Houston to Yantian shipping route.

Ships leaving Houston for Yantian head north west and cover a sea distance of 10,884 nautical miles (20,157 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 13,392 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. 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 32.4 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 37.8 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 25.2. Liner schedules on the lane quote 20 to 130 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 93 sailings by 11 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, HMM and Hapag-Lloyd).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,220 nautical miles, 2,336 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 CNYTN start at $6,800 for a 20GP and $8,375 for a 40GP ($8,425 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 Yantian (CNYTN) 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, Yantian is the 58th shortest. Closer destinations include Hong Kong (10,884 nm), Kaohsiung (10,633 nm) and Xiamen (10,628 nm).