Hong Kong to Algeciras shipping route.

Hong Kong to Algeciras is a 8,430 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from Hong Kong to Spain. That is 15,613 km of water against 10,937 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.

Pure steaming time is 25.1 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 29.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 19.5. 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 Hong Kong 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 Cape of Good Hope instead. That route is 12,075 nautical miles, 3,645 more, and adds about 10.8 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, 23% 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 Hong Kong 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 63 port to port routes from Hong Kong in this directory, Algeciras is the 43rd shortest. Closer destinations include Valencia (8,173 nm), Barcelona (8,096 nm) and Genoa (7,944 nm).