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Sea–Air China–Bogotá: The Alternative When Ocean Freight Takes 60 Days
If your cargo departs from Shanghai, Shenzhen, or Ningbo bound for Bogotá, a 100% ocean container today can take up to 60 days door-to-door. D-Log's Sea–Air service reduces this to about 24–26 days, at a lower cost than direct air freight.
The Problem: 60 Days That Stall Your Operation
In 2026, the China–Colombia maritime route faced three simultaneous pressure fronts: typhoons that closed major Chinese ports, vessel cancellations (blank sailings), and historically low schedule reliability. Combined with transshipment, waiting times at Colombian ports, and the inland leg to Bogotá, the result is stalled inventory, lost sales, and tied-up working capital.
For many importers, direct air freight from Asia is not a viable option due to cost. This is where a third path emerges: combining ship and plane.
🌪️ 2026: An Extraordinary Typhoon Season
Between July and late August, three typhoons closed Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan, while others struck southern China. Each closure left a backlog of vessels that could not be cleared before the next one hit.
| Typhoon | Date | Port Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Saudel | Aug 26–29, 2026 | Closure of Shanghai and Ningbo; Ningbo shut down for 78 hours; wait times of up to 10 days to berth (MundoMarítimo, Trans.info). |
| Dolphin | Aug 8–11, 2026 | Three-day closures in Shanghai and Ningbo; berthing delays of up to 12 days; over 2.4 million TEUs backlogged (Sourcing Journal). |
| Noul | Jul 25, 2026 | Port closures in Hong Kong and Shenzhen (TBGFS). |
| Bavi | Jul 11–13, 2026 | Suspensions in Shanghai, Ningbo, and Qingdao; delays of 3 to 7 days (Lloyd's List). |
In mid-August, OOCL Logistics reported wait times of up to 12 days at Shanghai's Yangshan terminal (WorldCargo News). Congestion spread to Busan and other regional transshipment hubs, through which a large share of cargo bound for Latin America passes (MásContainer).
Blank Sailings: Fewer Sailings, More Rollover Cargo
A blank sailing is the cancellation of a scheduled departure or the omission of a port call. When this happens, cargo ready for shipment is "rolled" to the next available vessel, sometimes a week or more later.
- Before Golden Week (Oct 1–7): Drewry recorded 77 cancellations out of 720 scheduled departures between weeks 39 and 43, representing 11% of the total; the eastbound Transpacific concentrated 55% (DataPortuaria).
- Carrier updates: Maersk cancelled sailings for its TP8 and TP12 services from Busan and Ningbo for October 9 (Maersk).
- Latin America routes: CMA CGM announced a USD 1,000 per container rate increase on Asia–Latin America routes for cargo shipped from October 15 onwards (Hbcucheng).
The consequence for Colombian importers: even with booked space, the actual departure date is no longer predictable.
Week 43: Congestion Eases, But Reliability Does Not Return
This week, the port of Shanghai is breathing easier, but cargo from Asia continues to arrive behind schedule. Three data points summarize it:
| Indicator | Current Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Blank sailings weeks 43–47 | 44 out of 713 sailings (6%), 36% in the Transpacific | Green Worldwide, Week 43 |
| Asia–North America Schedule Reliability | 26.9% in September (33.9% in August); delays of 8+ days make up the largest group | Green Worldwide, Week 43 |
| Shanghai–Los Angeles Freight Rate | USD 8,007 per 40' container, +2% weekly (Oct 22) | Drewry WCI |
| Vessel Waiting Time in Shanghai | 38 hours in Week 42 (97 hours in Week 38) | Drewry WCI |
In other words: even though the origin port is clearing up, nearly three out of four Transpacific vessels arrive late, and the market expects reduced scheduled capacity in the coming weeks. For an importer in Bogotá, this translates to uncertain arrival dates just ahead of the year-end holiday season.
The Alternative: D-Log's Sea–Air, From China to Bogotá in 24–26 Days
Sea–Air combines the most efficient ocean leg across the Pacific with a final air leg, avoiding transshipment to Colombia, waiting times at Colombian ports, and inland trucking to Bogotá. Here is how the route works:
Ocean Departure from Base Ports in China
Cargo departs by vessel from major Chinese ports crossing the Pacific.
Transfer in Long Beach / Los Angeles (USA)
In North America's largest port complex, cargo transitions from vessel to aircraft.
Direct Flight to Bogotá
The final leg arrives by air in the capital, bypassing Buenaventura and Cartagena.
⏱️ Optimized Transit Time
Approximately 24–26 days, compared to the up to 60 days a door-to-door container currently takes via conventional ocean freight.
Service Benefits and Comparison Matrix
Sea–Air occupies the midpoint between ocean and air freight: less than half the time of current ocean shipping, at a cost lower than direct air freight.
| Mode | China–Bogotá Time | Relative Cost | Current Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Ocean | Up to 60 days door-to-door | Low | High: typhoons, blank sailings, transshipments, 27% schedule reliability |
| D-Log Sea–Air | Approx. 24–26 days | Medium | Moderate: single ocean crossing + flight |
| Direct Air (Full Air) | Few days | High | Low |
- Cost savings vs. Full Air: the bulk of the distance is covered by sea, the most economical mode per kilo.
- Route flexibility: departures from various base ports in China depending on your supplier's origin.
- Specialized handling: coordination of the vessel-to-air transfer in Long Beach / Los Angeles.
- Optimized and agile times: direct arrival in Bogotá, with no waiting at Colombian ports or inland trucking.
When to Choose Sea–Air?
The service applies to cargo departing from Chinese Base Ports, transferring in Long Beach / Los Angeles, and destined for Bogotá. It is the best option when you meet one or more of these conditions:
- ☐ Your cargo cannot wait 60 days, but direct air freight unbalances your import cost.
- ☐ You have committed dates with clients or seasonal deadlines: product launches, year-end inventory, bids.
- ☐ Your merchandise has good value-to-weight ratio (electronics, spare parts, textiles, accessories), where gaining a month offsets the freight difference.
- ☐ You were affected by rolled cargo or a blank sailing and need to make up time without paying for Full Air.
- ☐ Your cargo is suitable for air transport on the final leg (dimensions, weight, and dangerous goods restrictions per the airline).
- ☐ Bogotá is your final destination, or a nearby distribution center.
If you checked two or more boxes, it is worth quoting Sea–Air alongside your usual ocean option.
Optimize Your Logistics from China to Bogotá with D-Log
The typhoon season is ending, but low reliability will continue to mark the market. If your operation cannot absorb two months of transit, Dietrich Logistics' Sea–Air is your solution.
Speak with our team
