New York to Hong Kong shipping route.

The shipping route from New York, United States to Hong Kong covers 11,356 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 12,959 km apart, so the ship sails 1.62 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 33.8 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 39.4 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 26.3. Liner schedules on the lane quote 31 to 78 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 104 sailings by 6 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and MSC).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 11,617 nautical miles, 262 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

522 nm of the route, 5% 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 USNYC to HKHKG start at $6,908 for a 20GP and $8,775 for a 40GP ($8,825 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 Hong Kong (HKHKG) 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 New York in this directory, Hong Kong is the 62nd shortest. Closer destinations include Kaohsiung (11,105 nm), Xiamen (11,100 nm) and Laem Chabang (10,981 nm).