Container Shipping Rates from Vietnam to Honduras by Sea 2026
Container shipping from Vietnam to Honduras by sea includes the ocean freight, carrier surcharges (BAF, PSS, Panama Canal surcharge) and local charges at both ends. Cargo from Vietnam to Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) mostly moves via transshipment, with transit times of about 35–71 days depending on the carrier (schedules checked on 6 October 2026). The H-Cargo team quotes against actual weekly sailing schedules.
I. What does the cost of shipping a container to Honduras include?
II. What are current international sea freight rates to Honduras?
III. Which port does cargo to Honduras arrive at, and is transshipment required?
IV. Panama Canal surcharges and transshipment bottlenecks in the Caribbean
V. What should you watch out for when shipping to Honduras?
VI. What documents and procedures apply to imports into Honduras?
VII. Frequently asked questions
VIII. Conclusion
I. What does the cost of shipping a container to Honduras include?
When calculating container shipping costs to Honduras for full container loads (FCL) or less-than-container loads (LCL), shippers should be clear on the following international sea freight cost components:
Cost group | Breakdown |
Main-leg ocean freight | Cost of carrying the container from Vietnamese ports (Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong) to an international transshipment hub and on to Puerto Cortés. |
Carrier surcharges | Includes BAF (bunker), PSS (peak season) and GRI according to each line's published tariff. |
Transshipment charges | Handling and connection costs at transshipment hubs in Asia (China, South Korea) or the Americas (Panama, Kingston). |
Panama Canal surcharge (PCS) | Applied at certain times to mother vessels sailing from Asia through the Panama Canal into the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea). |
Local charges at both ends | THC, B/L, seal and telex release fees at the port of loading (Vietnam) and the port of discharge (Honduras). |
II. What are current international sea freight rates to Honduras?
There is currently no fixed published rate sheet for the Vietnam – Honduras lane. Rates change week to week and depend heavily on space availability on mother vessels and on feeder connection charges for the final leg in Central America.
For an accurate all-in estimate, fewer hidden charges and secure space in peak season, send your shipping plan directly to H-Cargo's Americas trade lane team.
Need a container quote to Honduras? Send H-Cargo your port of loading, container type, commodity and cargo-ready date - our team will quote with routing, surcharges and a clear validity period. Get a quote now
Related articles:
- Container shipping rates from Vietnam to the Dominican Republic by sea 2026
- Container shipping rates from Vietnam to El Salvador by sea 2026 III. Which port does cargo to Honduras arrive at, and is transshipment required?
Container cargo to Honduras arrives at Puerto Cortés (UN/LOCODE HNPCR) on the Caribbean coast. The container terminal there is operated by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC) and is Honduras's main container gateway.
Most services from Vietnam to Honduras involve transshipment. According to schedules published on IQAX Big Schedules (checked on 6 October 2026), transit times vary widely between carriers; schedules can change from week to week:
Port of loading (POL) | Port of discharge (POD) | Carrier | Service & example vessel | Transit time |
Hai Phong (VNHPH) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | ZIM | ZXB service (vessel ZIM MOUNT VINSON) | 35 days (fastest in the schedules checked) |
Hai Phong (VNHPH) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | MSC | DOLPHIN service (vessel MSC SPARKLE III) | 36 – 47 days |
Hai Phong (VNHPH) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | Evergreen | AUE service (vessel EVER MERCY) | 42 days |
Hai Phong (VNHPH) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | CMA CGM, COSCO | Services RBHCNC, HHX, CPV, WSA3 | 56 – 71 days |
Ho Chi Minh City (VNSGN) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | ZIM | QVI service (vessel CAI MEP 06) | 45 days |
Ho Chi Minh City (VNSGN) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | Evergreen | AUE, NSC services (vessels EVER MAGI, EVER WARM) | 48 – 49 days |
Ho Chi Minh City (VNSGN) | Puerto Cortés (HNPCR) | COSCO, OOCL | Services CV2, CAXI, CHL3 | 53 – 65 days |
IV. Panama Canal surcharges and transshipment bottlenecks in the Caribbean
Puerto Cortés lies on the Caribbean (Atlantic) coast, so sea routes from Vietnam usually pass through the Panama Canal or transship via Caribbean ports:
Panama Canal impact: mother vessels from Asia transiting the Panama Canal are affected by Gatun Lake water levels and draft limits. In late September 2026, the Panama Canal Authority raised the maximum Neopanamax draft to 49 feet and, from 15 October 2026, increased total daily transits to 33, following restrictions in August–September to conserve water (The Maritime Executive, 28/09/2026). Even so, carriers may still apply a Panama Canal Surcharge (PCS) at certain times.
