New York to Xiamen shipping route.

Ships leaving New York for Xiamen head north and cover a sea distance of 11,100 nautical miles (20,558 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 12,664 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. 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 33.0 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 38.5 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 25.7. Liner schedules on the lane quote 23 to 53 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 75 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 11,843 nautical miles, 742 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar 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 CNXMN start at $7,035 for a 20GP and $8,793 for a 40GP ($8,846 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 Xiamen (CNXMN) 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 New York in this directory, Xiamen is the 60th shortest. Closer destinations include Laem Chabang (10,981 nm), Ho Chi Minh City (10,813 nm) and Dalian (10,753 nm).