Jeddah to Manzanillo shipping route.

Ships leaving Jeddah for Manzanillo head north west and cover a sea distance of 8,700 nautical miles (16,111 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 14,010 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Panama Canal and Strait of Gibraltar, 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 25.9 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 30.2 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 20.1. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Jeddah and Manzanillo to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Cape of Good Hope, 12,949 nautical miles, 4,250 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Cape of Good Hope is congested or closed.

2,083 nm of the route, 24% of it, lies inside US Caribbean Sea 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.

Container freight rates on Jeddah to Manzanillo move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Manzanillo (MXZLO) carriers give about 7 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 Jeddah in this directory, Manzanillo is the 60th shortest. Closer destinations include Callao (8,396 nm), Buenos Aires (7,995 nm) and Sydney (7,683 nm).