iContainers is an online logistics platform optimized to help your business easily access the global trade environment. We digitalize international freight forwarding services to simplify global logistics & facilitate trade.
Portugal and the United States have shared years of connections characterized by the vibrant and dynamic exchange of goods. With its prosperous industries, Portugal continues to become an important trade partner for the U.S.
In 2022, Portugal exported $3.38 billion worth of goods to the United States. The top commodity exported is refined petroleum, accounting for $1.15 billion worth of exports.
If you want to ship goods from Portugal to the United States, here’s your complete guide to your ocean and air freight shipping options, the customs clearance process, transit times, estimated costs, and more.
Your options for shipping freight from Portugal to the United States are ocean freight and air freight.
Ocean freight is the cheapest way to ship goods from Portugal to the United States. It’s also incredibly flexible, able to transport any type of cargo. It even offers shippers two container shipping options: less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container load (FCL).
LCL is used by those shipping small cargo. Their goods are consolidated in a container with cargo belonging to other sellers. Each shipper only pays for their goods' space, making it highly economical for small shipments.
FCL is used by those with large shipping needs. They rent the space in an entire container for their goods alone, giving them more space to accommodate large and heavyweight cargo.
The other way you can ship goods from Portugal to the United States is air freight. This is the fastest international shipping mode, making it ideal for time-sensitive and perishable shipments. It’s also the most secure, with strict airport rules and processes helping guarantee cargo safety.
Despite its pros, air freight is not as popular as ocean freight. This is mainly because of its cost—it’s the most expensive shipping option. Air freight is also less flexible and unable to accommodate all types, sizes, weights, and volumes of goods.
The cost of shipping cargo from Portugal to the United States will depend on the following:
Use our online freight costs calculator to get an estimate of your shipping costs. The table below provides the current cost for shipping a standard 20-foot container from Portugal to the United States:
TRADE LANE RATES
The transit time for goods shipped from Portugal to the United States is mainly determined by your selected international shipping method. However, other influencing factors include:
Ocean freight from Portugal to the United States will take 15 to 50 days.
Air freight from Portugal to the United States will take only 2-8 days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
When your goods arrive in the United States, they will undergo customs clearance. This requires that you prepare and submit the following paperwork:
If you need examples of these customs clearance requirements, see our full documents list.
When choosing between ocean and air freight, you have to consider your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements. Here are some pointers to help you decide.
Ocean freight is best for those who value cost savings and flexibility. It can accommodate any type of cargo you need to transport to the United States, whether small, large, light, or heavy. Ocean freight also gives you two options for container shipping so you can optimize your shipment.
You should go for LCL if your cargo is:
Choose FCL if your cargo is:
If you want to get your goods from Portugal to the United States quickly, air freight is the best option. Only taking a couple of days, air freight is ideal for time-sensitive and perishable shipments.
You’ll also appreciate it if you’re shipping high-value goods. Air freight has strict processes and regulations that can help guarantee the security of your cargo throughout the process.
There are drawbacks, however. First, air freight is expensive, costing significantly more than ocean freight. Second, it’s not as flexible, unable to ship all types of goods and putting limits on your cargo’s weight, size, and volume.
The Port of Lisbon is Portugal’s main and busiest seaport. It handles over 13 million tonnes of cargo and 555,000 TEUs per year. Its annual vessel calls are 3,500. The port mainly deals with containerized cargo and foodstuff.
The Port of Aveiro is a sheltered river port on Portugal's western coastline. It handles a range of export cargo types, including general cargo, paper pulp, fish, and liquid chemicals. The port handles over 3.5 million tonnes of goods per year.
The Port of Leixoes is one of Portugal's most essential ports. It handles containerized cargo, conventional cargo, liquid and solid bulk, Ro-Ro, and passenger vessels. The multipurpose port facility handles over 20% of Portugal’s international trade.
The Port of Los Angeles is the number one port in the United States in terms of annual cargo worth. Daily shipments to and from the seaport exceed 1 billion dollars, making it the 19th biggest freight hub in the world.
The Port of Savannah is a major United States East Coast port. It’s the fourth busiest port in the nation and has the biggest container terminal in the Western Hemisphere. The port is ideal for shipments of goods to Europe or Africa.
The Port of Houston is the fastest-developing port in the United States. It’s located in Houston, Texas, and ranks seventh in the U.S. for the total amount of cargo handled. The port oversees 70% of all container traffic in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Lisbon Airport, more formally known as the Humberto Delgado Airport, is located seven kilometers northeast of the Lisbon city center, the capital of Portugal. It is the main international gateway to the region and handles over 178,000 freight movements per year.
Also called the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, the Porto Airport is located near Porto in Portugal. It is a hub for EasyJet and Ryanair and handles over 77,000 freight movements per year.
The Chicago/Rockford International Airport is a commercial airport located in Rockford, Illinois, just 68 miles northwest of Chicago. It is a hub for UPS Airlines and Festival Airlines and has over 44,000 aircraft operations annually.
The Indianapolis International Airport is located seven miles southwest of downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It handles more than 983,000 metric tonnes of cargo per year and receives over 193,000 aircraft operations.
The Portland International Airport is a civil-military airport in the state of Oregon, in the U.S. It’s also the largest airport in the state, handling over 95% of its air cargo operations. The airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Horizon Air, Ameriflight, SeaPort Airlines, United Express, and North Pacific Airlines.
About Us
Shipping cargo involves many factors, such as the season, the shipment size, the shipping method, and the origin and destination.
With extensive industry experience, iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services enhanced with modern technology for customer convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Contact us anytime for a free quote. We are always ready to provide you with the information you need.