Busan to Algeciras shipping route.

Busan to Algeciras is a 9,528 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from South Korea to Spain. That is 17,646 km of water against 10,798 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Gibraltar, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 33.1 days at 12 knots, 28.4 days at 14 knots and 22.1 days at 18 knots. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Busan and Algeciras to plan the full ocean transit time.

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Panama Canal instead. That route is 12,576 nautical miles, 3,048 more, and adds about 9.1 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.

1,925 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.

Container freight rates on Busan to Algeciras move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Algeciras (ESALG) 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 65 port to port routes from Busan in this directory, Algeciras is the 48th shortest. Closer destinations include Valencia (9,271 nm), Barcelona (9,194 nm) and Genoa (9,042 nm).