Zero Chinese Cargo Ships Dock at California Ports as Seafood Supply Chain Cracks Emerge!

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Zero Chinese Cargo Ships Dock at California Ports as Seafood Supply Chain Cracks Emerge!

Two key U.S. ports in California — the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach — have hit their quietest moment since the pandemic: over the past 24 hours, not a single cargo ship from China has set sail for these two ports. U.S. port officials have called this sudden situation a "warning sign" and said its impact has surpassed that of the pandemic period.

According to CNN, six days ago, 41 cargo ships were still scheduled to sail from China to the San Pedro Bay port complex (including the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach), but by Friday (May 10), the number of ships scheduled to depart had plummeted to zero. This phenomenon is a reflection of the market's dramatic reaction after the Trump administration imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods.

Profound Impact on Seafood Exports

China is one of the largest sources of U.S. seafood imports, holding a significant market share especially in high-value-added categories such as frozen tilapia, cod, wild salmon, shrimp, and shellfish. California ports have historically been an important transshipment hub for China-U.S. seafood trade, with about 63% of the Port of Long Beach's cargo volume coming from China, a share that reached as high as 72% in 2016.

As seafood has long remained "high on the list" in the China-U.S. bilateral tariff lists, trading companies have had to reduce or even cancel orders to avoid tariffs. CNN, citing data from Maersk, reported that overall cargo volume between China and the U.S. is currently down 30% to 40% compared with normal levels.

Consumers to Face a Gap Period

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said that if this trend continues, U.S. consumers will clearly feel "empty shelves" within the next 30 days, with seafood, agricultural products, and seasonal holiday goods most affected.

For the seafood industry, this will mean:

• U.S. importers will face depleted inventories and turn to alternative sources in Southeast Asia or South America;
• Chinese seafood exporters, if they continue to find it "hard to ship despite having goods," will have to seek new markets such as Europe and the Middle East;
• Cold chain transportation costs will rise and sales windows will narrow;
• Market price fluctuations will intensify, increasing pressure on restaurants and retail terminals.

Signs of Easing in the U.S. Attitude, New Round of China-U.S. Talks to Begin

It is reported that Chinese and U.S. trade representatives will hold a new round of face-to-face talks in Geneva this weekend, the first high-level contact between the two sides since the latest round of tariff escalation. Trump revealed on Friday that he is considering lowering the tariff rate on China from 145% to 80%, but the final decision will still be led by Treasury Secretary Bessent. However, even if the rate is lowered, the current supply chain cracks have already emerged, and high-time-sensitivity industries such as seafood may need longer to recover.

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