Question 1

How long does it take to ship a container from South Africa to China by sea?

Accepted Answer

The shortest shipping time by sea between South Africa and China is 20 days. Ships depart from Durban (ZADUR) and arrive at Shekou (CNSHK) with scheduled departures 1-2 times a day.

Question 2

How regularly do container ships travel between South Africa and China?

Accepted Answer

There are scheduled container ships that depart 1-2 times a day from Durban (ZADUR) and arrive into Shekou (CNSHK) around 20 days later. These services are operated by OOCL, OOCL, OOCL, PIL, ONE, OOCL, OOCL, COSCO, MSC, Evergreen, Evergreen, Evergreen, Evergreen, Evergreen, MSC and Evergreen.

Question 3

How long does it take to send cargo from South Africa to China by air freight?

Accepted Answer

The quickest flight from South Africa to China takes around 18h 30m. Flights depart from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) and arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).

Question 4

How often do planes fly between South Africa and China?

Accepted Answer

Scheduled flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) depart 2-4 times a week. These flights are serviced by Air China, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, Lufthansa, KLM and Air France and the typical transit time is around 18h 30m.

Question 5

Do dedicated cargo planes (freighters) fly between South Africa and China?

Accepted Answer

Yes there are dedicated cargo planes that fly regular scheduled services between South Africa and China. Cargo flights depart from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) and arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) with departures 1-2 times a day and a average flight time of around 19h 50m. Ethiopian Airlines operates  on this route.

Question 6

What is the distance between South Africa to China by ship?

Accepted Answer

The distance between South Africa and China by cargo ship is 6,471 Nautical Miles (11,985 Kilometres / 7,447 Miles). This distance is measured by sea between Durban (ZADUR) and Shekou (CNSHK).

Question 7

What is the distance between South Africa to China by air?

Accepted Answer

The distance between South Africa and China by air is around 11,723 Kilometres (7,284 Miles). This distance is measured following typical flight paths between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).

Question 8

How much CO2 is produced when transporting a shipping container from South Africa to China by sea?

Accepted Answer

1.26t CO₂e (per TEU) is the estimated emissions output (CO2e) when transporting a typical shipping container (1 TEU) from South Africa to China. This is calculated using the overall historical emissions of the average container ship on this trade lane and dividing it by the total projected capacity.

Question 9

How much CO2 is produced when sending cargo by air from South Africa to China?

Accepted Answer

318kg CO₂e (per 100kg) is the estimated emissions output (CO2e) when sending cargo by air from South Africa to China. This is calculated by determining the total fuel burn output of various aircraft that typically fly this route and dividing it by the total available cargo capacity in KGs.

Operating carriers	Departure frequency	Aircraft types
Air China	2-4 times a week	Airbus A350-900
Emirates	1-2 times a day	Airbus A380-800+1 others
Ethiopian Airlines	Every 1-2 days	Boeing 777-200F Freighter+5 others
Cathay Pacific	2-4 times a week	Airbus A350-900+3 others
EgyptAir	2-4 times a week	Airbus A330-300+1 others
Lufthansa	2-4 times a week	Airbus A350-900
Lufthansa	2-4 times a week	Boeing 747-8+1 others
KLM	Every 1-2 days	Boeing 777-300ER+2 others
Air France	Every 1-2 days	Boeing 777-300ER+2 others

More Details	See carrier information, flight schedules and estimated emissions

Operating carriers	Departure frequency	Aircraft types
Ethiopian AirlinesFreighter	1-2 times a day	Boeing 777-200F Freighter+7 others
More Details	See carrier information, flight schedules and estimated emissions

Service Lines	Service Type	Departure frequency	Servicing Carriers
ZAX3 / SAF3 → KTX3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	OOCL, COSCO
ZAX3 / SA1 / SAF3 → CAX1 / JCS / TLC1	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	OOCL, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd
ZAX3 / FAX / SAF3 → GME2 / PEX3 / GCC1	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	OOCL, COSCO, Evergreen
FAX → CCS	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	PIL
SA1 / SAC → MD3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE, Hapag-Lloyd
ZAX3 / FAX / SAF3 → FCS / FME	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	OOCL, COSCO, Evergreen
ZAX3 / SAF3 → RBC2 / CCT2	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	OOCL, COSCO
ZAX3 → CI5	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO
Ingwe → Tiger	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	MSC
→ KTP	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
→ NSA	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
→ TVP	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
→ JPI	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
→ MHT	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
Ingwe → Orchid	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	MSC
→ CIX	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen

More Details	See carrier information, sailing schedules and estimated emissions

Service Lines	Service Type	Departure frequency	Servicing Carriers
ZAX2 / ASA / SAF2 → AEM6 / BEX2 / AAS	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, Evergreen, OOCL
ZAX2 / SAF2 → KTX3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, OOCL
ZAX2 / SA2 / SAF2 → CAX1 / JCS / TLC1	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL
ASA → KTP	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
SAS → JSM3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE
ZAX2 / SAS / SAF2 → FCE / CCX / FCS2	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE, COSCO, OOCL
SAS → CIM	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE
ASA → NSA	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
ASA → TVP	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
SAS → JTC	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE
ZAX2 / ASA → JPI	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, Evergreen
ZAX2 / SAF2 / SA2 → CIX3 / CI3	Transshipment	Every 2-4 weeks	COSCO, OOCL, ZIM
ASA → MHT	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen
ZAX2 / SAF2 / ASA → A3S / SAS	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	PIL, COSCO, OOCL
ZAX2 / SAF2 → KTX4	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, OOCL
ASA / SA2 → CIX	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd
ZAX2 / ASA → WSA2 / WS2	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	PIL, COSCO, Evergreen
ASA / SA2 / SAS → KME / AG3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd
ZAX2 / SAF2 → KTX3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, OOCL
ZAX2 / ASA / SAF2 → EPNW / ANP / PNW3	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, Evergreen, OOCL
SA2 / SAS → MD2	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE, Hapag-Lloyd
ZAX2 / ASA / SAF2 → AEM3 / BEX / EM1	Transshipment	Every 2-4 weeks	COSCO, Evergreen, OOCL
SA2 / SAS → AN2 / AX2	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE, Hapag-Lloyd
ZAX2 / ASA → CIT	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	COSCO, Evergreen
ZAX2 / SA2 / SAS → AG2	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	ONE, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd
ASA → CCS	Transshipment	Every 1-2 weeks	PIL

More Details	See carrier information, sailing schedules and estimated emissions

South Africa to China By Air freight, Container ship or Road

Map / Route overview

Compare shipping modes

Air Freight

Container Ship

About Fluent Cargo

South Africa to China by Air freight

Quickest air route

OR Tambo International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport

Cargo flights

OR Tambo International Airport to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

South Africa to China by Container ship

Quickest ocean route

Durban to Shekou

Cargo flights

Cape Town to Shekou

More about shipping cargo and freight from South Africa to China by Air, Ocean and Road

Shipping from South Africa

Shipping to China