Dalian to Houston shipping route.

Ships leaving Dalian for Houston head north east and cover a sea distance of 10,281 nautical miles (19,041 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 11,475 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 30.6 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 35.7 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 23.8. Liner schedules on the lane quote 23 to 147 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 47 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Maersk, MSC and ONE).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 14,381 nautical miles, 4,099 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

352 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 CNDLC to USHOU start at $6,955 for a 20GP and $8,460 for a 40GP ($8,510 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 Houston (USHOU) carriers give about 4 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 63 port to port routes from Dalian in this directory, Houston is the 47th shortest. Closer destinations include Algeciras (9,613 nm), Callao (9,405 nm) and Valencia (9,355 nm).