Qingdao to Charleston shipping route.

Qingdao to Charleston is a 10,274 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north from China to the United States. That is 19,027 km of water against 12,074 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 35.7 days at 12 knots, 30.6 days at 14 knots and 23.8 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 23 to 59 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 112 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,100 nautical miles, 2,827 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

367 nm of the route, 4% 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 CNTAO to USCHS start at $6,748 for a 20GP and $8,435 for a 40GP ($8,485 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 Charleston (USCHS) carriers give about 4 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, Charleston is the 49th shortest. Closer destinations include Houston (10,218 nm), Algeciras (9,469 nm) and Callao (9,342 nm).