Charleston to Qingdao shipping route.

The shipping route from Charleston, United States to Qingdao, China covers 10,274 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 12,074 km apart, so the ship sails 1.58 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 30.6 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 35.7 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 23.8. Liner schedules on the lane quote 23 to 59 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 112 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,100 nautical miles, 2,827 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

367 nm of the route, 4% 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 CNTAO start at $6,748 for a 20GP and $8,435 for a 40GP ($8,485 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 Qingdao (CNTAO) 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 Charleston in this directory, Qingdao is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Shanghai (10,262 nm), Incheon (10,228 nm) and Busan (9,793 nm).