🚢 Ocean

SHA ➔ RTM

Asia - North Europe

📍SHA Shanghai ➔ 📍RTM Rotterdam

📊 Based on a published index

“Benchmark value, error range and alternative ports for Shanghai → Rotterdam as of November 2026.”

Key Specs: Benchmark per 40ft container $3,615 (Range $3,254~$3,977, ±10%) · 31-37 days · Basis: Published index lane (Drewry WCI)

2026 GLOBAL FREIGHT DOSSIER

Global Freight Benchmark Dossier · November 2026 edition

100 corridors with error ranges and a 150-company directory. PDF in English and Korean. Order by bank wire with an invoice.

📊 November 2026 benchmark

Benchmark

$3,615

per 40ft container

Range

$3,254 ~ $3,977

±10%

Transit

31-37 days

Basis

Published index lane (Drewry WCI)

As of: 2026-11-06

🔀 Alternatives

What ‘alternative’ means on this site

A different option for moving the same cargo to the same region. It does not mean cheaper: even when the benchmark is lower, transshipment, terminal, sailing schedule and inland haulage can change the total cost.

Alternative origin port: same destination and mode, different origin port
Alternative destination port: same origin port, another port in the same region
Alternative mode: ocean and air (only where both corridors are in the dossier)
Alternative carrier: same type, different alliance (no price ranking)

Alternative origin ports for the same destination

Corridor	Benchmark	Range	Transit	vs this corridor
Busan → Rotterdam	$3,513	$3,162~$3,864 (±10%)	32-38 days	−$102 (−3%)
Shenzhen (Yantian) → Rotterdam	$3,660	$2,745~$4,575 (±25%)	30-36 days	+$45 (+1%)
Kaohsiung → Rotterdam	$3,750	$2,812~$4,688 (±25%)	33-39 days	+$135 (+4%)
Laem Chabang → Rotterdam	$3,975	$2,981~$4,969 (±25%)	36-43 days	+$360 (+10%)

Alternative destination ports in the same region

Corridor	Benchmark	Range	Transit	vs this corridor
Shanghai → Felixstowe	$3,885	$2,914~$4,856 (±25%)	32-38 days	+$270 (+7%)

Alternative mode: ocean and air

Corridor	Transit	Benchmark	vs this corridor
Shanghai → Rotterdam (Ocean)	31-37 days	$0.18 per kg	—
Shanghai (Pudong) → Frankfurt (Air)	1-2 days	$5.31 per kg	about 29x ocean

The ocean figure assumes 20,000 kg of cargo in one container, converted to a per-kg rate. Air charges depend heavily on density (volumetric weight), so use this only to see the order of magnitude.

✅ What to check in the quotation

Ask whether the quote includes EU ETS and FuelEU surcharges and how they are calculated.
Confirm Suez versus Cape routing in the quote; it changes transit time and sometimes the rate.
Check low-water and congestion surcharges for inland river legs.

The full 100-corridor table, 20ft estimates, port charges and sources are in the dossier and workbook.

Figures are reference benchmarks; confirm actual terms with a written quotation. (Data as of: 2026-11-07)

🔗 Related comparisons

Comparison pages for alternatives

All items

📍YTN Shenzhen (Yantian) ➔ 📍RTM Rotterdam 📍KHH Kaohsiung ➔ 📍RTM Rotterdam 📍LCH Laem Chabang ➔ 📍RTM Rotterdam 📍SHA Shanghai ➔ 📍FLX Felixstowe 📍PVG Shanghai (Pudong) ➔ 📍FRA Frankfurt 📍PUS Busan ➔ 📍RTM Rotterdam 📍PUS Busan ➔ 📍ANR Antwerp 📍NGB Ningbo ➔ 📍LEH Le Havre

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the benchmark rate for Shanghai → Rotterdam?

As of November 2026, about $3,615 per 40ft container (range $3,254 to $3,977, error ±10%, transit 31-37 days). Basis: Published index lane (Drewry WCI).

What can replace Shanghai → Rotterdam as an alternative corridor?

Comparable alternatives include Busan → Rotterdam, Shanghai → Felixstowe ($3,513, $3,885). Compare inland haulage, transshipment and the sailing schedule as well as the price.

Why does a real quotation differ from the benchmark?

Actual quotations vary with booking date, carrier, bunker surcharge and local charges. This is a reference value anchored to published indices, shown with an error range.