duty exemptions for e-commerce shipments may take a year to reach consumers, similar to the timeline seen after the UK’s exit from the European Union, according to the CEO of DHL Express. Consumers had yet to fully realise the additional costs they might have to bear, said John Pearson. “When Brexit happened, I was receiving calls from customers even one year later, saying the duties charged on their orders must have been incorrect,” he told the Post in... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3329192/full-impact-us-e-commerce-duty-change-may-take-year-dhl-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3329192/full-impact-us-e-commerce-duty-change-may-take-year-dhl-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:23:28 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Global trade has withstood the test of the Trump administration’s tariff hikes and is expected to continue to hold up in the next few years, albeit at a slower growth pace, according to new research. Global trade volume would grow at an average annual rate of 2.5 per cent between this year and 2029, according to a special update of the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker published on Tuesday. The figure roughly matches the pace in the previous 10 years, but is slower than the 3.1 per cent rate... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3328862/trumps-century-high-tariffs-will-slow-global-trade-growth-not-kill-it-dhl-nyu-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3328862/trumps-century-high-tariffs-will-slow-global-trade-growth-not-kill-it-dhl-nyu-study?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Daryl Ng Daryl Ng The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the world’s largest trade bloc. Including all 10 economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), mainland China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, the group contributes to 30 per cent of global gross domestic product and over 25 per cent of global exports. In September, Asean’s economic ministers issued a joint statement affirming their desire to accelerate the addition of four new members into the RCEP –... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327919/how-joining-rcep-will-boost-hong-kongs-role-superconnector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327919/how-joining-rcep-will-boost-hong-kongs-role-superconnector?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal The demand for storage of commodities and art is providing a much-needed boost for Hong Kong’s logistics properties, where recovery has lagged behind other commercial real estate segments. New demand from the London Metal Exchange’s (LME) inclusion of Hong Kong in the exchange’s global warehousing network is helping the segment, where 11 licences have been issued to warehouse operators in the city. “New space is being taken from that angle and that’s around 30,000 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft per... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327911/hong-kongs-warehouse-sector-gets-support-robust-demand-storage-metals-and-art?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327911/hong-kongs-warehouse-sector-gets-support-robust-demand-storage-metals-and-art?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Hong Kong shipping firm Wah Kwong Maritime Transport has teamed up with a European partner to build shoreside power-supply projects in China and North Asia to capture opportunities from tightening emission regulations at ports. Wah Kwong last month formed a 50-50 joint venture with NatPower Marine, a developer of maritime energy-transition projects that is part of Luxembourg-based renewable energy firm NatPower Group. The venture aims to form partnerships to build and operate grid-connected... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3327764/hong-kong-shipper-wah-kwong-joins-push-greener-energy-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3327764/hong-kong-shipper-wah-kwong-joins-push-greener-energy-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 03:30:12 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As a new US port fee targeting China-built or -operated vessels is set to take effect in two weeks, China has revised its international maritime transport rules to allow retaliatory measures, including charging special fees or restricting access to Chinese ports. China will implement necessary countermeasures against any country or region that imposes or supports discriminatory bans, restrictions or similar measures targeting Chinese operators, vessels or crews, according to the revision... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327389/china-issues-retaliatory-rules-ahead-us-port-fee-targeting-chinese-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327389/china-issues-retaliatory-rules-ahead-us-port-fee-targeting-chinese-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Hong Kong has its work cut out for it to become a supply centre for green maritime fuel, as it works with partners in mainland China to build a green methanol supply chain from scratch, according to shipowner China Merchants Energy Shipping. “Hong Kong has already realised liquefied natural gas [LNG] and biodiesel [fuelling] operations, with 130,000 tonnes of throughput so far,” said Wang Yongxin, president of the Shanghai-listed company, in a press briefing on Sunday. “But on green methanol, it... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3327151/methanol-supply-key-hong-kongs-goals-green-marine-fuels-cm-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3327151/methanol-supply-key-hong-kongs-goals-green-marine-fuels-cm-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:30:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A venture capital firm backed by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is taking a minority stake in an AI-powered logistics technology start-up backed by Hong Kong’s wealthiest man, as it looks for investment opportunities in the Greater China region to more than triple its assets under management by the end of 2025. Doha-based Rasmal Ventures, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has invested US$2 million (HK$15.6 million) in Hong Kong’s Nexx, an 18-month-old start-up backed by Li... