International shipping guide from the US

When your customers’ orders need shipping from the US to any point overseas, Shipa Freight offers highly competitive door-to-door and port-to-port freight rates. We also give you the convenience of a single online platform to get quotes, book freight transportation, track shipments, and pay the various parties involved in the international and domestic US logistics processes.

We are pleased to offer advice and guidance if you are unfamiliar with exporting or international shipping from the US. The tips and information on this page should be helpful if you are just getting started.

Shipping from US: Export Standards and Requirements

Declaring Your Exports

It has always been necessary to make export declarations to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency. The process today, however, is a lot faster and a bit less complicated than it used to be, thanks to digital technology.

What used to be called a Shippers Export Declaration (SED) is now known as Electronic Export Information (EEI). As the name suggests, it is filed online, typically by a US freight forwarder acting on behalf of the shipper.

Note: When you ship your goods with Shipa Freight, we will file the EEI for you.

When Do You Need to File Electronic Export Information?

If you are planning to export a shipment of goods valued at $2,500 or more, or if your products are subject to export licensing, you will need to ensure that any US shipping company acting on your behalf knows an EEI must be filed.

While freight forwarding companies in the US or your chosen carrier (or Shipa Freight if you are our customer) will submit the EEI through the government’s Automated Export System (AES), there is certain information that you as the exporter will be responsible for supplying. This information includes an identifier for the type of commodities you are shipping. The identifier is known as a Schedule B number and can be obtained from the US Census Bureau.

US Export Restrictions and Limitations

Before you begin shipping from the US to overseas destinations, it’s advisable to research not only the products that you are exporting, but also your target market and potential end-customers. This is because any or all of these may be subject to export licensing and restrictions.

The factors that will determine whether a license is required, or a restriction applies, are as follows:

• What you are exporting: in particular, you should find out if the products you are exporting have been assigned an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN);
• What the items you are exporting will be used for: For example, if your products have potential military as well as commercial uses, they may be subject to licensing or restrictions;
• The destination of your shipment: A number of countries are subject to US export embargoes and restrictions. In any case, you will need to include a destination control statement on your commercial invoices and bills of lading, to confirm that your shipment may not be diverted to any country other than the formally stated destination.

The good news is that the vast majority of materials and products do not require an export license. Even if your products do turn out to have an ECCN, you may find that circumstances exist under which you can get an exemption.

However, nothing should be taken for granted. Penalties for non-compliance with export laws and regulations are stiff.

Many freight shipping companies in the US are familiar with export regulations, so your US logistics provider can probably advise you about your products and tell you which government agency to approach with regard to licensing.

Ocean Freight Shipping from the US

The following information will help you to familiarize yourself with some of the main ocean freight routes for shipping from the United States. While the information here only covers port-to-port shipping legs, Shipa Freight also offers port-to-door and door-to-door transportation to locations in 100 countries worldwide.

Busiest Trade Lanes for US Shipping

With plenty of major ports on the East and West coasts of the United States, ocean shipping is possible to just about any overseas destination. However, some of the most frequented routes are those from East Coast ports to European countries, especially Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The following five trade lanes for containerized goods are among the top ocean shipping routes from ports in the United States:

• Seattle (Washington) to Shanghai (China)
• Savannah (Georgia) to Antwerp (Belgium)
• Oakland (California) to Tokyo (Japan)
• Savannah (Georgia) to Felixstowe (United Kingdom)
• Charleston (South Carolina) to Rotterdam (Netherlands)

Ocean Shipping from US Ports: Longest and Shortest Transit Times

Longest transit times for ocean shipments from the United States are on routes from the US Gulf Coast to ports in China and Southeast Asia. For example, the trade lane from Mobile, Alabama to Shanghai, China takes around 30 days for container ships to navigate.

Meanwhile, some of the fastest routes are those connecting the US East Coast to Northern or Southern Europe. A container vessel can sail from New York and arrive at Bremerhaven, Germany within 10 days. It takes a similar amount of time to navigate the trade lane from Miami to the Spanish port of Algeciras.