Risk of rolled cargo at transshipment hubs: on longer routings of 55 to over 70 days (such as CMA CGM or COSCO), containers go through 2–3 transshipments (in China and then onto feeder vessels in Panama or Jamaica). Without close monitoring of connecting vessels, containers can be delayed by being rolled at the transshipment port.
V. What should you watch out for when shipping to Honduras?
When performing export contracts to Honduras, businesses should pay attention to the following operational points:
Optimise transit time: transit times differ greatly between lines (per schedules checked on 6 October 2026, ZIM and MSC take about 35–36 days from Hai Phong, while CMA CGM can take up to 71 days). Depending on the cargo (seasonal goods, agricultural products or project machinery), shippers should choose between a faster service and a lower-cost one.
Confirm the correct destination port: Puerto Cortés is Honduras's main container gateway. Bookings and B/Ls should state the destination port clearly to avoid confusion with San Lorenzo, a Pacific-side port with more limited container handling capacity.
Consistent documents: the Commercial Invoice, Packing List and B/L must match on cargo details, consignee and HS code; amending a B/L after the cargo has arrived usually incurs amendment fees and can delay customs clearance.
Insight from the H-Cargo team: on Central American lanes, transit times between carriers can differ by as much as a month. That is why, when quoting, we usually present a fast option and a cost-saving option side by side, with the transshipment port and validity date, so customers can choose based on when the cargo needs to arrive.
VI. What documents and procedures apply to imports into Honduras?
Customs clearance at Puerto Cortés is controlled by the Honduran Customs Administration (Administración Aduanera de Honduras):
Item | Requirements |
Electronic declaration system | Customs declarations must be filed through the SARAH system (Sistema Automatizado de Rentas Aduaneras de Honduras). |
Clearance documents | Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading, Packing List. A Spanish translation of the goods description on the invoice is recommended. |
Certificate of Origin (C/O) | Provide a standard C/O issued in Vietnam to prove the origin of the goods. As there is no bilateral FTA, goods are subject to standard (MFN) import duty rates. |
Duties and taxes | Goods are subject to import duty under the Central American Tariff (SAC) and the Sales Tax (Impuesto Sobre Ventas - ISV), equivalent to VAT, at a standard rate of 15%. |
VII. Frequently asked questions
1. How long does sea freight from Vietnam to Honduras take?
According to schedules checked on 6 October 2026, from Hai Phong the transit time to Honduras ranges from 35 to 71 days depending on the carrier (fastest: ZIM at 35 days, MSC at 36 days). From Ho Chi Minh City, the voyage takes about 45 to 65 days.
2. Which is the main port for cargo to Honduras?
The port of Puerto Cortés (port code HNPCR) is Honduras's main container gateway.
3. Is the Honduras route subject to the Panama Canal surcharge?
Usually, yes. Because Puerto Cortés is on the Caribbean coast, vessels from Asia generally transit the Panama Canal and are subject to a PCS applied by each carrier at certain times.
4. Can I ship LCL cargo to Honduras?
Yes. LCL cargo is consolidated at a CFS in Vietnam and transshipped through international consolidation hubs before being delivered to the CFS at Puerto Cortés.
VIII. Conclusion
Container shipping costs to Honduras cannot be compared on a single figure: the carrier, the transshipment port and the Panama Canal surcharge determine the total cost and the arrival date at Puerto Cortés. Before confirming, ask for a quote that separates ocean freight, surcharges, local charges, routing and validity, and align the document set with your consignee. The H-Cargo team advises on routing and quotes shipment by shipment for Central American lanes.
Learn more about our specialised shipping services: International Sea Freight Services - Sea Freight.
Author: Navy Ngo - Marketing Specialist
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References: IQAX Big Schedules (VNSGN/VNHPH - HNPCR schedules, checked 06/10/2026); Panama Canal Authority via The Maritime Executive (28/09/2026); Administración Aduanera de Honduras; Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC). Information is for reference only and is not a quotation or legal advice; check schedules, surcharges and regulations at the time of shipment.
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