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3325067/qatari-fund-invests-us2-million-ai-start-nexx-backed-hong-kongs-wealthiest-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3325067/qatari-fund-invests-us2-million-ai-start-nexx-backed-hong-kongs-wealthiest-man?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu CK Hutchison Holdings’ controversial US$23 billion deal to sell 43 overseas ports – including two at the Panama Canal – will not be completed this year, group co-managing director Frank Sixt said in a post-results briefing on Thursday. Sixt updated analysts about the progress of the proposed sale after the company posted a 92 per cent plunge in its interim profit, as various one-off costs amounting to HK$10.47 billion (US$1.3 billion) weighed on its performance, according to an exchange... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3321872/ck-hutchison-first-half-profit-drops-92-one-costs-uk-vodafone-three-merger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3321872/ck-hutchison-first-half-profit-drops-92-one-costs-uk-vodafone-three-merger?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:12:43 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A state partnership would fundamentally alter the operating structure of two key Panama Canal ports and could trigger significant losses for Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings, which is facing mounting hurdles over a US$23 billion asset sale, experts have said. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate is in the grip of a legal and political firestorm in the Central American nation which threatens its control over the two politically sensitive ports at either end of the strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3320721/another-storm-brews-ck-hutchison-under-panama-ports-partnership-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3320721/another-storm-brews-ck-hutchison-under-panama-ports-partnership-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:51:01 +0000 Francis Neoton Cheung Francis Neoton Cheung The Development Bureau’s recent proposal to reclaim 301 hectares – including 145 hectares near Lung Kwu Tan and 45 hectares in Tuen Mun West for an “advanced construction industry park” and a “smart and green industrial port” – carries futuristic appeal. But it risks overlooking a strategic opportunity that could help Hong Kong regain its footing as a global maritime hub: repositioning the area as the home of the city’s next-generation container terminal and logistics network. Hong Kong once led... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3319935/how-hong-kong-can-re-emerge-leader-maritime-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3319935/how-hong-kong-can-re-emerge-leader-maritime-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings may win Beijing’s support through its plan to bring in a mainland Chinese company as a strategic investor in the controversial sale of its global port stakes, but the change in tack has also fuelled uncertainty, experts have said. Analysts said that the planned US$23 billion deal to sell CK Hutchison’s 43 overseas ports, including two at the Panama Canal, could become a bargaining chip between the US and China as they held trade talks in Sweden. Experts weighed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319895/will-ck-hutchisons-plan-tap-mainland-chinese-firm-panama-ports-deal-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319895/will-ck-hutchisons-plan-tap-mainland-chinese-firm-panama-ports-deal-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:01:08 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Hong Kong can become a regional trading hub for green marine fuel and help augment China’s influence on supply and pricing, according to an industry player. “Hong Kong’s advantages lie in its roles as an international free port, shipping and financial hub, and the government’s willingness to support energy transition and green finance,” said Leo Yang Xiaohu, president of CIMC Enric Holdings, which built the city’s first hydrogen refuelling station and related infrastructure in 2023. By boosting... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3315926/hong-kong-has-potential-become-green-marine-fuel-hub-beijings-backing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3315926/hong-kong-has-potential-become-green-marine-fuel-hub-beijings-backing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 03:32:48 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Hannah Wang Aileen Chuang,Hannah Wang Saudia Cargo, the national air cargo carrier of Saudi Arabia, is tapping into diverse sectors in China and Asia, including e-commerce, agriculture and technology, through the launch of a new venture in Hong Kong and a planned capacity expansion. “China specifically, and the Far East in general, as a critical trade market to Saudi Arabia, will play a critical role in supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals, and hence expanding our operations here just comes naturally,” CEO and managing director Loay... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3315481/growing-china-trade-prompts-hong-kong-joint-venture-saudi-cargo-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3315481/growing-china-trade-prompts-hong-kong-joint-venture-saudi-cargo-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:30:35 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The US$23 billion sale of global port stakes by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison could be subject to substantial changes if it is not already on the verge of collapse, with Chinese and Panamanian authorities possibly rejecting the terms, legal and logistics experts have said ahead of the deal’s deadline for exclusive negotiation. Their analysis followed national security and anti-monopoly concerns cited by both countries, with a recent news report suggesting that a state-owned shipping company was now... