Savannah to Xiamen shipping route.

Savannah to Xiamen is a 10,693 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north from the United States to China. That is 19,804 km of water against 13,408 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.

Pure steaming time is 31.8 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 37.1 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 24.8. Liner schedules on the lane quote 34 to 63 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 61 sailings by 8 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,341 nautical miles, 1,648 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

377 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 USSAV to CNXMN start at $7,096 for a 20GP and $8,870 for a 40GP ($8,920 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 64 port to port routes from Savannah in this directory, Xiamen is the 56th shortest. Closer destinations include Singapore (10,683 nm), Port Klang (10,498 nm) and Dalian (10,346 nm).