Aviation publication The Air Current on Thursday (Friday AEDT) reported that the first of three of the four recently arrived planes had been tagged to be recalled to the United States without a handover.
Boeing declined to comment.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Boeing deliveries to China have previously been disrupted at times of tension between Washington and Beijing.
Boeing deliveries to China have previously been disrupted at times of tension between Washington and Beijing. In January 2024, Max deliveries resumed after an almost five-year import freeze.
The plane-maker opened the plant south-east of Shanghai in 2018 under the shadow of a previous round of trade tensions during Trump’s first presidency.
Although Boeing has not followed Airbus in assembling full planes in China, analysts said the aim was to build a lead in one of the world’s largest air travel markets.
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Airline and aerospace industry sources said there was no confirmation of a formal ban on Boeing deliveries, reported earlier this week by Bloomberg News, but that the imposition of tariffs would effectively block imports for the time being.
Beijing has also asked that Chinese carriers halt purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US companies, the Bloomberg report said.
A senior industry source said Boeing and suppliers were planning on the basis that it would not be delivering planes to China for the time being.
However, two US industry sources said they were given no clear instructions not to ship parts to China. A separate source, who runs a maintenance and repair shop for aircraft in China, said they have not had any issues importing American parts.
China’s foreign ministry declined to comment. Asked by media about the reported ban, a spokesperson said: “I’d refer you to competent authorities.”
Beijing has also asked that Chinese carriers halt purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US companies.Credit: AP
Delivery limbo
For aerospace, Zhoushan is the latest staging post in a growing US-led trade war. Plane makers, airlines and suppliers are reviewing contracts after Reuters reported that US supplier Howmet Aerospace had ignited a debate over the cost of tariffs by declaring a “force majeure event”.
Confusion over changing tariffs could leave many aircraft deliveries in limbo, with some airline CEOs saying they would defer delivery of planes rather than pay duties.
Boeing historically sent a quarter of its deliveries to China, but the proportion has been falling following earlier trade tensions, a 737 Max safety crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Analysts said a short-term halt in deliveries to China would not have an immediate major impact on Boeing, since it could serve other airlines and Airbus lacks spare capacity.
In the longer term, China remains a strategic market. Boeing says China will more than double its fleet by 2043, with the country set to overtake the US in terms of air traffic.
Boeing data shows 130 unfilled orders for China-based airlines and lessors, including 96 of the 737 Max. Industry sources say a significant portion of the more than 760 unfilled orders for which Boeing has yet to name a buyer are for China.
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Chinese airlines lease 55 per cent of their jets, and it is “highly probable” they will try to extend any expiring leases for the time being, IBA chief economist Stuart Hatcher said.
Reuters
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