Los Angeles to Laem Chabang shipping route.

Ships leaving Los Angeles for Laem Chabang head north west and cover a sea distance of 7,827 nautical miles (14,495 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 13,362 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 23.3 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 27.2 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 18.1. Liner schedules on the lane quote 22 to 34 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 30 sailings by 6 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, HMM, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

683 nm of the route, 9% 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 USLAX to THLCH start at $4,495 for a 20GP and $6,525 for a 40GP ($6,575 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 Laem Chabang (THLCH) carriers give about 5 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 Los Angeles in this directory, Laem Chabang is the 40th shortest. Closer destinations include Antwerp (7,809 nm), Singapore (7,777 nm) and London Gateway (7,758 nm).