Rotterdam to Los Angeles shipping route.

Ships leaving Rotterdam for Los Angeles head north west and cover a sea distance of 7,828 nautical miles (14,498 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 8,988 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.

Pure steaming time is 23.3 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 27.2 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 18.1. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Rotterdam and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 13,348 nautical miles, 5,520 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

551 nm of the route, 7% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea ECA and North 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.

Container freight rates on Rotterdam to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) 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 60 port to port routes from Rotterdam in this directory, Los Angeles is the 35th shortest. Closer destinations include Durban (7,031 nm), Colombo (6,834 nm) and Manzanillo (6,544 nm).