Qingdao to Montreal shipping route.

Ships leaving Qingdao for Montreal head north and cover a sea distance of 11,999 nautical miles (22,223 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 10,837 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 35.7 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 41.7 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 27.8. Liner schedules on the lane quote 21 to 60 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 75 sailings by 11 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, HMM and Hapag-Lloyd).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,751 nautical miles, 751 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

1,463 nm of the route, 12% 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 CAMTR start at $7,615 for a 20GP and $8,910 for a 40GP ($8,955 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 Montreal (CAMTR) carriers give about 3 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, Montreal is the 64th shortest. Closer destinations include Gdansk (11,681 nm), Buenos Aires (11,568 nm) and Santos (11,364 nm).