Manzanillo to Colombo shipping route.

The shipping route from Manzanillo, Mexico to Colombo, Sri Lanka covers 10,589 nautical miles port to port, via Strait of Malacca. On a globe the two ports sit 17,083 km apart, so the ship sails 1.15 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 31.5 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 36.8 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 24.5. 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 Colombo to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Sunda Strait, 11,101 nautical miles, 512 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.

Container freight rates on Manzanillo to Colombo move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Colombo (LKCMB) 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, Colombo is the 60th shortest. Closer destinations include Salalah (10,021 nm), Djibouti (9,360 nm) and Port Klang (9,269 nm).