Houston to Laem Chabang shipping route.

The shipping route from Houston, United States to Laem Chabang, Thailand covers 12,284 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 14,947 km apart, so the ship sails 1.52 times the straight line distance. 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 36.6 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 42.7 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 28.4. Liner schedules on the lane quote 36 to 65 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 51 sailings by 4 carriers (CMA CGM, Maersk, ONE and ZIM).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,562 nautical miles, 279 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 USHOU to THLCH 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 Laem Chabang (THLCH) carriers give about 5 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 65 port to port routes from Houston in this directory, Laem Chabang is the 65th shortest. Closer destinations include Tanjung Priok (12,042 nm), Singapore (11,766 nm) and Ho Chi Minh City (11,745 nm).