Manzanillo to Antwerp shipping route.

Manzanillo to Antwerp is a 6,525 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north east from Mexico to Belgium. That is 12,084 km of water against 9,597 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 19.4 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 22.7 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 15.1. 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 Manzanillo and Antwerp to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 12,319 nautical miles, 5,794 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

491 nm of the route, 8% of it, lies inside US Caribbean Sea ECA and North 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 Manzanillo to Antwerp move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Antwerp (BEANR) 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 Manzanillo in this directory, Antwerp is the 24th shortest. Closer destinations include Busan (6,501 nm), Buenos Aires (6,492 nm) and London Gateway (6,474 nm).