Matson
CLX/MAX transit times, sailing schedules, and current rate levels on the China-West Coast express lane.
Overview
Matson's core advantage on the transpacific is having the two fastest expedited services on the lane — CLX (China-Long Beach Express) and MAX (Matson Asia Express) — running direct from Shanghai/Ningbo to the US West Coast in roughly 11 days, versus 22-35 days on standard alliance services, at a meaningful rate premium over standard bookings. One thing to flag clearly: Matson's CLX/MAX direct calls are Shanghai, Ningbo, and Xiamen — Shenzhen (Yantian) is not a direct-call port. Cargo originating in Shenzhen typically needs to be consolidated by feeder or truck to Shanghai or Xiamen before boarding the CLX/MAX mainline, adding roughly 1-3 days of consolidation time on top of the 11-day mainline transit. The schedule and rate figures below come from Matson's own published proforma vessel schedule and local surcharge sheet, which update on a rolling and biweekly basis respectively — confirm current pricing with Matson or your forwarder before booking.
Timeline
| Milestone | Window | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai/Ningbo booking cutoff | 1 day before sailing (CY cutoff per schedule, typically Mon/Tue) | CLX at Shanghai: AMS cutoff Mon 16:00, VGM/CY cutoff Tue 18:00. Ningbo: AMS cutoff Sun 12:00, VGM/CY cutoff Mon 12:00. MAX cutoffs run roughly a day later |
| Shanghai/Ningbo departure | Weekly sailing (CLX and MAX alternate, ~1 sailing/week) | Example from June 2026: MATSONIA 073E (CLX) sailed Shanghai June 10; MATSON WAIKIKI 025E (CLX) sailed June 17 — roughly weekly frequency |
| Transpacific mainline transit | ~11 days | Routes via Guam and Honolulu before calling direct at Long Beach — the core of Matson's speed advantage over alliance services |
| Long Beach arrival | ~Day 11 from departure | Example: MATSONIA 073E departed Shanghai June 10, arrived Long Beach June 21 — 11 days total |
| Shenzhen origin buffer | +1-3 days vs. Shanghai direct | Shenzhen/Yantian cargo must first be consolidated to Shanghai or Xiamen before boarding the CLX/MAX mainline — add this to the 11-day mainline figure for true door-to-port timing |
Matson CLX/MAX sailing schedule sample (June 2026, Shanghai/Ningbo → Long Beach)
| Vessel/Voyage | Service | Shanghai Departure | Long Beach Arrival | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATSONIA 073E | CLX | Jun 10 | Jun 21 | ~11 days |
| MATSON WAIKIKI 025E | CLX | Jun 17 | Jun 28 | ~11 days |
| KAIMANA HILA 074E | CLX | Jun 24 | Jul 5 | ~11 days |
| LURLINE 101E | CLX | Jul 1 | Jul 12 | ~11 days |
| DANIEL K. INOUYE 099E | CLX | Jul 8 | Jul 19 | ~11 days |
* Sourced from Matson's official PROFORMA VESSEL SCHEDULE (Jun-Jul 2026 edition); confirm with Matson or your forwarder for current sailings
Matson Market Adjustment Factor (MAF) reference range, West Coast lane (Ningbo/Xiamen basis, USD/container)
| Effective | Service | 20' | 40' | 40'HQ | 45' |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026.5.28-6.3 | CLX | $3,680 | $4,600 | $5,175 | $5,824 |
| 2026.5.28-6.3 | MAX | $3,760 | $4,700 | $5,288 | $5,950 |
| From 2026.6.4 | CLX | $4,400 | $5,500 | $6,188 | $6,963 |
| From 2026.6.4 | MAX | $4,480 | $5,600 | $6,300 | $7,090 |
* Sourced from Matson's official surcharge bulletin. CLX and MAF rates are published separately; Shanghai typically tracks the same CLX/MAX network rate level. Reference only — confirm the current quote with Matson or your forwarder before booking
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Who Matson fits
High time-sensitivity cargo where you're willing to pay a premium for speed (peak-season restocks, e-commerce breakout SKUs, urgent component shipments) — non-urgent freight is usually cheaper on standard alliance services
Shanghai/Ningbo direct vs. Shenzhen consolidation
Shanghai, Ningbo, and Xiamen are CLX/MAX direct-call ports; Shenzhen is not. Confirm actual consolidation lead time with your forwarder rather than quoting the 11-day mainline figure alone for Shenzhen-origin cargo
Rate volatility
Matson's Market Adjustment Factor (MAF) updates roughly biweekly and can move 20%+ around peak season — always confirm the current rate with Matson or your forwarder before booking, not a rate sheet from a prior cycle
Prep Checklist
- ✓Confirm whether your origin port is a CLX/MAX direct call (Shanghai/Ningbo/Xiamen) — Shenzhen shippers need to budget separate consolidation time
- ✓Check the CY cutoff for your specific sailing — CLX and MAX cutoff times differ, don't assume they're interchangeable
- ✓Get the current Market Adjustment Factor (MAF) and Fuel Adjustment Factor (FAF) directly from Matson or your forwarder before booking — don't price off a historical quote
- ✓For cargo without a hard deadline, compare Matson's premium against standard alliance service total cost before committing to the faster, pricier option
- ✓When estimating door-to-port timing for Shenzhen-origin cargo, separate the consolidation/inland leg from the 11-day mainline transit rather than treating them as one number
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FAQ
Both are Matson expedited services — CLX (China-Long Beach Express) is the primary fast lane, MAX (Matson Asia Express) is the second, with alternating sailings. Both run roughly 11-day mainline transit; the practical difference is call-port sequence and space allocation — confirm availability with your forwarder.