U.S.-bound ocean cargo bookings from China surge 277 pct

Container bookings placed in the United States for shipments from China jumped 277 percent, seven days after a temporary rollback of reciprocal tariffs between the two countries, container-tracking software provider Vizion said on Wednesday.

The average bookings as of May 14 soared 277 percent to 21,530 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared to 5,709 TEUs for the average for the seven days that ended on May 5, Reuters reported, citing Ben Tracy, Vizion's vice president of strategic business development.

A Shanghai-headquartered international logistics service provider that partners with over 100 major shipping lines globally has also seen momentum pick up in recent days.

It reported that freight rates from Shanghai to the East Coast of the U.S. for a 40-foot container have already climbed to between 4,000 and 4,200 U.S. dollars.

"This chart shows the pricing trend for shipping from Shanghai to the East Coast of the U.S. The yellow line represents the rate for shipping a 40-foot general-purpose (GP) container. From May 15, there's a clear increase of about 500 to 700 U.S. dollars. Between May 15 and May 31, the rates are expected to remain relatively firm," said Lei Lei, a staff member responsible for U.S. and Canada-bound routes at a logistics service platform.

Cross-border e-commerce sellers have moved swiftly in response. Sellers in sectors like furniture, fitness equipment, and mechanical components rush to secure bookings and replenish overseas warehouses within the 90-day "window period." Traditional exporters are expected to reach peak shipping volume after June.

As demand rapidly intensifies, shipping companies are racing to restore routes and bring back capacity.

"By the end of May, we will see a lot of route realignments and the resumption of vessels working overtime. We expect capacity to be back to pre-tariff-hike levels by early June. June and July are usually a modest peak season for U.S.-bound shipments, and combined with previously delayed cargo, freight rates are likely to remain on the rise from late May through early June, and throughout July," said Lei.

U.S.-bound ocean cargo bookings from China surge 277 pct

U.S.-bound ocean cargo bookings from China surge 277 pct

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market