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Morocco and the United States share a dynamic trade relationship that has contributed to their economic growth and development. In 2022, goods and services trade between the two countries totaled $6.8 billion, with Morrocan exports to the U.S. accounting for $1.7 billion. This was a whopping 33.3% increase from the previous year.
This article will examine the trade process for shipping goods from Morocco to the United States. We provide you with your ocean and air freight shipping options, the customs clearance process, estimated costs and transit times, and more.
You can choose between ocean freight and air freight to ship from Morocco to the United States.
Ocean freight is the most common way of shipping goods from Morocco to the United States. Shippers like it because it is cost-efficient and flexible, able to accommodate all of their transport needs. Ocean freight also provides two options for container shipping: less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container load (FCL).
LCL is a container shipping process in which goods belonging to different shippers are consolidated into one container. This makes it cost-effective, as each shipper only pays for the space their cargo occupies. It’s especially economical for shipping small goods or in small volumes.
FCL, on the other hand, is where a shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone. They don’t share space or costs with other shippers. FCL can also provide you with value for money as long as you maximize the space in the container for large goods or large volumes.
Another way to ship goods from Morocco to the United States is air freight. This is the fastest but most expensive mode of international shipping. It’s also touted as the most secure, making it ideal for time-sensitive or perishable goods and high-value cargo.
The cost of shipping goods from Morocco to the United States will depend on the following factors:
To estimate your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. The table below also shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Morocco to the United States]:
TRADE LANE RATES
Shipping goods from Morocco to the United States varies in transit time, primarily based on your international shipping mode. Additional factors impacting this include:
Ocean freight from Morocco to the United States will take 15 to 50 days.
Air freight from Morocco to the United States will take only 2 to 8 days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
When your goods arrive in the United States, they must go through customs clearance. This requires that you submit the following documents to U.S. customs authorities:
Check out our full documents list for examples of these customs clearance requirements.
When choosing between ocean and air freight for your shipment from Morocco to the United States, you need to consider your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements. Here are some pointers to help you make the right decision.
If you value cost efficiency and flexibility, we recommend ocean freight. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it can also accommodate any type of cargo you need to get to the U.S. It also offers two options for container shipping.
Choose LCL if your cargo is:
Choose FCL if your cargo is:
If you want to get your goods to the United States as fast as possible, air freight should be your shipping option of choice. Your shipment will only take 2 to 8 days to complete, making it ideal for time-sensitive or perishable goods.
Air freight is also quite secure because of strict airport regulations and processes that can guarantee cargo security. This makes it attractive to shippers transporting high-value goods.
Before settling for air freight, remember that shipping rates can get expensive. It also has quite a list of restricted and prohibited goods, so it may be unable to accommodate all cargo types, sizes, weights, and volumes.
The Port of Nador in the Rif region is one of the busiest shipping hubs in Morocco. It shares a harbor with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, and the Port of Nador occupies 30% of the harbor area. The port handles general cargo, dry bulk, and fish exports, among other things.
The Port of Tanger Med is the largest in Africa in terms of cargo capacity. It’s also one of the top harbors in Morocco and the largest Mediterranean port on the Moroccan coastline. It can handle over 9 million TEUs.
The Port of Kenitra is a riverine commercial port on the Sebou River. It is recognized as a fishing and cargo port and was also set up as a military base because of its strategic location, accessible from the Atlantic. The port has an anchorage depth of 5 meters.
The Port of South Louisiana has a long history of cargo operations dating back to the 1940s. After the Port of Houston, it ranks second in terms of overall cargo tonnage. It is known for handling 60% of all grain cargo handling in the Midwest.
The Port of New York and New Jersey is located in the entire coastal area of New York Harbor. It is the largest natural harbor in the world, spanning 25 miles. The port handles over 136.6 million tonnes of cargo per year.
The Port of Corpus Christi began operating in 1926, serving as a major terminal for crude oil and gas. Today, it’s known as one of the few ports in the U.S. with an energy conservation blueprint. The port boasts six terminals for diverse cargo.
The Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport serves the city of Casablanca, Morocco. It is located in Nouaceur Province. The airport is a hub for Royal Air Maroc, Air Arabia, Air Arabia Maroc, and more.
The Marrakech Menara Airport serves the capital city of the Marrakesh-Safi region in Morocco. It receives airlines from European countries, Casablanca, Arab world nations, and North America. The airport is a Royal Air Maroc, Jet4you, and Atlas Blue hub.
The Salt Lake City International Airport is military and public, 4 miles west of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the closest commercial airport for residents in the area and a hub for Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines, Delta Connection, and more.
The Bradley International Airport is in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States. It is the second-largest airport in New England and serves the cities of Hartford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Orlando International Airport is 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando in Florida. It is the busiest airport in the state and the seventh busiest in the United States. The airport is a hub for Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Silver Airways, and more.
About Us
Transporting cargo involves numerous factors, such as the season, shipment size, shipping method, and the origin and destination points.
With extensive experience in the industry, iContainers provides traditional freight forwarding services integrated with cutting-edge technology for your convenience. Our digital platform lets you handle your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—from your mobile device.
Feel free to contact us for a free quote at any time. We are always here to provide the information you need.