Charleston to Xiamen shipping route.

Ships leaving Charleston for Xiamen head north and cover a sea distance of 10,684 nautical miles (19,786 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 13,372 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 31.8 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 37.1 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 24.7. Liner schedules on the lane quote 25 to 56 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 47 sailings by 6 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,286 nautical miles, 1,602 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar 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 CNXMN start at $8,626 for a 20GP and $8,350 for a 40GP ($8,400 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 Xiamen (CNXMN) 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, Xiamen is the 56th shortest. Closer destinations include Singapore (10,628 nm), Port Klang (10,443 nm) and Dalian (10,337 nm).