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Personal Account Manager

Why Choose iContainers for Shipping to Los Angeles?


  • Highest-volume U.S. port. The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) moved ≈ 10.3 million TEU in calendar-year 2024, its second-best result ever and ~20 % above 2023. (Ajot)
  • Fast rail evacuation. Eight on-dock rail yards feed the Alameda Corridor, speeding boxes to the U.S. interior while avoiding city traffic and extra truck fees. (Apmterminals)
  • Clean-truck leadership. POLA’s Clean Truck Fund is steering drayage toward 100 % zero-emission vehicles by 2035, already collecting a US $10/TEU green fee. (Port of Los Angeles)
  • Dedicated compliance help. Your iContainers account manager files ISF 10+2, coordinates FDA or USDA releases, and schedules PierPass OffPeak moves to cut dwell time and cost.

Our Container Shipping Services to Los Angeles


Full-Container-Load (FCL)


High-volume shippers of furniture, auto parts, apparel, plastics, and consumer electronics favor sealed 20 ft or 40 ft FCLs for security and predictable landed costs. Typical port-to-port transits: Shanghai → Los Angeles ≈ 13–15 days; Rotterdam → Los Angeles ≈ 26–30 days. (Port of Los Angeles, Port of Los Angeles)


Less-than-Container-Load (LCL)


SMEs import lower-volume sporting goods, specialty foods, and e-commerce replenishment via LCL consolidation hubs such as Busan, Hong Kong, and Hamburg. Door-to-door times run 18–25 days from Asia and 30–35 days from Europe.


Alternative: Air Freight to Southern California


Need your cargo in under a week? Book air freight into LAX—handling 2.35 million metric tons in 2024—or nearby Ontario International (ONT) for late-cutoff overnight connections. Perfect for high-value electronics, urgent machine spares, or fast-fashion drops. (lawa.org)

Container shipping rates to Los Angeles

How much does it cost to ship a container to Los Angeles?

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Container to Los Angeles?


ModeTypical Transit Window*
FCL – Trans-Pacific (CN/KR/TW → LA)12–18 days
FCL – Trans-Atlantic (EU → LA)25–35 days
LCL – Consolidation Routes18–35 days
Air Freight – Global1–7 days

*Includes sailing time plus average terminal handling.


Popular Routes and Gateways


Origin PortsU.S. ArrivalNotes
Shanghai • Ningbo • BusanPort of Los Angeles (US LAX)Weekly express Trans-Pacific loops.
Yokohama • NagoyaPOLAHigh-frequency auto-parts & finished-vehicle flow.
Hamburg • Rotterdam • AntwerpPOLAAll-water via Panama or intermodal via East-Coast rail.
Los Angeles Int’l (LAX)#2 U.S. cargo airport by tonnage.
Ontario Int’l (ONT)Growing West-Coast e-commerce hub.

Five Easy Steps to Book with iContainers


  1. Grab an instant quote online for FCL, LCL, or air.
  2. Pick your service level — port-to-port, door pickup, insurance.
  3. Upload documents (invoice, packing list, ISF data).
  4. Track your shipment 24/7 in the dashboard.
  5. Clear & receive at Los Angeles with drayage to any U.S. ZIP code or bonded FTZ.

What Can You Ship in a Container to Los Angeles?


Typical Imports (top five by 2024 TEU): furniture, auto parts, apparel, plastic products, consumer electronics.


Restricted / Permit-Required Goods


  • Lithium batteries & other hazmat (IMDG paperwork)
  • Alcohol & tobacco (TTB permits)
  • Meat, dairy, produce without USDA / FDA approvals
  • Used vehicles (EPA/DOT compliance)
  • Counterfeit or IP-infringing items

FAQs About Shipping Containers to Los Angeles

What is PierPass and why does it matter?

PierPass assesses a Traffic Mitigation Fee on daytime moves; scheduling OffPeak gates can avoid—or reduce—the fee and lessen truck wait times.

Can I route cargo through a Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ)?

Yes. Goods entering an FTZ near the port can be stored, manipulated, or re-exported duty-free; your account manager can arrange FTZ drayage.

Do I need cargo insurance?

Not legally, but iContainers strongly recommends marine coverage to mitigate Pacific storm risk and terminal handling damage.

Ready to connect your supply chain to Los Angeles?

Get your instant iContainers quote now and lock in space.

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iContainers is a digital freight forwarder based in Barcelona that assists thousands of companies and families around the globe in moving their merchandise internationally.


Our online freight quoting platform has the latest technology in the sector and simplifies ocean freight, quoting and managing your bookings from the same user area.


We work side by side with Shipa Freight to fully cover the demands of our customers.

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