Karachi to Los Angeles shipping route.

The shipping route from Karachi, Pakistan to Los Angeles, United States covers 10,770 nautical miles port to port, via Strait of Malacca. On a globe the two ports sit 13,477 km apart, so the ship sails 1.48 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca.

Pure steaming time is 32.1 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 37.4 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 24.9. 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 Karachi and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Sunda Strait, 11,293 nautical miles, 523 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.

683 nm of the route, 6% 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.

Container freight rates on Karachi to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) 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 Karachi in this directory, Los Angeles is the 63rd shortest. Closer destinations include Callao (10,576 nm), Oakland (10,436 nm) and Vancouver (10,186 nm).