Qingdao to Algeciras shipping route.

The shipping route from Qingdao, China to Algeciras, Spain covers 9,469 nautical miles port to port, via Suez Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 10,230 km apart, so the ship sails 1.71 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Gibraltar, 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 28.2 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 32.9 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 21.9. Liner schedules on the lane quote 41 to 73 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 7 sailings by 3 carriers (CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and ONE).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Panama Canal instead. That route is 13,057 nautical miles, 3,587 more, and adds about 10.7 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

1,925 nm of the route, 20% of it, lies inside Mediterranean 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.

Recent freight rates for CNTAO to ESALG start at $3,079 for a 20GP and $4,849 for a 40GP. These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Algeciras (ESALG) 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 64 port to port routes from Qingdao in this directory, Algeciras is the 47th shortest. Closer destinations include Callao (9,342 nm), Valencia (9,212 nm) and Barcelona (9,135 nm).