What Amazon Sellers Can Do About Rising Shipping Costs in China

Shipping prices from China have skyrocketed and are projected to increase due to a variety of recent events.

One major factor that has contributed to the higher costs has been the U.S. tariffs on imports from China. While exclusions for many products were put in place at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the tariff exclusions expired on Dec. 31, 2020, with only a handful of extensions granted for pandemic-related reasons.

According to CNBC, American companies are absorbing more than 90% of additional costs related to the 20% tariff on Chinese goods, which has led some businesses to cut back on which products they import from the country.

Prior to the expiration of tariff exclusions, there have also been crises brewing over inflation fears as well as a shortage of shipping containers. The cost of shipping a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles has nearly doubled since June 2020. The rate to ship a container of the same size to Rotterdam, Netherlands, is currently four times higher.

The Covid-19 outbreak created a worldwide shortage of shipping containers and disrupted supply chains due to a rise in commerce and pandemic-related trade restrictions. Approximately 60% of global goods are transported by containers. Furthermore, there are roughly 180 million containers around the world, per United Nations trade data.

Monthly exports from China — which generates 96% of global production — reached a record-breaking 300,000 units in Sept. 2020, according to China Container Industry Association (CCIA). Although China exports a massive quantity of goods, suppliers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure containers.

To profit from the growing demand in transportation vessels, some private Chinese firms are accumulating containers and selling them to the highest bidder. The move is exacerbating the problem for suppliers, as they resort to bidding against each other to gain access to the vessels.

Some vendors in China have expressed that private firms behave like a mafia by charging inflated rates for their containers. Each container can cost 3,000 RMB, approximately $500, which is three times higher than the usual price. Vendors have stated they are losing money while private yards are capitalizing on the shortage.

However, some shipping associations are still unable to lock in freights despite paying extra. Suppliers have reported that sometimes carriers do not book shipping spaces and they are not guaranteed a spot, even when they are paying a generous amount for a container.

In addition to the container shortage and disrupted supply chains, the pandemic has also delayed container turnaround times, congested ports, and led to equipment shortages worldwide. The shortage of freights is anticipated to continue throughout the first half of 2021, per HMM Co.

Final Thoughts

Issues with tariffs, inflation fears, and the global shipping container shortage are projected to continue in 2021, which will impact many businesses’ strategies as we head into the second half of the year. As rising costs, supply chain problems, and more are likely to affect brands and sellers on Amazon post-pandemic, make sure you follow these tips to pivot your 2021 strategy and overcome the current logistical bottlenecks.