China
Sri LankaFreight rates from Shanghai to Colombo.
FCL, LCL and air freight. Containers: 20GP, 40GP, 40HC from Shanghai (CNSHA) to Colombo (LKCMB), 13 to 40 days in transit. Prices as of 30 Oct 2026, with their source. Run a live search for a price you can book.
Live rates Shanghai to Colombo
Checks carriers and forwarders connected to Navo at the moment you search.
LCL, air or other cargo types: open Navo Rates.
Container shipping cost Shanghai to Colombo
Ocean freight per container in USD. Carrier prices are port to port before local charges; live quotes keep the terms the provider quoted. Reference prices with date and source, not an offer.
| Container | Source | From | Median | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | Navo Rates | $3,150 | $4,114 | 30 sailings, updated 30 Oct 2026 |
| 40GP | Navo Rates | $3,400 | $4,314 | 26 sailings, updated 30 Oct 2026 |
| 40HC | Navo Rates | $3,400 | $4,314 | 30 sailings, updated 30 Oct 2026 |
Source: Navo Rates, 30 priced sailings updated 2 Oct 2026 to 30 Oct 2026. Page built 11 Nov 2026.
Freight rates from Shanghai to Colombo by shipping type
Lowest price we hold on this lane, in USD. Source: Navo Rates. Reference prices, not an offer: run a live search for a price you can book.
Other shipping types
- FTLFull truck load
- LTLLess than truck load
- BulkDry bulk and break bulk
- RoRoVehicles and rolling cargo
- Rail freightContainers and wagons by rail
Estimates: Navo Rates formula from comparable lanes, distance and fuel prices (VLSFO $816.5 per tonne, 2026-11-11), USD. Indicative, not bookable: request a rate on Navo Mesh or run a live search.
Road, bulk, RoRo and rail prices depend on cargo, weight and dates: open a live search or request rates on Navo Mesh below.
Cheapest upcoming sailings Shanghai to Colombo
Carrier list prices on scheduled departures. Space and the final price are confirmed when you book.
| Carrier | Departs | Arrives | Transit | 20GP | 40GP | 40HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MSC | 17 Nov 2026 | 27 Dec 2026 | 40 d | $3,150 | $3,400 | $3,400 |
 OOCL | 15 Nov 2026 | 1 Dec 2026 | 16 d | $3,485 | $3,560 | $3,560 |
 Yang Ming | 30 Nov 2026 | 24 Dec 2026 | 24 d | $3,490 | $3,580 | $3,580 |
| OOCL | 22 Nov 2026 | 8 Dec 2026 | 16 d | $3,585 | $3,660 | $3,660 |
| OOCL | 29 Nov 2026 | 15 Dec 2026 | 16 d | $3,585 | $3,660 | $3,660 |
 CMA CGMCma Cgm Zheng He · FAL/TVI | 11 Nov 2026 | 1 Dec 2026 | 20 d · via | $3,514 | $3,714 | $3,714 |
| CMA CGMOocl Luxembourg · CIX | 11 Nov 2026 | 25 Nov 2026 | 14 d | $3,614 | $3,814 | $3,814 |
| CMA CGMOocl Luxembourg · CIX | 14 Nov 2026 | 27 Nov 2026 | 13 d | $3,614 | $3,814 | $3,814 |
Shipping lines from Shanghai to Colombo
6 carriers with priced sailings or quotes on this lane, lowest price per container.
Container shipping cost from Shanghai to Colombo
The lowest container shipping cost from Shanghai to Colombo we have on record is $3,150 for a 20GP, $3,400 for a 40GP and $3,400 for a 40HC.
Across 30 priced sailings the 40ft rate runs from $3,400 to $4,414, with a median of $4,314. The spread is the carrier, the vessel and the week: the same box can cost 30% more on a different sailing.
Carrier prices are ocean freight, port to port, before origin and destination terminal handling, documentation, customs and any trucking.
Shipping from Shanghai to Colombo
Carriers list 30 departures with prices on this lane, the next on 11 Nov 2026.
Scheduled transit is 13 to 40 days port to port; 17 of the 30 sailings are direct, the rest tranship.
Carriers on the lane: CMA CGM, Interasia, OOCL, ONE, MSC and Yang Ming.
By sea Shanghai to Colombo is 3,813 nautical miles via Strait of Malacca, about 11.4 days of pure steaming at 14 knots. Liner services take longer because they call at other ports on the way.
Freight rates from Shanghai to Colombo: where the numbers come from
Prices come from Navo Rates: sailings with a published price, updated between 2 Oct 2026 and 30 Oct 2026. Each figure is a list price for one sailing, not an offer: availability and the final price are confirmed when you request a quote.
For a price you can book today, run a live search for Shanghai to Colombo above: it asks the carriers and forwarders connected to Navo at the moment you search.
FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai to Colombo?
The lowest price we hold for Shanghai to Colombo is $3,150 per 20GP, $3,400 per 40GP and $3,400 per 40HC. Carrier prices are port to port, before local charges. Prices change every week; run a live search for today's rates.
How long does shipping from Shanghai to Colombo take?
Carriers schedule 13 to 40 days port to port on this lane. The sea distance is 3,813 nm, about 11.4 days at 14 knots without port calls.
Which shipping lines sail from Shanghai to Colombo?
CMA CGM, Interasia, OOCL, ONE, MSC and Yang Ming have priced sailings or quotes on this lane.
Can I book these freight rates?
No, they are reference prices from Navo Rates with their date. To book, run a live search or request a quote: the price you get there is confirmed by the carrier or forwarder.
What is included in the price?
Carrier prices cover ocean freight for one container, port to port. Terminal handling, documentation, customs clearance, inland transport and insurance are extra unless a live quote says it includes them.
More freight rates from Shanghai
- Shanghai to
Hamburg40HC from$1,944 - Shanghai to
New York40HC from$6,800 - Shanghai to
Rotterdam40HC from$2,416 - Shanghai to
Manzanillo40HC from$4,300 - Shanghai to
Sydney40HC from$4,330 - Shanghai to Houston40HC from$8,457
- Shanghai to Los Angeles40HC from$6,548
- Shanghai to
Singapore40HC from$1,530
More freight rates to Colombo
- Dalian to Colombo40HC from$4,714
- Xiamen to Colombo40HC from$4,314
- Qingdao to Colombo40HC from$3,950
- Ningbo to Colombo40HC from$3,300
All lanes: freight rates by country, China to Sri Lanka, from China, to Sri Lanka. Distance and transit: Shanghai to Colombo shipping route. Other references: Shipping Routes Directory, Carrier Directory.
Request freight rates from Shanghai to Colombo
Post one rate request and get offers from forwarders, carriers and AI agents on Navo Mesh. FCL, LCL, air, road, rail, bulk or RoRo: describe the cargo once, compare the offers, pick one.
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