Boeing showed a sign that it had resumed deliveries of its 737 MAX aircraft to Chinese customers.

On June 9, 2025, a plane painted in Xiamen Airlines livery landed at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai, after departing from Seattle on June 7.

Deliveries had been suspended in April due to rising tariffs between the US and China.

These deliveries resumed following a temporary reduction of tariffs for 90 days, which began in June, as announced by Boeing in late May.

Neither Boeing, Xiamen Airlines, nor the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) have commented on this development.

Representatives from China and the US are scheduled to meet in London on June 8, 2025, to discuss trade agreements.

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🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s aviation market represents a critical growth engine for Boeing’s future

The resumption of 737 MAX deliveries comes at a crucial time for Boeing, as China has transformed from a peripheral market to a core business pillar over recent decades.

Boeing delivered its first 1,000 commercial aircraft to China over a 40-year period, but remarkably shipped the next 1,000 planes in just five years, demonstrating the market’s exponential growth trajectory 1.

By 2018, one in four Boeing commercial jets were being delivered to Chinese operators, making it the company’s largest international market 2.

Boeing’s forecasts project China will require 7,690 new airplanes valued at $1.2 trillion by 2038, driven by the rapid expansion of China’s commercial aviation sector and growing middle class 1.

The stakes are particularly high for Boeing now, as China represents approximately 10% of its commercial backlog, making the current delivery resumption essential for the company’s production planning and financial stability.

2️⃣ The Zhoushan completion center represents Boeing’s strategic infrastructure commitment despite geopolitical tensions

Boeing’s $33 million investment in the Zhoushan facility, announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2015 US visit, demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market despite periodic political tensions 3.

The 100-acre center, built in partnership with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), was designed to handle up to 100 planes annually and represents Boeing’s first completion facility outside the United States 4.

The facility’s 2018 opening marked a significant milestone in Boeing’s nearly 50-year relationship with China, with capabilities for interior installation and aircraft painting specifically tailored for Chinese airline customers 4.

The strategic importance of the center is highlighted by its role in alleviating production pressure at Boeing’s Renton assembly plant while reducing delivery times for Chinese customers 3.

Boeing’s decision to return aircraft to this facility after the tariff reduction signals its continued investment in the Chinese market infrastructure despite recent trade uncertainties.

3️⃣ Aircraft deliveries serve as sensitive barometers of US-China trade relations

The halting and resumption of Boeing deliveries illustrates how high-value aerospace products often become focal points in broader trade disputes due to their economic significance and high visibility.

Tariffs on Chinese imports had reached as high as 145% during recent trade tensions, before being temporarily reduced to 30%, directly affecting the economics of aircraft deliveries 5.

The aerospace industry is particularly vulnerable to tariff disruptions due to its complex global supply chains, with components often crossing borders multiple times during production 6.

Chinese airlines’ decision to halt Boeing deliveries amid rising trade tensions demonstrates how commercial aviation decisions are increasingly influenced by geopolitical considerations rather than purely business factors 6.

The resumption of deliveries coinciding with US-China trade talks in London highlights how aircraft deliveries now function as diplomatic signals in addition to commercial transactions.

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