Shipping Companies And Routes From China To Worldwide
Complete guide to global shipping routes from China covering North America, Europe, South America, Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and more. Learn about the best shipping companies, base ports, and routing options for each destination.
15 Major Regions
150+ Destinations
20+ Shipping Lines
Navigating international shipping from China requires understanding the complex network of routes, ports, and shipping companies that connect Chinese manufacturers to markets worldwide. This comprehensive guide breaks down every major shipping corridor, helping you choose the right carriers and routes for your cargo.
Quick Navigation
1China to US and Canada Routes
We can also call it the North American route, which includes Canada and the United States, which in turn span the Atlantic and the Pacific. It can also be divided into the US East route / US West route.
US West Base Ports
US: LOS ANGELES, LONG BEACH, OAKLAND, SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, TACOMA
Canada: VANCOUVER
US East Base Ports
US: NEW YORK, NORFOLK, SAVANNAH, NEWARK, CHARLESTON, MIAMI
Canada: TORONTO, MONTREAL
In many inland points in the United States and Canada, and sometimes in the East Coast ports, the method of sea-rail combined transport is adopted, because the basic ports of the United States and the cities are connected by rail, and the east coast base port has a full-water way.
Shipping Company Options
| Category | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| Cheap price and acceptable service | MSC, COSCO, HPL, WANHAI, ZIM (more to Canada) |
| Expensive and good service | MAERSK, COSCO, EMC, APL, HYUNDAI, etc. |
2China to Central and South America and Caribbean Routes
The route is made up of small countries south of the United States and north of Colombia and Brazil, while the Panama Canal is the closest link to the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Goods that usually travel to the US East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean all pass through here.
Central and South American Base Ports
MEXICO CITY, MANZANILLO, COLON FREE ZONE, LA GUAIRA, CAUCEDO, PUERTO CABELLO, KINGSTON, PUERTO QUETZAL, GUATEMALA CITY
Note: COLON FREE ZONE is the largest port and free trade zone here, responsible for the transit of goods from Central and South America. Almost all cargo in the Caribbean is transited from this port.
Shipping Companies for This Route
| Category | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| General service, relatively cheap | MSC, ZIM, HPL, COSCO |
| Good service, relatively expensive | EMC, MAERSK, CMA, ONE, etc. |
3China to South American Routes
The South American route can also be divided into South American East and South American West routes:
- South American East: Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay
- South American West: Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and other countries
South American Base Ports
BUENOS AIRES, SANTOS, MONTEVIDEO, BUENAVENTURA, IQUIQUE, CALLAO, GUAYAQUIL, VALPARAISO
The ports to South American East are basically around the Indian Ocean via the South African Durban. South America West is directly from the Pacific Ocean.
Shipping Companies for South America
| Route | Cheaper Options | Better Service |
|---|---|---|
| South America West | MSC, ZIM, COSCO | ONE, MAERSK |
| South America East | MSC, COSCO, HPL | ONE, MAERSK, HAMBURG SUD |
4China to European Routes
This route can be divided into the European route and the Nordic Baltic route, mainly composed of Western Europe: France, Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Ireland and some landlocked countries.
European Basic Line Ports
ANTWERP, BREMEN, FELIXSTOWE, HAMBURG, LE HAVRE, ROTTERDAM, SOUTHAMPTON
Nordic Baltic Sea Line Ports
AARHUS, COPENHAGEN, GOTHENBURG, KOTKA, OSLO
Key Transit Ports
- • FELIXSTOWE is the largest transit port in the UK
- • HAMBURG and ROTTERDAM are among the largest transit ports in Europe
- • Many European inland points are transited through these two ports, particularly HAMBURG
- • The vast majority of goods from Northern Europe, Russia, and Poland are transferred through HAMBURG
Shipping Companies for Europe
| Category | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| General service and price | MSC, ANL, COSCO, PIL, WANHAI, HPL, YML |
| Good service, relatively expensive | APL, EMC, COSCO, MAERSK, CMA, HYUNDAI |
| Best for inland points | COSCO, CMA, MAERSK, HYUNDAI |
To Northern Europe: EMC, COSCO, CMA, MAERSK, APL and other shipping companies.
5Mediterranean East and Black Sea Routes
The important countries here are: Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt.
Mediterranean East Line Ports
ALEXANDRIA, DAMIETTA, PORT SAID, BEIRUT, LATTAKIA, ASHDOD, HAIFA, ISTANBUL, LIMASSOL, IZMIR
Black Sea Aegean Sea Line Ports
ODESSA, NOVOROSSIYSK, ILLICHIVSK, CONSTANTA, VARNA, PIRAEUS, THESSALONIKI, RIJEKA
Shipping Companies
| Category | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| Relatively good | COSCO, CMA, MAERSK, ONE, etc. |
| Relatively basic | MSC, COSCO, HPL |
Note: ALEXANDRIA, DAMIETTA, and PORT SAID are placed on the red line by APL and PIL.
6China to Mediterranean West Routes
The important countries of this route are: Italy, Spain, France, Malta, Portugal.
Main Ports
ALGECIRAS, BARCELONA, VALENCIA, FOS, GENOA, ANCONA, NAPLES, LA SPEZIA, TARANTO, LISBON, MALTA
Key Transit Ports
- • MALTA is the mother port of CMA Europe and the largest transit port of CMA
- • ALGECIRAS is the largest cargo transit port for MAERSK in Europe
Shipping Companies
| Category | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| Good and expensive | MAERSK, COSCO, YML, EMC, CMA, HYUNDAI |
| Relatively cheaper | MSC, OOCL, HPL |
Since this route is a relatively competitive route, the price is relatively transparent.
