40HC Ocean Freight and Booking
from Japan to Piraeus (Greece)

Japan → Piraeus: service and transit time

Piraeus is a major hub in the eastern Mediterranean and a forwarding point for the Balkans and the Black Sea. It is reached from Japan on services that transit the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean. Transit is around 45–60 days, varying by carrier, schedule and season. Delays can occur due to weather, port congestion or omitted calls.

The trunk service via the Suez Canal is the basis, but depending on conditions it can be switched to the Cape of Good Hope routing, which extends the transit considerably. Using a transhipment service at a nearby hub increases the number of sailings and makes space easier to secure. We will propose to suit your required delivery date.

Transit times are a guide for representative services and are not guaranteed. They differ by carrier and service, and delays can occur due to weather, port congestion or omitted calls. Confirmed schedules are provided with your quote.

40HC ocean freight rates to Piraeus and what moves them

Middle East and Mediterranean services mostly route via hub ports, and the sailing frequency keeps them relatively stable. They are still exposed to bunker prices and conditions at the Suez Canal.

We compare rates from multiple carriers side by side and present the best available at that moment. Card payment is supported, so you can book without straining your cash flow.

Ports, customs and inland transport for Greece

Europe-bound shipments require an ENS (Entry Summary Declaration). If you are forwarding to the Black Sea, transhipment conditions should be confirmed in advance.

We will guide you through the required documents and deadlines, so please ask even if this is your first shipment to Greece. For inland destinations, confirming drayage and onward transport in advance makes the schedule easier to plan.

Piraeus Port Authority is majority-owned by China’s COSCO Shipping, which holds a 67% stake (51% acquired in 2016, a further 16% in 2021, according to Greece’s privatisation agency). Customs clearance itself follows standard EU rules regardless of the port’s ownership.

SOC container also available

A lot of Middle East cargo is re-exported from the hub, so depending on the onward destination there is no fixed place to return the container. SOC containers are easier to handle where re-export is intended.

Other routes in Mediterranean

We also handle other routes to Mediterranean. If the destination is not yet fixed, we will compare options on the all-in cost including the inland leg.

Frequently asked questions