China
South AfricaShanghai to Durban shipping route.
7,031 nautical miles via Sunda Strait, about 20.9 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Shanghai and Durban
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
ShanghaiSunda StraitDurbanShipping time from Shanghai to Durban
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Sunda Strait (shortest) | 7,031 nm | 24.4 d | 20.9 d | 16.3 d |
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Live numbers for this lane from Navo apps, updated 2026-10-31.
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About the Shanghai to Durban shipping route
Shanghai to Durban is a 7,031 nautical mile shipping route via Sunda Strait, heading south west from China to South Africa. That is 13,020 km of water against 11,721 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Sunda Strait.
Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 20.9 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 24.4 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 16.3. Liner schedules on the lane quote 23 to 34 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 51 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, MSC, ONE and OOCL).
Recent freight rates for CNSHA to ZADUR start at $4,125 for a 20GP and $5,400 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 Durban (ZADUR) 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 Shanghai in this directory, Durban is the 35th shortest. Closer destinations include Manzanillo (6,970 nm), Jeddah (6,597 nm) and Mombasa (6,333 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Shanghai to Durban?
The port to port distance from Shanghai to Durban is 7,031 nautical miles (13,020 km), via Sunda Strait. The route passes Sunda Strait.
What is the shipping time from Shanghai to Durban?
About 20.9 days at 14 knots and 16.3 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services on this lane quote 23 to 34 days.
What are freight rates from Shanghai to Durban?
Recent spot rates for CNSHA to ZADUR start at $4,125 per 20GP and $5,400 per 40GP, before local charges. Rates change weekly.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Durban to Shanghai has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Shanghai to Qingdao410 nm
- Shanghai to
Busan469 nm - Shanghai to Incheon538 nm
- Shanghai to Dalian553 nm
- Shanghai to Xiamen589 nm
- Shanghai to
Kaohsiung635 nm - Cape Town to Durban875 nm
Mombasa to Durban1,759 nm
Salalah to Durban3,137 nm
Djibouti to Durban3,353 nm
Lagos (Apapa) to Durban3,463 nm
Colombo to Durban3,794 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.