Transpacific trade lane
The Transpacific lane connects East and Southeast Asian export ports to North America: the US West and East coasts, the Canadian gateways of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, and Mexican ports.
Main routes on the Transpacific lane
The 189 port-to-port routes of this lane, ranked by carrier coverage at both ends. Each links to the full distance page with route map and speed table.
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shanghai New York | 10,683 nm |
| Shanghai Port of Los Angeles | 5,749 nm |
| Qingdao New York | 10,695 nm |
| Hong Kong New York | 11,360 nm |
| Shanghai Montreal | 11,988 nm |
| Ningbo New York | 10,736 nm |
| Shanghai Port of Vancouver | 5,165 nm |
| Kaohsiung New York | 11,110 nm |
| Shanghai Veracruz | 10,124 nm |
| Qingdao Port of Los Angeles | 5,761 nm |
| Hong Kong Port of Los Angeles | 6,427 nm |
| Shanghai Manzanillo | 6,970 nm |
| Qingdao Montreal | 11,999 nm |
| Ningbo Port of Los Angeles | 5,802 nm |
| Xiamen New York | 11,105 nm |
| Pusan New York | 10,214 nm |
| Shanghai Toronto | 12,278 nm |
| Qingdao Port of Vancouver | 5,177 nm |
| Hong Kong Montreal | 11,712 nm |
| Kaohsiung Port of Los Angeles | 6,176 nm |
Understanding the Transpacific lane
The eastbound leg — Asian consumer goods toward North American markets — sets the pace of the lane, with peak season traditionally running from late summer to autumn. US West Coast ports compete with Canadian and Mexican gateways on rail connections into the continent, while routes to the East Coast transit the Panama Canal, exposing them to its water-level and slot constraints. Open-Pacific crossings, by contrast, depend on no chokepoint at all.
Main ports on this lane
Safecube gives you door-to-door visibility on container shipments, with live vessel positions and predictive ETAs on every trade lane.
Frequently asked questions
How many shipping routes does the Transpacific lane cover?
Seadex covers 189 port-to-port routes on the Transpacific lane, with sea distances ranging from 4,321 to 12,500 nautical miles.
How long is transit on the Transpacific lane?
The average route on the Transpacific lane is 9,180 nautical miles, which at typical commercial speeds of 14–18 knots means roughly 21.3 to 27.3 days of sailing, excluding port calls.
Which chokepoints does the Transpacific lane depend on?
Routes on the Transpacific lane transit the following chokepoints: Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca, Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.