Hong Kong to Montreal shipping route.

Ships leaving Hong Kong for Montreal head north and cover a sea distance of 11,712 nautical miles (21,690 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 12,435 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. 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.

At sea, the voyage lasts 40.7 days at 12 knots, 34.9 days at 14 knots and 27.1 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 22 to 29 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 25 sailings by 2 carriers (CMA CGM and OOCL).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Panama Canal instead. That route is 12,665 nautical miles, 953 more, and adds about 2.8 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.

3,001 nm of the route, 26% of it, lies inside North American ECA and 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.

Recent freight rates for HKHKG to CAMTR start at $7,615 for a 20GP and $9,515 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 Montreal (CAMTR) 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, Montreal is the 63rd shortest. Closer destinations include New York (11,356 nm), Savannah (10,949 nm) and Charleston (10,939 nm).