The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission and the Department of Transport have jointly issued a notice defining the toll collection arrangements for vessels passing through the Pinglu Canal locks.

This policy decision, approved by the regional government, is designed to accelerate the development of lock and waterway infrastructure, enhance navigation conditions, and standardize fee collection practices to support the growth of the region's water transport sector. The regulations are grounded in the Price Law of the People's Republic of China, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Pinglu Canal Protection and Management Ordinance, and regional lock management rules.

Key aspects of the new fee structure are as follows. The transit fee will be levied per lockage, applying uniformly to all vessel types passing through the Madao, Qishi, and Qingnian locks, with the charge calculated based on the gross tonnage recorded on each vessel's certificate.

Starting from the official opening of navigation and continuing until September 30, 2031, the trial fee will be set at 1.0 yuan per gross ton per lockage. Once this trial period concludes, an official fee schedule will be established, taking into account factors such as lock operational conditions, total investment, loan repayment timelines, and investment recovery periods.

To foster market growth, lock operators are encouraged to implement voluntary differentiated pricing. Within the framework where the trial rate serves as a ceiling, operators can offer reductions based on variables like season and vessel type to determine specific charges.

Exemptions from lockage fees for vessels transiting the Madao, Qishi, and Qingnian locks will follow national and regional regulations. The fee collector will be Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., which operates under the umbrella of Pinglu Canal Group Co., Ltd.

As a commercial service charge, the fee must be documented with tax invoices issued by tax authorities. The collecting entity is required to display the fee items, rates, and service details prominently at collection points, ensuring compliance with oversight from development and reform, transport, market regulation, and taxation departments, as well as public scrutiny. Operators must also clearly communicate the policy to users and maintain high service standards for smooth implementation.

The policy's rationale lies in the Pinglu Canal's status as a flagship project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, strategically vital for economic progress in Guangxi and Southwest China. With three tiered lock hubs nearing completion, the fee schedule was mandated by the regional protection ordinance, requiring the Development and Reform Commission and Transport Department to formulate standards for government approval.

The pricing approach balances long-term lock maintenance needs against the financial capacity of shipping enterprises, aiming to keep transit costs reasonable while maximizing the canal's river-sea intermodal advantages. It adheres to three guiding principles: ensuring fairness by aligning fees with benefits and distributing costs equitably across all shipping stakeholders; maintaining scientific rigor by grounding rates in cost analysis while considering market conditions, cargo structures, and industry affordability; and upholding transparency through due legal procedures that safeguard market participants' rights to information, participation, and oversight.

The formulation process involved rigorous cost investigations per government pricing regulations. After drafting the proposal, authorities solicited feedback from the public and relevant organizations through multiple channels, held consultations with port and shipping management agencies and enterprises, convened expert reviews and a public price hearing, and incorporated reasonable suggestions before final submission to the regional government for approval.

In terms of implementation, a differentiated discount mechanism permits operators to offer moderate concessions based on seasonal and vessel-type factors, helping to cultivate the shipping market. Additionally, fee transparency and oversight are reinforced through mandatory public disclosure, policy interpretation, and standardized collection practices to ensure the smooth rollout of the new regulations.