Hong Kong
South AfricaHong Kong to Cape Town shipping route.
6,992 nautical miles via Cape of Good Hope, about 20.8 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Hong Kong and Cape Town
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
Hong KongCape of Good Hope · Sunda StraitCape TownShipping time from Hong Kong to Cape Town
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Cape of Good Hope (shortest) | 6,992 nm | 24.3 d | 20.8 d | 16.2 d |
Sea Route Distance Calculator
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Reverse: Cape Town to Hong KongShip Hong Kong to Cape Town with Navo
Live numbers for this lane from Navo apps, updated 2026-10-31.
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About the Hong Kong to Cape Town shipping route
The shipping route from Hong Kong to Cape Town, South Africa covers 6,992 nautical miles port to port, via Cape of Good Hope. On a globe the two ports sit 11,873 km apart, so the ship sails 1.09 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait.
Pure steaming time is 20.8 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 24.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 16.2. Liner schedules on the lane quote 24 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 2 sailings by 1 carrier (OOCL).
Recent freight rates for HKHKG to ZACPT start at $4,430 for a 20GP and $6,980 for a 40GP. These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Cape Town (ZACPT) carriers give about 3 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, Cape Town is the 36th shortest. Closer destinations include Mersin (6,876 nm), Port Said (6,505 nm) and Los Angeles (6,427 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Hong Kong to Cape Town?
The port to port distance from Hong Kong to Cape Town is 6,992 nautical miles (12,949 km), via Cape of Good Hope. The route passes Cape of Good Hope, Sunda Strait.
What is the shipping time from Hong Kong to Cape Town?
About 20.8 days at 14 knots and 16.2 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services on this lane quote 24 to 24 days.
What are freight rates from Hong Kong to Cape Town?
Recent spot rates for HKHKG to ZACPT start at $4,430 per 20GP and $6,980 per 40GP, before local charges. Rates change weekly.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Cape Town to Hong Kong has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Hong Kong to
Kaohsiung380 nm - Hong Kong to
Haiphong556 nm - Hong Kong to
Manila660 nm - Hong Kong to
Ningbo730 nm - Hong Kong to Shanghai844 nm
- Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City900 nm
- Durban to Cape Town875 nm
Lagos (Apapa) to Cape Town2,619 nm
Mombasa to Cape Town2,631 nm
Santos to Cape Town3,508 nm
Buenos Aires to Cape Town3,846 nm
Salalah to Cape Town4,010 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.