7China to Middle East Red Sea Routes
Ports on this route are very concentrated, with large volume, transparent price, and very smart customers, and relatively more CIF goods. At the same time, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal also control the throat fortresses of the Mediterranean and Europe.
Persian Gulf Middle East Ports
DUBAI, DAMMAM, BANDAR ABBAS, RIYADH, KUWAIT, DOHA
Red Sea Gulf of Aden Ports
ADEN, AQABA, JEDDAH, PORT SUDAN, SOKHNA
Key Ports
- • DUBAI is not only the largest port in the Middle East, but also one of the most important transit ports in the world and a free trade port
- • JEDDAH is the largest basic and transit port in the Red Sea
Shipping Companies by Region
| Region | Common Choices |
|---|---|
| Persian Gulf | MSC, APL, MAERSK, EMC, K LINE, WANHAI, YML |
| Red Sea | HPL, EMC, PIL, APL, K LINE, COSCO, YML, MSC |
| Cheaper options | HPL, MSC, MAERSK, YML |
| Better service (Red Sea advantage) | APL, PIL, EMC |
8China to North Africa Routes
The main countries that make up this route are: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya.
Main Ports
ALGIERS, SKIKDA, ORAN, BEJAIA, CASABLANCA, TANGIER, TUNIS, BENGHAZI, MISURATA, TRIPOLI, EL KHOMS
Shipping Companies
CMA, MAERSK, MSC, EMC, COSCO
Market Share: CMA and MAERSK have more than 85% of the market here, especially CMA with 50% market share. Many customers like to choose CMA because it has a great advantage in customs clearance. MSC is relatively cheap but service is only acceptable.
9China to West Africa Routes
This route is mainly composed of African countries on the near Atlantic coast, mainly: Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Liberia, Benin, Congo.
Main Base Ports
ABIDJAN, BANJUL, DAKAR, NOUAKCHOTT, COTONOU, TEMA, APAPA, LAGOS, LUANDA, DOUALA, LOME
Shipping Companies
| Ranking | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| Best options | MAERSK, CMA |
| Best for minor ports | DELMAS |
| Second tier | ONE, PIL |
| Third tier | MSC, COSCO |
10China to East Africa Routes
Major countries: Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar
Main Ports
BEIRA, DAR ES SALAAM, NACALA, MAPUTO, MOMBASA, TAMATAVE, ZANZIBAR
Major Shipping Companies
| Ranking | Shipping Companies |
|---|---|
| Good options | PIL, MAERSK |
| Second tier | MSC, HPL |
11China to South Africa Routes
Main countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Reunion Island
Main Ports
DURBAN, CAPE TOWN, PORT LOUIS, JOHANNESBURG, HARARE, WALVIS BAY, PORT ELIZABETH, LUSAKA
Key Port
The most important of these ports is DURBAN, because it is not only a major transit port to East Africa, West Africa, but even the world. Therefore, there are more goods and boats going here.
Shipping Companies
MAERSK, MSC, EMC, PIL, COSCO, HPL, HAMBURG-SUD
12China to Korean-Japanese Routes
South Korea Base Ports
INCHON, BUSAN
Japan Base Ports
NAGOYA, OSAKA, TOKYO, KOBE
There are many shipping companies to choose from on this route, but usually some small shipping companies have more advantages here.
Recommended Shipping Companies
YML, WANHAI, OOCL, Yantai Shipping
Surcharges: THC, DOC
Since going to this place, the distance is short, the flight period is short, and it is usually necessary to make telex release.
13China to Southeast Asia Routes
Countries: Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, etc.
Main Base Ports
SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, PENANG, PORT KLANG, MANILA, JAKARTA, LAEM CHABANG
Better Shipping Companies
CNC, YML, WANHAI, OOCL, TS LINE, SITC
There are a lot of shipping companies going to this route, and there is a lot of room for choice.
14China to India Pakistan Bangladesh Routes
It can also be called the South Asia route, which consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Main Base Ports
NHAVA SHEVA, MUMBAI, NEW DELHI, MUNDRA, CHENNAI, KARACHI, CHITTAGONG, COLOMBO
Commonly Selected Shipping Companies
MAERSK, WANHAI, YANGMING, HPL, OOCL, APL, HYUNDAI
Because it is also a close distance, short ship period, there are more shipping companies and more choices, so there is not much difference in price and service. Every shipping company has its own advantages.
15China to Australia-New Zealand Routes
Major countries: Australia, New Zealand and some island countries in the Pacific.
Main Ports
ADELAIDE, AUCKLAND, BRISBANE, FREMANTLE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, WELLINGTON, PORT CHALMERS
Frequent Shipping Companies
HAMBURG-SUD, MAERSK, ONE, COSCO, HYUNDAI
Note: There are very few ships going to minor ports of the Pacific islands and the price is very high.
Conclusion
We hope our clients can read the above articles and contact us if you have any questions or need. We can match your any freight forwarding service need from China. Also we may give you some good suggestions if you have container shipment from China.
Understanding these routes and shipping company options is crucial for optimizing your supply chain from China. Each route has its own characteristics, preferred carriers, and pricing dynamics. By choosing the right combination of route and shipping company, you can balance cost, transit time, and service quality for your specific needs.
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