Houston to Qingdao shipping route.

Houston to Qingdao is a 10,218 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north west from the United States to China. That is 18,924 km of water against 11,803 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 30.4 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 35.5 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 23.7. Liner schedules on the lane quote 22 to 61 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 167 sailings by 8 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 14,238 nautical miles, 4,020 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 CNTAO start at $7,276 for a 20GP and $8,470 for a 40GP ($8,520 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 Qingdao (CNTAO) 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 65 port to port routes from Houston in this directory, Qingdao is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Shanghai (10,206 nm), Incheon (10,173 nm) and Mombasa (9,794 nm).