List of Ocean Routes for Shipping from the United States

To Europe

Port of Origin	Destination Country	Destination Port	Approximate Duration
Miami	Belgium	Antwerp	25 Days
Port Everglades	Belgium	Antwerp	18 Days
Savannah	Belgium	Antwerp	15 Days
Houston	Belgium	Antwerp	15 Days
Savannah	France	Le Havre	19 Days
Houston	France	Le Havre	15 Days
New York	Germany	Bremerhaven	22 Days
Baltimore	Germany	Bremerhaven	17 Days
Savannah	Germany	Bremerhaven	15 Days
Houston	Germany	Bremerhaven	18 Days
Savannah	Italy	Naples	17 Days
Savannah	Italy	Genoa	20 Days
Miami	Netherlands	Rotterdam	26 Days
Port Everglades	Netherlands	Rotterdam	19 Days
Norfolk	Netherlands	Rotterdam	15 Days
New York	Netherlands	Rotterdam	18 Days
Houston	Netherlands	Rotterdam	16 Days
Savannah	Netherlands	Rotterdam	16 Days
Houston	Spain	Valencia	26 Days
New Orleans	Spain	Barcelona	16 Days
Miami	Spain	Algeciras	12 Days
New York	Spain	Algeciras	16 Days
Houston	Spain	Algeciras	17 Days
Savannah	Spain	Algeciras	16 Days
Savannah	Spain	Valencia	11 Days
Seattle	United Kingdom	London Gateway	23 Days
Seattle	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	23 Days
Seattle	United Kingdom	Southampton	23 Days
Savannah	United Kingdom	London Gateway	27 Days
Savannah	United Kingdom	Liverpool	22 Days
New York	United Kingdom	London Gateway	32 Days
Long Beach	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	28 Days
Long Beach	United Kingdom	London Gateway	28 Days
Long Beach	United Kingdom	Southampton	28 Days
Los Angeles	United Kingdom	London Gateway	28 Days
Los Angeles	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	28 Days
Los Angeles	United Kingdom	Southampton	28 Days
Norfolk	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	17 Days
Baltimore	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	19 Days
Savannah	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	15 Days
Savannah	United Kingdom	Southampton	13 Days
New Orleans	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	21 Days
New York	United Kingdom	Felixstowe	32 Days
Charleston	United Kingdom	Southampton	13 Days
New York	United Kingdom	Southampton	17 Days
Norfolk	United Kingdom	Southampton	15 Days
Miami	United Kingdom	Southampton	6 Days

To South/Central America

Port of Origin	Destination Country	Destination Port	Approximate Duration
Norfolk	Argentina	Buenos Aires	21 Days
Norfolk	Brazil	Itapoa	26 Days
Houston	Brazil	Rio de Janeiro	26 Days
Norfolk	Brazil	Santos	18 Days
New Orleans	Brazil	Suape	12 Days
Houston	Colombia	Cartagena	8 Days
Long Beach	Costa Rica	Puerto Limon	14 Days
Houston	Honduras	Puerto Cortes	6 Days
Savannah	Honduras	Puerto Cortes	5 Days
Houston	Mexico	Altamira	1 Day
Long Beach	Mexico	Manzanillo	3 Days
New York	Panama	Colon	5 Days
Savannah	Panama	Colon	13 Days
Savannah	Panama	Manzanillo	9 Days
Houston	Panama	Balboa	10 Days
Houston	Peru	Callao	13 Days
Port Everglades	Peru	Callao	11 Days
Houston	Venezuela	Guanta	10 Days

