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Global Shipping Routes

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.

Routes Covered

15 Major Regions

Ports Listed

150+ Destinations

Carriers

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.

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

CategoryShipping Companies
Cheap price and acceptable serviceMSC, COSCO, HPL, WANHAI, ZIM (more to Canada)
Expensive and good serviceMAERSK, 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

CategoryShipping Companies
General service, relatively cheapMSC, ZIM, HPL, COSCO
Good service, relatively expensiveEMC, 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

RouteCheaper OptionsBetter Service
South America WestMSC, ZIM, COSCOONE, MAERSK
South America EastMSC, COSCO, HPLONE, 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

CategoryShipping Companies
General service and priceMSC, ANL, COSCO, PIL, WANHAI, HPL, YML
Good service, relatively expensiveAPL, EMC, COSCO, MAERSK, CMA, HYUNDAI
Best for inland pointsCOSCO, 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

CategoryShipping Companies
Relatively goodCOSCO, CMA, MAERSK, ONE, etc.
Relatively basicMSC, 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

CategoryShipping Companies
Good and expensiveMAERSK, COSCO, YML, EMC, CMA, HYUNDAI
Relatively cheaperMSC, 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

RegionCommon Choices
Persian GulfMSC, APL, MAERSK, EMC, K LINE, WANHAI, YML
Red SeaHPL, EMC, PIL, APL, K LINE, COSCO, YML, MSC
Cheaper optionsHPL, 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

RankingShipping Companies
Best optionsMAERSK, CMA
Best for minor portsDELMAS
Second tierONE, PIL
Third tierMSC, 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

RankingShipping Companies
Good optionsPIL, MAERSK
Second tierMSC, 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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