Barcelona to Yantian shipping route.

Barcelona to Yantian is a 8,118 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north east from Spain to China. That is 15,034 km of water against 10,054 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb and Strait of Malacca, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 28.2 days at 12 knots, 24.2 days at 14 knots and 18.8 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 21 to 63 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 45 sailings by 5 carriers (CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC and ONE).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Cape of Good Hope instead. That route is 12,620 nautical miles, 4,502 more, and adds about 13.4 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

1,591 nm of the route, 20% of it, lies inside Mediterranean Sea ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Recent freight rates for ESBCN to CNYTN start at $2,650 for a 20GP and $3,800 for a 40GP ($3,600 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Yantian (CNYTN) carriers give about 6 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 64 port to port routes from Barcelona in this directory, Yantian is the 48th shortest. Closer destinations include Hong Kong (8,096 nm), Manila (8,020 nm) and Haiphong (7,976 nm).