Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From the Dominican Republic to the United States

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From the Dominican Republic to the United States?

There are two ways to transport goods from the Dominican Republic to the US: ocean and air freight.

Ocean Freight From the Dominican Republic to the United States

Ocean freight is the most popular shipping option because of its cheap costs and flexibility. Without breaking the bank, ocean freight can transport any type of goods you need to get from the Dominican Republic to the US. It even offers shippers two options for container shipping, including less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).

LCL is used by those with small shipping needs. Here, their goods will be consolidated with cargo belonging to other shippers and shipped together in one container. Each shipper only has to pay for the space their goods occupy, making it a highly economical shipping option.

FCL is used by shippers who need to ship larger items. They rent the space in an entire container for their goods alone, which in turn gives them more space, control, and security for their cargo. This can be an economical choice for large volumes where the shipper maximizes the space in the entire container.

Air Freight from the Dominican Republic to the United States

You can also ship from the Dominican Republic to the US by air. Air freight is the fastest way to transport goods across the world, often only taking a couple of days to complete. This makes it highly valued by those transporting time-sensitive or perishable cargo.

Shippers of high-value goods also like air freight for its security. With stricter airport regulations and processes, the safety of goods is much better guaranteed by air freight.

However, air freight is more expensive but less flexible than ocean freight. It can’t ship all types of cargo and limits shipment size, weight, and volume.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From the Dominican Republic to the United States?

Your shipping cost from the Dominican Republic to the US will depend on a couple of factors. These include:

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

For an accurate estimate of your shipping costs, utilize our freight costs calculator. Below, you'll find the current cost for shipping a standard 20-foot container from the Dominican Republic to the United States:

Customs Clearance in the Dominican Republic and the United States

Once your goods land in a US port or airport, they will go through the customs clearance process, for which you need the following documents:

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

We have a full documents list you can look at for examples of each customs clearance requirement.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

When choosing a shipping option that’s suited for you, you need to consider your needs, priorities, and the requirements of your cargo. Here are some pointers to help you make the right decision.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is for those who value cost efficiency and flexibility. Not only can ocean freight accommodate any type of cargo, but it also offers shippers two options for container shipping to allow them to optimize their shipments according to their needs and budgets.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is a good choice for cargo that is:

• Small in size and quantity
• Lightweight
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Not requiring special handling or movement

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

FCL is more suitable for you if your cargo is:

• Large in size and quantity
• Heavy or overweight
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Requiring special handling or movement

Air Freight

If you need your cargo to arrive in the US fast, then consider shipping by air. Air freight is the fastest way to get goods from the Dominican Republic to the US, taking only 2-8 days to complete. It’s also the most secure mode of shipping, with strict airport regulations helping protect cargo during transit.

Air freight is ideal for goods that are time-sensitive, perishable, or high-value. However, it’s not without its cons. You should consider its cost, which can be significantly higher than ocean freight. It’s also not for all types of shipments, as air freight puts limits on the nature, size, weight, and volume of goods you can ship.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in the Dominican Republic

Port of Santo Domingo

The Port of Santo Domingo is located in the capital city of the Dominican Republic, namely Santo Domingo. It mainly handles the shipment of commodities like sugar, tropical fruit, and coffee. Along its East bank, it handles cargo of diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, and asphalt.

Port of Barahona

The Port of Barahona is a natural coastal port used for the shipment of bulk cargo. Its main exports include sugar and gypsum. Because of these, two of its four berths, the Muelle del Central Azucarero and Muelle de Barahona, are the most active.

Port of Haina

The Port of Haina, also called the Haina Occidental Port, moves a lot of the country’s exports. This is because of its proximity to the Dominican Republic’s capital city, Santo Domingo. The port boasts 2 terminals for cargo, with berthing facilities for liquid, bulk, break bulk, and roll-on and off shipments.

Cargo ports of arrival in the United States

Port of New York and New Jersey

The Port of New York and New Jersey handles over 7.4 TEUs per year, making it the largest port on the US East Coast. It can manage a wide variety of cargo in its Port Authority Marine Terminal. The port has an annual cargo tonnage of 74 million metric revenue tonnes.

Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah is located in the US state of Georgia. It is the largest single-terminal container facility in all of North America, handling over 5.7 million TEUs per year. It excels in handling heavy goods, including machinery, cars, and agricultural products.

Port of Virginia

The Port of Virginia is located along the eastern coast of the US. It is the 6th biggest port in the country, able to welcome the largest container vessels in the world. The port has 5 major terminals and handles 3.7 million TEUs per year.

Air Freight from the Dominican Republic to the United States: An airport guide

Airports of origin in the Dominican Republic

Las Américas International Airport

The Las Américas International Airport is the Dominican Republic’s largest airport. It’s located in the capital city of Santo Domingo. The airport has one cargo terminal with a cargo handling capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year. It’s the busiest cargo airport in the country.

Punta Cana International Airport

The Punta Cana International Airport is the busiest airport in the Dominican Republic and one of the busiest in the Caribbean. It’s a hub for cargo airlines, with a cargo handling capacity of over 1,000 tonnes per day. The airport can welcome wide-body aircraft and is also the home base of the Dominican Air Force.

Cibao International Airport

The Cibao International Airport is also known as the Santiago Airport. It’s located in Santiago de los Caballeros, which happens to be the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic. It’s also ranked the third-busiest airport in the country by aircraft movement, seeing more than 14,000 aircraft operations per year.

Airports of arrival in the United States

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the US’ third busiest cargo airport. It handles over 2 million tonnes of cargo per year. The airport is the home base of the UPS Worldport, which is hailed as the world’s largest package sorting facility.

Los Angeles International Airport

The Los Angeles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. It ranks fourth among US cargo airports, handling over 2 million tonnes of cargo annually. Its facilities are used by the largest airfreight companies and its cargo operations general billions of dollars in economic activity each year.

Miami International Airport

The Miami International Airport is the fifth busiest cargo airport in the US, handling over 2 million tonnes of cargo per year. It’s especially equipped to handle a high volume of cargo traffic, boasting over 50 cargo carriers, several major warehouses, and logistical facilities.

Why Ship From the Dominican Republic to the United States With iContainers?

Shipping cargo requires considering various factors, such as the season, the size of the cargo, the shipping method, and the origin and destination.

With years of industry expertise, iContainers combines traditional freight forwarding services with advanced technology for your convenience. Our digital platform allows you to oversee your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.

Feel free to contact us for a free quote at any time. We are always available to provide the information you need.