Boeing Resumes Deliveries to China as Tariff Dispute Eases

Boeing’s 737 MAX made its return to China on Monday June 9, marking the resumption of aircraft deliveries to Chinese customers as the U.S.-China tariff dispute begins to ease. Flight tracking data revealed the plane landed at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai after departing Seattle on Saturday. During its journey, the aircraft made stops in Hawaii and Guam to refuel.

This marks a significant development after Boeing had halted plane deliveries to China in April amid rising tariffs between the world’s two largest economies. However, in late May, Boeing announced that deliveries would resume in June, following a temporary 90-day reduction in tariffs.

The 737 MAX, painted in the livery of Xiamen Airlines, was originally ferried to Zhoushan in March, before being returned to the U.S. in mid-April as Chinese airlines stopped accepting new Boeing aircraft. The plane is now back in China, signaling a possible stabilization in trade relations between the U.S. and China.

Boeing, Xiamen Airlines, and China’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China accounts for about 10% of Boeing’s commercial backlog and remains a crucial and expanding market for the planemaker. The resumption of deliveries reflects the growing optimism as Beijing and Washington continue discussions to ease trade tensions.

In addition to the recent delivery, at least three 737 MAX jets were repatriated from Zhoushan to the U.S. in April. These planes had been awaiting final adjustments before being delivered to Chinese carriers. Boeing had previously announced plans to deliver 50 jets to Chinese airlines throughout the year, with 41 planes either in production or already pre-built.

While Boeing had considered reselling aircraft due to the halted deliveries, the company refrained from sending these planes to other markets, aiming to keep the inventory available for Chinese carriers. The delays were exacerbated by U.S. tariffs, which heavily impacted both Chinese airlines and Boeing.

Representatives from China and the U.S. will meet in London on Monday to continue their discussions on trade agreements.

Boeing has finally reached its FAA approved production rate of 38 737 MAX aircraft per month in May 2025, as shown by the 38 units produced this month. Of these, 33 were 737 MAX 8s and five were 737 MAX 9s. Some industry leaders, including Safran Chief Executive Officer Olivier Andries, have stated that Boeing nearing the FAA approved rate of 38 aircraft per month signals the company is returning to a more ”dynamic production profile”.


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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com