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

The United States contributes to over 26% of total global consumption. Ocean shipping rates vary by coast and country. For example, from Madrid to Savannah, rates begin at $1,085 for a 20 foot container. The United States largely imports oil, machinery, electronics, vehicles, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, precious metals, gems and jewelry, furniture, and much, much more. Exports include foods and beverages, animal feed, petroleum products, auto parts, civilian aircrafts, and more.

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Historical ocean freight rates from the Spain to United States

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This chart shows the average rates of the past 18 months for ocean freight from Spain to United States. These prices don’t comprise unanticipated or supplementary charges that may come up in the course of your booking and freight transaction.
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Main ports in United States

Choose the port you want to ship your container to in the United States. At iContainers we offer the best rates for ocean freight transport from Spain to 18 different ports in the US. FCL (Full Container Load) or LCL (Less than a Container Load), take your pick and let us help you with the rest.

FAQs about shipping your container to United States

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

The required transit time for international shipments to the US differs largely, as you can probably imagine yourself, from one port of origin and destination to the next. Aside from this, you should know there may be unexpected issues encountered during transit which could lead to delays. As a rough guide, the estimated transit time for the longest route to USA (Pasir Gudang, Malaysia – Miami) is usually around 60 days.

What type of cargo can be sent in a container?

As long as your freight doesn’t include any commodities that should be treated in a particular manner, standard dry shipping containers are probably the way to go. These containers can be found in a number of dimensions and although not refrigerated or ventilated – therefore not suitable for perishable goods -, they tend to be shippers’ first choice when thinking of transporting dry cargo.

How do you figure out shipping costs to United States?

Although ocean freight rates may vary based on the port of origin and destination, there are other factors to take into account. For instance, the type of container you require, your goods’ dimensions, the selected Incoterm or the estimated transit time are the main points that will define how much you will pay for your sea freight. However, other variables -eg., special conditions for your cargo - can play a part in your quotation.

What container capacity do I need for my cargo?

Standard containers come in different sizes and, thus, offer various volume capacities. To give you an idea of what options you will have, the 20ft (smallest in size) container’s volume is 1,172 CFT / 33.2 CBM and the biggest (45ft) is 3,122 CFT / 88.4 CBM. However, if your shipment doesn’t require high-volume capacity, you may want to consider using LCL, by which your cargo will be transported in a container alongside other shippers’ goods.

FOB vs CIF: What´s the difference?

CIF and FOB are both commonly used Incoterms. Under CIF, sellers are responsible for the freight and the cost of transporting the goods to the destination port specified by the buyer. According to FOB, sellers only hold responsibility for costs and risks until the cargo is loaded on the vessel of the buyer’s choice, at which point liability is transferred to the buyer.

What paperwork is needed for international shipments to United States?

Although shipping documents required for importing or exporting transactions usually depend on the type of cargo being transported and the Incoterms to be applied, a standard shipping procedure commonly requires a commercial invoice, a packing list and a Bill of lading. Furthermore, regardless of the country of origin or destination, there are certain documents that you will generally encounter, such as customs authorization or power of attorney.

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.

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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