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)
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.
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
Mode | Typical Transit Window* |
---|---|
FCL – Trans-Pacific (CN/KR/TW → LA) | 12–18 days |
FCL – Trans-Atlantic (EU → LA) | 25–35 days |
LCL – Consolidation Routes | 18–35 days |
Air Freight – Global | 1–7 days |
*Includes sailing time plus average terminal handling.
Origin Ports | U.S. Arrival | Notes |
---|---|---|
Shanghai • Ningbo • Busan | Port of Los Angeles (US LAX) | Weekly express Trans-Pacific loops. |
Yokohama • Nagoya | POLA | High-frequency auto-parts & finished-vehicle flow. |
Hamburg • Rotterdam • Antwerp | POLA | All-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. |
Typical Imports (top five by 2024 TEU): furniture, auto parts, apparel, plastic products, consumer electronics.
Restricted / Permit-Required Goods
PierPass assesses a Traffic Mitigation Fee on daytime moves; scheduling OffPeak gates can avoid—or reduce—the fee and lessen truck wait times.
Yes. Goods entering an FTZ near the port can be stored, manipulated, or re-exported duty-free; your account manager can arrange FTZ drayage.
Not legally, but iContainers strongly recommends marine coverage to mitigate Pacific storm risk and terminal handling damage.