Hong Kong to Houston shipping route.

Hong Kong to Houston is a 10,884 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north east from Hong Kong to the United States. That is 20,156 km of water against 13,426 km as the crow flies. 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 32.4 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 37.8 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 25.2. Liner schedules on the lane quote 27 to 89 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 105 sailings by 5 carriers (CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, ONE and ZIM).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,198 nautical miles, 2,315 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal 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 HKHKG to USHOU start at $7,400 for a 20GP and $8,775 for a 40GP ($8,825 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 Hong Kong in this directory, Houston is the 59th shortest. Closer destinations include Gdansk (10,642 nm), Buenos Aires (10,544 nm) and Santos (10,340 nm).