China
NetherlandsXiamen to Rotterdam shipping route.
10,039 nautical miles via Suez Canal, about 29.9 days of steaming at 14 knots. Avoiding the Red Sea adds 3,320 nm.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Xiamen and Rotterdam
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
XiamenStrait of Gibraltar · Bab-el-Mandeb · Strait of Malacca · Suez CanalRotterdamShipping time from Xiamen to Rotterdam
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Suez Canal (shortest) | 10,039 nm | 34.9 d | 29.9 d | 23.2 d |
| via Sunda Strait | 10,608 nm | 36.8 d | 31.6 d | 24.6 d |
| via Cape of Good Hope | 13,359 nm | 46.4 d | 39.8 d | 30.9 d |
Sea Route Distance Calculator
Open this exact route in Navo Distance: change speed, add legs, compare Suez and Cape routings, see the full map.
Reverse: Rotterdam to XiamenMany carriers still avoid the Red Sea. Routed via Cape of Good Hope, Xiamen to Rotterdam is 13,359 nm, about 9.9 more days at 14 knots.
Ship Xiamen to Rotterdam with Navo
Live numbers for this lane from Navo apps, updated 2026-10-31.
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About the Xiamen to Rotterdam shipping route
Xiamen to Rotterdam is a 10,039 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from China to the Netherlands. That is 18,592 km of water against 9,367 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Suez Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.
Pure steaming time is 29.9 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 34.9 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 23.2. Liner schedules on the lane quote 25 to 56 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 81 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Maersk and MSC).
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 13,359 nautical miles, 3,320 more, and adds about 9.9 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.
2,341 nm of the route, 23% of it, lies inside North Sea ECA and 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 NLRTM start at $1,805 for a 20GP and $3,010 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 Rotterdam (NLRTM) carriers give about 5 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, Rotterdam is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Antwerp (10,020 nm), London Gateway (9,969 nm) and Felixstowe (9,967 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Xiamen to Rotterdam?
The port to port distance from Xiamen to Rotterdam is 10,039 nautical miles (18,592 km), via Suez Canal. The route passes Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca, Suez Canal.
What is the shipping time from Xiamen to Rotterdam?
About 29.9 days at 14 knots and 23.2 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services on this lane quote 25 to 56 days.
What if the ship avoids the Red Sea?
Routed via Cape of Good Hope, the voyage is 13,359 nm, 3,320 nm longer, about 39.8 days at 14 knots.
What are freight rates from Xiamen to Rotterdam?
Recent spot rates for CNXMN to NLRTM start at $1,805 per 20GP and $3,010 per 40GP, before local charges. Rates change weekly.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
2,341 nm sit inside ECA waters (North Sea ECA, Mediterranean Sea ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Rotterdam to Xiamen has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Xiamen to Ningbo475 nm
- Xiamen to Shanghai589 nm
- Xiamen to
Manila709 nm - Xiamen to
Haiphong816 nm - Xiamen to Qingdao853 nm
- Xiamen to
Busan912 nm 
Hamburg to Rotterdam310 nm
Gothenburg to Rotterdam489 nm
Gdansk to Rotterdam885 nm
Algeciras to Rotterdam1,405 nm- Valencia to Rotterdam1,789 nm
- Barcelona to Rotterdam1,928 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.