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314784/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-ports-sale-thin-ice-amid-us-china-tensions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314784/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-ports-sale-thin-ice-amid-us-china-tensions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:30:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Star Cruises will launch its home-port deployment of ships in Hong Kong from June to mid-November, with the firm’s relaunch in Asia coming three years after declaring bankruptcy. The three-decade-old cruise operator announced on Tuesday that its about 1,800-passenger Star Voyager liner was set to commence deployment from Hong Kong as its home base on June 27. Departures will be extended until November 14 from the previously scheduled end of August. After a buyout by Resorts World, the operator... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3311123/cruise-ship-star-voyager-make-hong-kong-its-home-port-june-november?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3311123/cruise-ship-star-voyager-make-hong-kong-its-home-port-june-november?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 14:14:01 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Shipping companies, known for their ability to navigate stormy economic seas, will need to adapt to whatever trading barriers remain after global trade powers negotiate their way out of the trade war, according to the head of the International Chamber of Shipping. “Shipping is an extremely resilient industry, which will adapt to whatever the market does, because ships are mobile assets,” said Guy Platten, secretary-general of the London-based body that represents more than 40 national shipowner... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3309976/trumps-tariffs-higher-port-fees-will-force-shipping-firms-adapt-chamber-head-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3309976/trumps-tariffs-higher-port-fees-will-force-shipping-firms-adapt-chamber-head-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 May 2025 07:00:12 +0000 Edward Yang Liu Edward Yang Liu As US President Donald Trump places sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, the spectre of trade war looms over global commerce. While attention remains on consumer goods and factory output, a quieter but potentially more lasting confrontation is taking shape that could remake global trade infrastructure. On April 17, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) concluded an investigation into China’s shipbuilding and maritime sectors. Framed as a response to alleged unfair practices, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3309287/hong-kong-must-wake-dangers-us-port-and-shipping-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3309287/hong-kong-must-wake-dangers-us-port-and-shipping-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 May 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A reported plan by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings to separate two Panama Canal facilities from its controversial port deal would not bring “any practical significance” as the crux was whether the docks sold would be under Washington’s control, an article by pro-Beijing media and reposted by a key Beijing office has argued. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) reposted a second article by Ta Kung Pao critical of the deal on its website on Tuesday, the second in two days. The latest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3308424/beijing-office-posts-article-critical-splitting-ports-hutchison-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3308424/beijing-office-posts-article-critical-splitting-ports-hutchison-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:39:05 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok China’s foreign ministry has urged all parties in the controversial sale of CK Hutchison Holdings’ overseas ports to “act prudently” and stay in touch with Beijing amid a report that the Hong Kong conglomerate’s two Panama Canal facilities may be separated from the deal. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that authorities had taken note of the media report that the family behind the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was in talks to press on the US$23 billion deal after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3308249/hutchison-ports-deal-chinas-foreign-ministry-tells-parties-act-prudently?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3308249/hutchison-ports-deal-chinas-foreign-ministry-tells-parties-act-prudently?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:00:40 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Steep port fees imposed on Chinese vessels docking in the US are not expected to immediately affect Hong Kong’s shipping sector as the industry is good at working around disruptions and may benefit from the move, veteran shippers have said. Shipping industry players gathered on Tuesday to address how Hong Kong’s maritime community will face the challenges and seize opportunities such volatility brings. Among them was Olivia Lennox-King, chief operating officer at Cetus Maritime, which operates... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3307505/hong-kong-shipping-sector-can-navigate-effects-us-port-fees-industry-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3307505/hong-kong-shipping-sector-can-navigate-effects-us-port-fees-industry-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:19:45 +0000