Shipping from China today: port weather, typhoons, sea lanes and transit times

United States · Los Angeles / Long Beach

• Sea14–20 days
• Air3–7 days

United States · New York / Savannah

• Sea30–40 daysvia Panama Canal
• Air3–7 days

When the Panama Canal is short of water it limits ships and queues build; carriers then route via Suez or land on the US West Coast and rail inland.

Canada · Vancouver

• Sea14–18 days
• Air3–7 days

Mexico · Manzanillo

• Sea18–25 days
• Air4–8 days

Brazil · Santos

• Sea35–45 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Cape of Good Hope (detour)
• Air5–10 days

Argentina · Buenos Aires

• Sea40–50 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Cape of Good Hope (detour)
• Air5–10 days

Chile · San Antonio / Valparaíso

• Sea28–35 days
• Air5–10 days

Peru · Callao

• Sea25–35 days
• Air5–10 days

Colombia · Buenaventura

• Sea25–35 days
• Air5–10 days

Germany · Hamburg / Rotterdam

• Sea30–50 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Bab el-Mandeb (Red Sea) → Suez Canal
• China–Europe rail11–14 days
• Air3–7 days

Via Suez about 30–35 days; when the Red Sea is unsafe ships go round the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–15 days. In 2026 some carriers are back on Suez and some still detour, so ask which route when you book. China–Europe rail avoids the Red Sea: China Railway’s fixed-timetable trains take 11–14 days (e.g. Xi’an–Budapest 10 days 23 hours, Zhengzhou–Hamburg 11 days 19 hours, Shijiazhuang–Warsaw 14 days 3 hours); ordinary rail services are about 30% slower.

France · Le Havre

• Sea30–50 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Bab el-Mandeb (Red Sea) → Suez Canal
• China–Europe rail11–14 days
• Air3–7 days

Via Suez about 30–35 days; when the Red Sea is unsafe ships go round the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–15 days. In 2026 some carriers are back on Suez and some still detour, so ask which route when you book. China–Europe rail avoids the Red Sea: China Railway’s fixed-timetable trains take 11–14 days (e.g. Xi’an–Budapest 10 days 23 hours, Zhengzhou–Hamburg 11 days 19 hours, Shijiazhuang–Warsaw 14 days 3 hours); ordinary rail services are about 30% slower.

United Kingdom · Felixstowe

• Sea30–50 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Bab el-Mandeb (Red Sea) → Suez Canal
• Air3–7 days

Via Suez about 30–35 days; when the Red Sea is unsafe ships go round the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–15 days. In 2026 some carriers are back on Suez and some still detour, so ask which route when you book. China–Europe rail avoids the Red Sea: China Railway’s fixed-timetable trains take 11–14 days (e.g. Xi’an–Budapest 10 days 23 hours, Zhengzhou–Hamburg 11 days 19 hours, Shijiazhuang–Warsaw 14 days 3 hours); ordinary rail services are about 30% slower.

Türkiye · Mersin / Istanbul

• Sea22–45 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Bab el-Mandeb (Red Sea) → Suez Canal
• Air3–7 days

Via Suez about 30–35 days; when the Red Sea is unsafe ships go round the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–15 days. In 2026 some carriers are back on Suez and some still detour, so ask which route when you book. China–Europe rail avoids the Red Sea: China Railway’s fixed-timetable trains take 11–14 days (e.g. Xi’an–Budapest 10 days 23 hours, Zhengzhou–Hamburg 11 days 19 hours, Shijiazhuang–Warsaw 14 days 3 hours); ordinary rail services are about 30% slower.

Saudi Arabia · Jeddah

• Sea18–25 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Bab el-Mandeb (Red Sea)
• Air3–7 days

Jeddah is inside the Red Sea, so ships pass Bab el-Mandeb; when the Red Sea is tense some carriers skip calls or add surcharges. Ask before booking.

Saudi Arabia · Dammam

• Sea20–28 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf)
• Air3–7 days

In 2026 the Strait of Hormuz has been hit by conflict; many carriers paused or cut Persian Gulf calls and added surcharges. Common workaround: discharge outside the Gulf at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah (UAE), or at Jeddah, then truck in. It takes longer and costs more, so confirm before booking.

UAE · Jebel Ali (Dubai)

• Sea15–22 daysvia Strait of Malacca → Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf)
• Air3–7 days

In 2026 the Strait of Hormuz has been hit by conflict; many carriers paused or cut Persian Gulf calls and added surcharges. Common workaround: discharge outside the Gulf at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah (UAE), or at Jeddah, then truck in. It takes longer and costs more, so confirm before booking.

Japan · Tokyo / Osaka

• Sea3–7 days
• Air1–3 days

South Korea · Busan

• Sea2–5 days
• Air1–3 days

Australia · Sydney / Melbourne

• Sea15–22 days
• Air3–7 days

Philippines · Manila

• Sea5–8 days
• Air2–5 days

Malaysia · Port Klang

• Sea7–10 daysvia Strait of Malacca
• Road (truck via Laos, Thailand)5–8 days
• Air2–5 days

Overland via the China–Laos Railway: China Railway Kunming’s Lancang-Mekong Express runs Kunming to Vientiane in about 26 hours, then on to Thailand and Malaysia; trucks via Laos and Thailand take about 5–8 days (rough range).