Anyone want to take a stab at how
 

much it costs for a Transpacific modern container cargo vessel to make the 14 day journey from China to the US west coast at current fuel costs?

I've had a few so sure: 750000.

Well I need to leave for home so here it goes.

oil prices topped US$119 per barrel this week, in turn pushing marine bunker fuel prices up past $552 per ton. at $552 per ton, with fuel consumption at 217 tons per day, and a 14 day voyage, a single round trip voyage for this one vessel would produce a fuel bill of $3,353,952.

So when you start seeing your "made in China" products rising this is me passing on our fuel costs to you since the shipping lines are passing it to us.

Made in China?

I've resolved to buy American, dammit. At least I'll give it a try.

Why?

Because I'd rather that American manufacturers get my money and it's my way to protest the treatment of Tibet by China.

Personally, I'd rather that American manufacturers specialize in something they have a competitive advantage in.


Interestingly, the increase in transportation costs could lead to an increase in the advantage of American manufacturers. This could result in a number of beneficial (if only temporary) shifts in the market for domestic goods.

It is not there yet. But I have been having new products bid domestically for the first time in a long time. The gap is still great enough that importing still wins out even figuring logistics, carrying costs, etc but it is closer than it ever has been.

don't forget the weak dollar, that is pushing up the price of both imports and oil. (which ChinoCoug says is economically beneficial for the average American).

The weak dollar has a much bigger impact than transportation costs. However, China's currency is artificially pinned to the dollar so the transportation costs could affect that relationship.

Buying American because you want to send a political message about Tibet is understandable.

Buying American because you want to financially support American companies is an old way of thinking that shows complete lack of understanding of the global economy.

Except for Chinese food, of course. Don't tell me you eat the Americanized versions, a la Panda Express.

No doubt. And the long-term effects of re-invigorating production lines that should probably die out in the US could be more detrimental than the short-term gains.

Panda isn't bad, if you're going for quick & accessible.

I'll admit that I'm no expert on a global economy. So I'll amend my statement that it's solely about Tibet.

No. Hell no.

The Chinese food I eat is from a little place that is owned by a nice Cantonese family who immigrated to the US about 12 years ago.

One benefit of high fuel costs is undeniably that it makes domestic products more competitive at home. It is a de facto tariff.