Ports & Routes
Global Port Intelligence
| Path | Records | Actual median | P25–P75 range | TS dwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct | 198 | 50.9d | 49.9–51.9 d | — |
| via Singapore | 99 | 45.3d | 41.8–49.6 d | 6.0d |
| via Abu Dhabi | 28 | 60.9d | 54.6–65.9 d | 6.0d |
All values are actuals from tracked container records. Paths flagged low n have fewer than 20 records and should be read as directional.
The median transit time is 50.9 days. This is based on 191 containers tracked end-to-end on this exact direct path.
Most containers arrive within 49.9–51.9 days (P25–P75 of 325 tracked records on this lane). Plan with this range, not a single number.
The shipping distance from Durban to Shanghai is approximately 7,044 nautical miles (13,045 km).
MSC line operates direct service on this lane in our tracked dataset.
Yes. Tracked transshipment options include: Singapore (45.3d total, 99 records); Abu Dhabi (60.9d total, 28 records).
Approximately 57.8 days door-to-door. The median gate-in dwell at Durban is 5.0 days. Vessel sail time from Durban to Shanghai is 50.9 days. The median gate-out dwell at Shanghai is 1.9 days.
Container shipping from Durban to Shanghai spans approximately 7,044 nautical miles, equivalent to 13,045 kilometres of sea route. Our tracked dataset for this lane includes 325 records across qualifying paths. Of those, 191 containers were tracked end-to-end on the direct path (literally booked from Durban to Shanghai with no transshipment). The median sail time on direct service is 50.9 days. Most shipments arrive within 49.9 to 51.9 days, the P25–P75 range covering the middle half of observed transits.
The typical door-to-door figure is 57.8 days. Median gate-in dwell at Durban is 5.0 days, representing the time a container spends at the origin terminal between arrival at the gate and loading onto the vessel. Vessel sail time from Durban to Shanghai is 50.9 days. Median gate-out dwell at Shanghai is 1.9 days, covering discharge and the time before pickup at the destination terminal.
Direct service — meaning no transshipment between origin and destination — is the dominant routing on this corridor. It is supported by 198 leg-level observations on the direct segment. Of those, 191 were containers literally booked direct from Durban to Shanghai and tracked end-to-end on this exact path. MSC operates the dominant tracked direct service. Containers carried by Maersk and COSCO also traversed this corridor without an intermediate transshipment, generally as sub-segments of longer journeys. On the direct segment, the median sail time is 50.9 days, and the P25–P75 range runs from 49.9 to 51.9 days.
2 transshipment alternatives appear in the dataset, each routing a container through one or more hub ports between Durban and Shanghai. The Singapore-routed path takes a median of 45.3 days based on 99 records, with a P25–P75 range of 41.8 to 49.6 days. Median dwell at the hub terminal on this path is 6.0 days. The Abu Dhabi-routed path takes a median of 60.9 days based on 28 records, with a P25–P75 range of 54.6 to 65.9 days. Median dwell at the hub terminal on this path is 6.0 days.
For planning purposes, treat the 49.9 to 51.9 day P25–P75 range as the realistic arrival window for direct service. About half of all observed direct shipments fell within that 2.0-day spread. When committing door-to-door dates to consignees, account for an additional 5.0 days of gate-in dwell at Durban and 1.9 days of gate-out dwell at Shanghai on top of the chosen sail time.