From Gujarat ports, sea freight to Europe or the US usually takes somewhere between three and six weeks port to port. The exact time depends on the route, whether the service is direct or transhipped, and whether ships go through the Suez Canal or around Africa.
Add time at both ends for trucking, customs and port handling. For door-to-door planning, a realistic total is often several weeks longer than the sea leg alone. Ask your forwarder for current schedules on your lane.
The Red Sea and Hormuz in 2026
Routing is the biggest variable this year. Ships between India and Europe normally use the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Since the Houthi attacks began in late 2023, many lines have sent ships around the Cape of Good Hope instead. Industry reports put the detour at roughly 10 to 14 extra days on Asia to Europe routes.
A 2026 conflict in the Gulf added a second problem. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed in 2026, and several major lines suspended Gulf transits from March. As of 18 October 2026, a tracker based on IMF PortWatch data showed Suez traffic at about 59% of pre-crisis levels, Cape of Good Hope traffic at about 155%, and Hormuz at about 4%.
Some lines have begun cautiously restoring Suez services, but the picture can change quickly. Ask your forwarder which way your vessel will route before you promise a date to your own customers.
Rough transit ranges
- To northern Europe, a direct service via Suez is typically around three to four weeks. Via the Cape, add one to two weeks.
- To the Mediterranean, transit via Suez is shorter, but a Cape routing removes most of that advantage.
- To the US East Coast, expect roughly four to six weeks, depending on the routing and transhipment.
- To the US West Coast, services usually tranship in Asia, and transit is often similar to or longer than the East Coast.
What slows chemical cargo further
- DG cargo may wait for a vessel that can take it, or be refused at a transhipment hub. See whether all lines accept DG cargo.
- Port congestion, which often follows big routing changes, can add days at hubs.
- Missing or inconsistent documents can hold a container at origin or destination customs.
- Monsoon weather can disrupt Gujarat ports in some months.
How to plan around it
Build a margin into your stock plan, and place repeat orders earlier than you would in a normal year. Check the transit time printed on the line's schedule, not a general estimate, and track the vessel after sailing.
Your Incoterm decides who carries the risk of delay and who pays extra costs, as explained in the best Incoterm for chemical imports.
Next step
We plan production, inspection and loading around the sailing your forwarder books, so the factory end does not add delay. To start, book a free sourcing review.