In May 2012, the largest Chinese operator of dry bulk carriers, state-owned China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO), claimed that Vale has refused to use the company's ships since March as a protest against banning the Valemax vessels from Chinese ports.
•
On 31 January 2012 the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China officially banned dry bulk carriers with capacity exceeding 300,000 tons from entering Chinese ports to protect the domestic freight industry.