Most high-volume imports—electronics, furniture, automotive parts—arrive in sealed 20 ft or 40 ft containers for security, faster gate moves, and fixed landed costs. Typical transits: Shanghai → Long Beach ~15 days, Rotterdam → Long Beach 25–30 days.
SMEs shipping fashion, sporting goods, or specialty foods choose LCL consolidation via hubs such as Busan, Hong Kong, and Hamburg, with door-to-door times as low as 18–25 days from Asia and 30–35 days from Europe.
When speed trumps cost, book air freight into LAX (the #2 U.S. cargo airport) or Long Beach Airport (LGB) for just-in-time spare parts, high-value electronics, or e-commerce replenishment. Airport-to-airport transit can be 1–4 days worldwide.
Container shipping rates to Long Beach
Origin Ports | U.S. Gateway | Notes |
---|---|---|
Shanghai • Ningbo • Shenzhen | Port of Long Beach (POLB) | Fast Pacific loops, weekly sailings. |
Busan • Kaohsiung • Hong Kong | POLB | Trans-Pacific express services for electronics. |
Rotterdam • Hamburg • Antwerp | POLB | All-water via Panama or intermodal via East-Coast rail. |
Yokohama • Nagoya | POLB | Automotive parts & finished vehicles. |
— | LAX / LGB (air) | Time-critical samples & perishables. |
Common Commodities
Restricted or Special-Permit Goods
It isn’t legally required, but iContainers strongly recommends marine insurance to cover Pacific weather risks and terminal handling damage.
PierPass is an OffPeak program that assesses a Traffic Mitigation Fee on daytime container moves. Booking night-gate or weekend slots can avoid or reduce this fee.
Yes. Goods stored in a bonded warehouse or Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) can be re-exported duty-free. Ask your account manager for FTZ routing options.