Kaohsiung to Houston shipping route.

Kaohsiung to Houston is a 10,633 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north east from Taiwan to the United States. That is 19,693 km of water against 13,059 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 31.7 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 36.9 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 24.6. Liner schedules on the lane quote 24 to 46 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 80 sailings by 4 carriers (CMA CGM, Maersk, ONE and ZIM).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,435 nautical miles, 2,802 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 TWKHH to USHOU start at $7,250 for a 20GP and $8,425 for a 40GP ($8,475 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 Houston (USHOU) carriers give about 4 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 64 port to port routes from Kaohsiung in this directory, Houston is the 58th shortest. Closer destinations include Santos (10,534 nm), Gothenburg (10,482 nm) and Hamburg (10,304 nm).