Major container shipping operators are suspending at least six weekly routes between China and the United States, cutting capacity by more than 1.3 million 40-foot containers per year, according to maritime consultants. This move comes as the escalating tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have led to a sharp decline in trade volumes.
The suspended routes include those operated by MSC, Zim, and the Ocean Alliance (comprising COSCO, Evergreen, CMA CGM, and OOCL). Four of these routes serve West Coast ports, one the East Coast, and one the Gulf Coast. Container operators either declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.
Simon Sundboell, CEO of Danish maritime data company eeSea, noted that this capacity reduction is not just a warning sign but clear evidence of slowing economic activity. He explained that it reflects the industry’s reaction to unpredictable US trade policies, which have significantly reduced demand for shipping services.
Meanwhile, Maersk and the Gemini Alliance (Hapag-Lloyd) have not yet cut their routes, though both faced significant drops in bookings for China-US routes in April. In response, some carriers have switched larger vessels for smaller ones to reduce operational costs.
According to Drewry, a leading maritime consultancy, the number of blank (canceled) sailings on transpacific routes from Asia to North America has surged. In April, MSC, the world’s largest container carrier, canceled 30% of its scheduled transpacific sailings. In May, the Premier Alliance (comprising Ocean Network Express, Hyundai Merchant Marine, and Yang Ming Marine Transportation) led the way in blank sailings, cutting capacity by 20%.
Experts warn that the full impact of the tariffs may become clear by mid-year, with overall US container imports potentially dropping by 25% or more compared to last year. This could force carriers to either further cut capacity or face falling spot rates, which would hurt their profitability.
