Charleston to Hong Kong shipping route.

The shipping route from Charleston, United States to Hong Kong covers 10,939 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 13,711 km apart, so the ship sails 1.48 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 32.6 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 38.0 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 25.3. Liner schedules on the lane quote 31 to 48 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 35 sailings by 4 carriers (CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC and ZIM).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,061 nautical miles, 1,122 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

367 nm of the route, 3% of it, lies inside North American 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 USCHS to HKHKG start at $7,212 for a 20GP and $9,165 for a 40GP ($9,215 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 Hong Kong (HKHKG) carriers give about 5 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 Charleston in this directory, Hong Kong is the 59th shortest. Closer destinations include Tanjung Priok (10,905 nm), Kaohsiung (10,689 nm) and Xiamen (10,684 nm).