China to Panama FCL freight rates 2026 — container rates and booking notes
China to Panama — FCL sailings and rates, 11–22 November 2026
Port-to-port ocean freight, per container, in USD. Each row is one sailing our booking desk was holding on 10 November 2026, so the rate belongs to that departure only. Confirm space and the level against your cargo ready date before you book.
| Sailing (ETD) | Loading port | Destination port | Equipment | Ocean freight | Booking notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 2026 | Shanghai | Manzanillo, Panama | 20GP | USD 4,400 | — |
| 17 Nov 2026 | Shanghai | Manzanillo, Panama | 40GP / 40HQ | USD 5,000 | One rate covers both 40ft equipment types |
| 20 Nov 2026 | Qingdao | Manzanillo, Panama | 20GP | USD 4,700 | — |
| 20 Nov 2026 | Qingdao | Manzanillo, Panama | 40GP / 40HQ | USD 4,900 | One rate covers both 40ft equipment types |
How to read this allocation sheet
- One row is one sailing. The date is the ETD from the Chinese port in that row, and the rate belongs to that departure. Once the vessel sails the allocation is gone and we re-quote off the next one.
- Equipment codes. 20GP is a 20ft dry container, 40HQ a 40ft high cube, 40GP a 40ft standard box. 40NOR is a non-operating reefer: a refrigerated container carried as a dry unit. It suits general cargo, but it depends on empty reefer equipment at the loading port and it does not always price below the dry box.
- What the figure covers. Ocean freight port-to-port, per container, in USD. Origin handling, export declaration, THC and documentation, destination THC and destination charges, import duty and final delivery are additional unless a row says otherwise.
- Every loading port is priced separately. The same destination carries a different number out of Shanghai, Qingdao, Ningbo, Nansha, Shekou, Yantian, Tianjin and Dalian because each gateway sits on a different string or feeder. Compare gateway, equipment and ETD together.
- Short validity. These sailings run 11–22 November 2026 and the rates are quoted on 10 November 2026. If your cargo ready date falls outside that window, the figure has to be re-quoted.
- Manzanillo here is the Atlantic-side terminal. It sits next to Colón at the Caribbean end of the canal. Balboa on the Pacific side is a different gateways with its own levels, so pick the port that matches your delivery point.
Send the commodity, gross weight, volume, the loading port in China and the delivery address in Panama to sales8015@goodhopefreight.com and we will confirm the sailing, the equipment and the all-in cost.
Frequently asked questions — shipping from China
The answers below are drawn from the same allocation sheet as the table above. Figures are indicative and are reconfirmed at booking.
What is the latest ocean freight for a 40ft high cube container from Shanghai to Manzanillo, Panama?
USD 5,000 per 40HQ on the 17 November 2026 sailing, and the 20GP on the same departure is USD 4,400. One rate covers both 40ft equipment types, so the 40GP is also USD 5,000. From Qingdao the 20 November sailing came in at USD 4,700 for a 20GP and USD 4,900 for a 40GP or 40HQ. Manzanillo here is the Atlantic-side terminal next to Colon; Balboa on the Pacific side is quoted separately.
Which sailings from China to Manzanillo, Panama are open in November 2026?
Four departures were on our desk on 10 November 2026: Shanghai 17 November (20GP USD 4,400, 40GP or 40HQ USD 5,000) and Qingdao 20 November (20GP USD 4,700, 40GP or 40HQ USD 4,900).
Does a 40GP cost the same as a 40HQ to Manzanillo, Panama?
On this allocation sheet yes. The carrier quoted one 40ft level that applies to both the standard 40GP and the high cube 40HQ: USD 5,000 ex-Shanghai for 17 November and USD 4,900 ex-Qingdao for 20 November. Where the two are priced together, take the high cube unless your cargo will not fit the extra height, because you pay nothing for the additional volume.
FCL rate sheet from China to Panama — quoted 5 November 2026
Port-to-port ocean freight, per container, in USD. Dry-container rates hold for sailings 9–15 Nov 2026; NOR rates hold for 10–16 Nov 2026. Confirm against your cargo ready date before you book.
| Destination port | 20GP | 40HQ | Dry free time (days) |
Dry rate valid | NOR | NOR free time (days) |
NOR rate valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manzanillo, Panama | USD 6,350 | USD 6,900 | 21 | 9–15 Nov 2026 | — | — | 10–16 Nov 2026 |
| Cristóbal, Panama | USD 6,000 | USD 6,550 | 21 | 9–15 Nov 2026 | — | — | 10–16 Nov 2026 |
| Balboa, Panama | USD 5,700 | USD 6,250 | 21 | 9–15 Nov 2026 | USD 5,700 | 14 | 10–16 Nov 2026 |
| Colón Free Zone, Panama | USD 6,100 | USD 6,650 | 21 | 9–15 Nov 2026 | USD 6,190 | 14 | 10–16 Nov 2026 |
| Panama City, Panama | USD 5,975 | USD 6,525 | 21 | 9–15 Nov 2026 | USD 6,075 | 14 | 10–16 Nov 2026 |
How these rates are quoted — read before you book
- Loading ports at the base rate. Qingdao, Yantian, Xiamen, Ningbo and Shanghai are all quoted at the same level — one base rate covers all five gateways.
- Other loading ports. Tianjin: dry containers at the base level, NOR +USD 150. Dalian: dry containers at the base level, NOR +USD 100. Nansha: +USD 100 on both equipment types. Lianyungang: +USD 300. Nanjing: +USD 400.
- Overweight surcharge. Charged when the gross weight, container tare included, exceeds 20 tonnes for a 20ft unit or 23 tonnes for a 40NOR: +USD 250 to Mexico and +USD 400 to every other destination on the sheet.
- What the rate covers. Ocean freight port-to-port only, per container. Origin handling, export declaration, THC and documentation, destination THC and destination charges, import duty and final delivery are additional and are quoted separately.
- The two free-time columns. Days allowed at destination before detention or demurrage starts, counted from discharge — 21 days on the dry container and 14 days on the NOR box, where shown. Free time is confirmed with the booking; the figure on this sheet is the desk's standing allowance, not a contractual guarantee.
- What NOR means. A non-operating reefer: a refrigerated container carried as a dry box. It is a normal option for general cargo, but it depends on empty reefer equipment at the loading port, and it does not always price below the dry rate — see Manzanillo, Mexico on this sheet, where the NOR is quoted far above the 40HQ.
- Validity windows are short. Dry rates are held for one week (9–15 Nov 2026) and NOR for a different week (10–16 Nov 2026). If your cargo readiness moves outside those windows, the rate is re-quoted.
- Market direction, 5 November 2026. Our desk's read: NOR levels have already been cut and dry-container rates may still come down. If your cargo is not urgent, it is worth re-checking the week before you fix a booking.
Send the commodity, gross weight, volume, the loading port in China and the delivery address in Panama to sales8015@goodhopefreight.com and we will confirm the sailing, the free time and the all-in cost.