Australia
ChinaMelbourne to Shanghai shipping route.
5,201 nautical miles direct, about 15.5 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Melbourne and Shanghai
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
MelbourneSeaShanghaiShipping time from Melbourne to Shanghai
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct (shortest) | 5,201 nm | 18.1 d | 15.5 d | 12.0 d |
Sea Route Distance Calculator
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Live numbers for this lane from Navo apps, updated 2026-10-31.
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About the Melbourne to Shanghai shipping route
Ships leaving Melbourne for Shanghai head north and cover a sea distance of 5,201 nautical miles (9,632 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 8,074 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.
At sea, the voyage lasts 18.1 days at 12 knots, 15.5 days at 14 knots and 12.0 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 9 to 45 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 107 sailings by 14 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, HMM and Hapag-Lloyd).
Recent freight rates for AUMEL to CNSHA start at $2,300 for a 20GP and $3,686 for a 40GP ($4,600 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 Shanghai (CNSHA) carriers give about 6 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 Melbourne in this directory, Shanghai is the 18th shortest. Closer destinations include Ningbo (5,154 nm), Haiphong (5,105 nm) and Yantian (5,065 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Melbourne to Shanghai?
The port to port distance from Melbourne to Shanghai is 5,201 nautical miles (9,632 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Melbourne to Shanghai?
About 15.5 days at 14 knots and 12.0 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services on this lane quote 9 to 45 days.
What are freight rates from Melbourne to Shanghai?
Recent spot rates for AUMEL to CNSHA start at $2,300 per 20GP and $3,686 per 40GP, before local charges. Rates change weekly.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Shanghai to Melbourne has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Melbourne to Sydney596 nm
- Melbourne to
Auckland1,683 nm - Melbourne to
Tanjung Priok3,475 nm - Melbourne to
Singapore3,936 nm - Melbourne to
Port Klang4,193 nm - Melbourne to
Manila4,495 nm - Qingdao to Shanghai410 nm
Busan to Shanghai469 nm- Incheon to Shanghai538 nm
- Dalian to Shanghai553 nm
- Xiamen to Shanghai589 nm
Kaohsiung to Shanghai635 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.