Strait of Malacca
StraitMalaysia · Indonesia · Singapore
The Strait of Malacca runs about 900 km between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, narrowing to less than 3 km near Singapore. It is the main passage between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
Why the Strait of Malacca matters
The Strait of Malacca is the busiest shipping lane in the world: a quarter or more of traded goods — and most of the container flow between Asia and Europe or the Middle East — passes through it, with around 90,000 vessel transits a year. The port of Singapore at its southern end has grown into the world’s leading transshipment hub thanks to this position. The strait’s narrowness makes it a congestion and safety hotspot, and the main single point of failure for East–West trade.
Safecube gives you door-to-door visibility on container shipments, with live vessel positions and predictive ETAs on every trade lane.
Major shipping routes via the Strait of Malacca
1388 of our covered port-to-port routes transit the Strait of Malacca. The most significant ones, ranked by carrier coverage at both ends:
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shanghai Hamburg | 10,842 nm |
| Shanghai Antwerpen | 10,569 nm |
| Hamburg Qingdao | 11,106 nm |
| Shanghai Singapore | 2,214 nm |
| Hamburg Hong Kong | 10,067 nm |
| Antwerpen Qingdao | 10,834 nm |
| Hamburg Ningbo | 10,728 nm |
| Antwerpen Hong Kong | 9,795 nm |
| Hamburg Singapore | 8,634 nm |
| Hamburg Kaohsiung | 10,304 nm |
| Antwerpen Ningbo | 10,456 nm |
| Shanghai Felixstowe | 10,517 nm |
| Antwerpen Singapore | 8,362 nm |
| Antwerpen Kaohsiung | 10,031 nm |
| Hamburg Bangkok | 9,449 nm |
Frequently asked questions
What does the Strait of Malacca connect?
The Strait of Malacca connects the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Bordering countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore.
How many shipping routes use the Strait of Malacca?
Among the 4950 port-to-port routes covered by Seadex, 1388 transit the Strait of Malacca.
Why is the Strait of Malacca strategically important?
The Strait of Malacca is the busiest shipping lane in the world: a quarter or more of traded goods — and most of the container flow between Asia and Europe or the Middle East — passes through it, with around 90,000 vessel transits a year. The port of Singapore at its southern end has grown into the world’s leading transshipment hub thanks to this position. The strait’s narrowness makes it a congestion and safety hotspot, and the main single point of failure for East–West trade.