How much does it cost to ship a container to United Kingdom

Ocean freight shipping quotes to and from the United Kingdom range from $300 to $4,000, depending on container load and destination. Top export destinations for the United Kingdom include the US, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and China. The United Kingdom has the 10th largest export economy in the world. Its main exports are cars, packaged pharmaceuticals, crude petroleum, gold, and gas turbines. Its imports follow along the same lines. Over the past five years, there has been an annual decrease of 2.3% in exports, but it still remains one of the most powerful trade economies today.

ship icon Shipping rates to United Kingdom

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"iContainers has a very good platform for online quotes, seamless booking and tracking services online. We highly recommend their services and diligent follow-up on rates and shipment status."

Irene Chang
Sales Executive at Transworld GLS

Historical ocean freight rates from the USA to United Kingdom

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This historical chart includes details on the average prices for shipments from the USA to United Kingdom during the past 18 months. These figures don’t cover supplementary or unanticipated costs that the whole booking and shipping process may entail.
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Main ports in United Kingdom

Having trouble finding a port in United Kingdom you can ship your container to? Fret not – with iContainers you can have your pick! We operate in 10 ports in United Kingdom from the United States and, if you’re shipping from Spain, you’ll be happy to know you can also choose among 8 ports for your ocean freight transport.

FAQs about shipping your container to United Kingdom

What is the estimated transit time for shipping a container to United Kingdom?

Estimated transit time to ship a container to United Kingdom evidently differs from USA to Europe so you will invariably have to take your chosen port of origin and destination into account when considering this. While shipping a container from Seattle to London takes 47 days on average, the estimated transit time for the Algeciras, Spain – London route is the shortest, with an average of 5 days.

What type of cargo can be sent in a container?

Making sure you choose the best container for your cargo is an important step in your ocean freight process. Fortunately, you will find a wide range of options that will suit your goods’ nature. Shippers tend to find the perfect choice in dry shipping containers since they offer different sizes and capacities and are appropriate for transportation of dry bulk – a very common type of freight.

How do you figure out shipping cost to United Kingdom?

There is unfortunately no standard list of costs that your international shipping will entail. However, a lot of your costs will undoubtedly be determined by the nature of your transaction. For instance, your freight’s dimensions, the container you use, the applicable Incoterm and your chosen ocean freight route will surely be some of the considerations you should take into account when trying to come up with a quotation.

What container capacity do I need for my cargo?

Choosing between a Shared Container (LCL) or a Full Container (FCL) is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll have to face during your shipping process. The first option will lead to cutting your costs if you’re dealing with low-volume freight whereas the second one will allow you to choose a container among several dimensions: the smallest (20ft) has a volume capacity of 1,172 CFT / 33.2 CBM, whereas the largest (45ft) can offer up to 3,122 CFT / 88.4 CBM.

FOB vs CIF: What´s the difference?

CIF and FOB are commonly used Incoterms that, unfortunately, seem to create misunderstandings between exporters and importers. So, let’s make sure it doesn’t happen to you. Although details should be looked into carefully, the main difference between CIF and FOB is simple: under the CIF terms the selling party is held liable for the freight up until the shipment arrives at the destination port; according to FOB, however, the seller is only responsible for the cargo until it is loaded on the vessel.

What paperwork is needed for international shipments to UK?

An awful lot of shipping paperwork required for importing or exporting transactions is usually determined by aspects such as the kind of cargo being shipped and the applicable Incoterms. However, there are also a number of documents that you will have to provide in any standard shipping procedure – customs authorization or power of attorney, to name a couple.

Importing From Asia In 2022

Discover how to import or export from/to China, India or Vietnam and avoid delays on your cargo. Includes Incoterms and documents.

asia eBook
Klaus Lydsal

"Customs duties play an important role in your international shipment. How they're determined and calculated varies from country to country"

Klaus Lydsal, vice president of operations at iContainers