Xiamen to Piraeus shipping route.

Ships leaving Xiamen for Piraeus head north west and cover a sea distance of 7,327 nautical miles (13,570 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 8,733 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb and Strait of Malacca, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 25.4 days at 12 knots, 21.8 days at 14 knots and 17.0 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 26 to 66 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 37 sailings by 4 carriers (COSCO, Evergreen, ONE and OOCL).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Cape of Good Hope instead. That route is 13,713 nautical miles, 6,386 more, and adds about 19.0 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

597 nm of the route, 8% of it, lies inside Mediterranean 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.

Recent freight rates for CNXMN to GRPIR start at $2,925 for a 20GP and $4,500 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 Piraeus (GRPIR) carriers give about 6.75 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 62 port to port routes from Xiamen in this directory, Piraeus is the 36th shortest. Closer destinations include Cape Town (7,202 nm), Mersin (7,101 nm) and Port Said (6,730 nm).