To Asia and Oceania

Port of Origin	Destination Country	Destination Port	Approximate Duration
Charleston	Australia	Sydney	27 Days
Charleston	Australia	Melbourne	30 Days
Long Beach	Australia	Brisbane	22 Days
Mobile	China	Shanghai	29 Days
Long Beach	China	Dalian	22 Days
Long Beach	China	Lianyungang	19 Days
Long Beach	China	Ningbo	18 Days
Long Beach	China	Shanghai	21 Days
Long Beach	China	Qingdao	23 Days
Los Angeles	China	Shanghai	24 Days
Los Angeles	China	Qingdao	22 Days
Los Angeles	China	Xiamen	21 Days
Oakland	China	Shanghai	20 Days
Oakland	China	Ningbo	20 Days
Oakland	China	Qingdao	20 Days
Norfolk	China	Shanghai	29 Days
Norfolk	China	Ningbo	29 Days
Seattle	China	Shanghai	16 Days
Seattle	China	Ningbo	17 Days
Seattle	China	Qingdao	22 Days
Tacoma	China	Shanghai	27 Days
Tacoma	China	Qingdao	17 Days
Tacoma	China	Ningbo	23 Days
New York	China	Xiamen	28 Days
Los Angeles	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	21 Days
Long Beach	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	21 Days
Tacoma	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	17 Days
Los Angeles	Japan	Tokyo	19 Days
Los Angeles	Japan	Kobe	18 Days
Los Angeles	Japan	Yokohama	12 Days
Long Beach	Japan	Yokohama	24 Days
Long Beach	Japan	Nagoya	17 Days
Long Beach	Japan	Kobe	15 Days
Tacoma	Japan	Tokyo	13 Days
Tacoma	Japan	Osaka	15 Days
Oakland	Malaysia	Port Klang	22 Days
Los Angeles	Malaysia	Port Klang	25 Days
Oakland	Singapore	Singapore	21 Days
Los Angeles	Singapore	Singapore	24 Days
Long Beach	South Korea	Busan	20 Days
Los Angeles	South Korea	Busan	16 Days
Seattle	South Korea	Busan	16 Days
Los Angeles	Taiwan	Taipei	20 Days
Long Beach	Taiwan	Kaohsiung	17 Days
Los Angeles	Taiwan	Kaohsiung	19 Days
Oakland	Taiwan	Kaohsiung	17 Days
Tacoma	Taiwan	Kaohsiung	19 Days
Oakland	Thailand	Laem Chabang	22 Days
Long Beach	Thailand	Laem Chabang	24 Days
Los Angeles	Thailand	Laem Chabang	25 Days
Long Beach	Vietnam	Vung Tau	27 Days

US Outbound Shipping by Air Cargo Carrier

The following information covers some of the main air freight routes for shipping from the United States. While the information here only covers airport-to-airport shipping legs, Shipa Freight also offers port-to-door and door-to-door transportation to locations in 100 countries around the world.

Top Routes for Air Freight from United States Airports

If your exports are time-critical or comprise low volumes of high-value products, you will probably wish to choose air, rather than ocean shipping from the United States to your chosen destination.

The five following air freight routes are currently among the most popular with shippers exporting from the US:

• Dallas to Brussels (Belgium)
• New York to London (United Kingdom)
• Chicago to Frankfurt (Germany)
• Los Angeles to Tokyo (Japan)
• Los Angeles to Seoul (South Korea)

Longest and Shortest Transit Times for Shipping from US Airports

Longest transit times for air freight shipments out of the US are on routes to Asia. As an example, a cargo flight from Chicago to Zhengzhou, China takes around 14 hours.

Of course, the shortest flights from the United States are those heading into the bordering countries of Canada and Mexico, and to Central American and Caribbean destinations. Flights from Miami to Bogota in Colombia for instance, take four hours or less.

Air Freight: Routes for Shipping from United States Airports

To Europe

Airport of Origin	Destination Country	Destination Airport	Approximate Duration
Cincinnati	Belgium	Brussels	8 Hours
Dallas	Germany	Frankfurt	9 Hours
New York	Germany	Frankfurt	7 Hours
Atlanta	Netherlands	Amsterdam	8 Hours
Chicago	Netherlands	Amsterdam	8 Hours
Chicago	Russia	Moscow	10 Hours

To South/Central America

Airport of Origin	Destination Country	Destination Airport	Approximate Duration
Miami	Colombia	Bogota	4 Hours
Miami	Dominican Republic	Santo Domingo	2 Hours
Miami	Ecuador	Quito	4 Hours
Miami	Guatemala	Guatemala City	2 Hours
Miami	Honduras	San Pedro Sula	2 Hours
Miami	Nicaragua	Managua	3 Hours

To Asia

Airport of Origin	Destination Country	Destination Airport	Approximate Duration
Chicago	China	Zhengzhou	14 Hours
Los Angeles	China	Shanghai	13 Hours
Cincinnati	Japan	Tokyo	13 Hours
Los Angeles	Japan	Tokyo	11 Hours
Los Angeles	South Korea	Seoul	12 Hours
Cincinnati	South Korea	Seoul	14 Hours
Cincinnati	South Korea	Seoul	14 Hours

Shipping Simplicity: United States Freight Exports with Shipa Freight

Instead of dealing with a US freight forwarder, US logistics companies, customs brokers and foreign logistics providers, why not ship your export orders with Shipa Freight?

Our platform keeps things simple, and our global presence means we can offer you competitive door-to-door or port-to-port rates for hundreds of worldwide destinations.

It’s so easy to try the Shipa Freight service for size. Just visit our homepage to get your first quote in moments and discover a simpler way to ship freight internationally.