Shipping to and from United States.
The world's largest economy and consumer market. Our partner network covers every major US gateway — Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Savannah — and licensed brokers file your CBP entries.
United States freight, coordinated across the whole operating thread.
The United States remains the world's largest consumer market, with imports exceeding $3.5 trillion USD annually. US logistics is heavily regulated by Customs & Border Protection (CBP), with requirements varying by product (FDA for food/pharma, FCC for electronics, DOT for hazmat). Miami and Houston dominate Latin American trade, while Los Angeles/Long Beach is the Pacific gateway. New York serves European imports. Savannah (Georgia) is the fastest-growing East Coast port. Ground distribution across the continental US is mandatory for most imports — rail, LTL, and FTL networks are critical. Our licensed customs broker partners cover all major US states, and our ground network delivers door-to-door coast-to-coast.
US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) requires Entry Summary (Form 3461) filed electronically via ACE (Automated Commercial Environment). All cargo must have: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and country of origin documentation. Most goods require pre-clearance 24 hours before vessel arrival. FDA (Food & Drug Administration) pre-approval required for food, drugs, and cosmetics. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification for electronics. DOT (Department of Transportation) certification for hazmat. ISF (Importer Security Filing) must be filed 24 hours before loading. Duty rates vary by product — typically 5–15%. Through our network of licensed CBP customs broker partners, we coordinate thousands of entries every month.
Annual imports referenced in the country profile.
Annual exports referenced in the country profile.
Trade position and market context.
Routing compared across ocean, air, ground, customs and partner options.
Port of Miami
Gateway to Latin America. 4.3 million TEU/year. Specializes in Brazil trade, Caribbean, and Central American imports. Average dwell time: 3–4 days.
Port of Houston
Second-largest US port by volume (23 million TEU/year). Handles Mexico trade, bulk commodities, and petrochemicals. Deep-water port handles larger vessels. 2–3 day clearance.
Port of Los Angeles
Largest US port (9.5 million TEU/year). Gateway to Asia. Chronic congestion — 5–10 day dwell times common. Automated cargo handling.
Port of Long Beach
Second-largest West Coast port (8.2 million TEU/year). Asia imports. Often faster than LA due to less congestion. 3–5 days.
Port of New York/New Jersey
US East Coast's primary gateway (8.6 million TEU/year). Europe imports, intra-US distribution via rail/truck. 4–6 day clearance.
Port of Savannah
Fastest-growing US port (5.3 million TEU/year). Modern infrastructure, lower congestion than LA. 2–3 day clearance. Gateway to Southeast.
Miami (MIA)
Air cargo gateway — Florida.
Houston (IAH)
Air cargo gateway — Texas.
Los Angeles (LAX)
Air cargo gateway — California.
New York (JFK)
Air cargo gateway — New York.
Chicago (ORD)
Air cargo gateway — Illinois.
Atlanta (ATL)
Air cargo gateway — Georgia.
What moves through United States.
The freight plan changes by product category, Incoterm, customs regime and gateway. These are the trade patterns already documented for this market.
What happens, and when, on a US import
US clearance is a sequence of filings, not one event. Miss a step and the box waits. This is the order your broker works through.
| Stage | What is filed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Before loading | Importer Security Filing | Due 24 hours before the vessel loads. Late filings draw penalties. |
| In transit | Carrier manifest | The carrier reports the cargo. Your data has to match what it sent. |
| Before arrival | Entry and release request | Filed early, so the box can move on the day it lands. |
| At arrival | Release or exam hold | Most cargo is released. A hold sends the box to an exam site. |
| After release | Entry summary and duty payment | This is where duty, fees and tariff codes are locked in. |
| Later | Liquidation | The entry is closed. Fixing an error after this point is slow and costly. |
The agencies that sit behind CBP
CBP releases the cargo. Other agencies decide whether it may enter at all. Check which ones touch your product before you book.
- FDA — Food, drinks, drugs, devices and cosmetics. Food needs prior notice before it arrives.
- USDA and APHIS — Plants, seeds, animal products and soil. Wood packing must carry an ISPM 15 heat-treatment mark.
- FCC — Radio and wireless devices. Keep the test report and the label with the entry file.
- EPA — Engines, vehicles and many chemicals. Chemical shipments need a TSCA statement.
- DOT and NHTSA — Vehicles, tires, car parts and hazmat. Safety standards apply on arrival, not later.
- CPSC — Toys and children's goods. Keep the test certificate ready for the entry.
- Fish and Wildlife — Leather, shell, some wood species and anything from a listed species.
Who is the importer of record, and who carries the bond
The importer of record owes the duty and answers for the data. Settle this before the goods ship, not at the port.
- Single-entry bond — Covers one shipment. Simple, but the cost adds up once you ship often.
- Continuous bond — Covers a year of entries. Usually the cheaper choice for regular importers.
- Power of attorney — Your broker cannot file without it. Sign it early, because it is a common last-minute delay.
- Foreign importer of record — A non-US company can be the importer. It still needs a bond and a US agent.
- Ultimate consignee — CBP wants the party that receives the goods, with a valid identification number.
- Record keeping — Keep the entry file. CBP can ask for it long after the goods have been sold.
What actually delays cargo at US gateways
Most US delays trace back to data, not to the vessel. Check these twice, and run the code through the HS code lookup before you file.
- A vague goods description — "Parts" or "samples" invites an exam. Say what it is, what it is made of, and what it does.
- A code copied from the supplier — Your supplier codes for export. You owe the US code, and you carry the risk.
- Value that leaves out assists — Tooling, moulds and free material you supplied often belong in the customs value.
- Missing origin marking — Goods must be marked so the buyer can see where they were made.
- Security filing on the wrong bill — A house bill and a master bill are not the same. Use the number the carrier used.
- No plan for an exam — Exams add days and cost. Budget for them on risky products instead of hoping.
Corridors that touch United States.
Documented lanes with mode, customs and transit guidance drawn from the corridor data.
🇧🇷 Brazil → 🇺🇸 United States
We offer full-service freight forwarding on the Santos–Miami corridor. Choose ocean FCL/LCL or air freight. We also handle customs brokerage and door-to-door shipping across the United States.
🇲🇽 Mexico → 🇺🇸 United States
Ship from Mexico to all US states by ground, ocean, or air. We handle USMCA rules, pedimento paperwork, and nearshoring supply chains.
🇨🇴 Colombia → 🇺🇸 United States
We ship by ocean or air from Colombia's Caribbean and Pacific ports to US markets. You get US–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement benefits, full customs clearance, and end-to-end logistics support.
🇮🇳 India → 🇺🇸 United States
We move ocean and air freight from India's major ports to US gateways. We ship pharmaceuticals, textiles, IT hardware, and more. Every shipment gets full US customs clearance and FDA compliance.
🇻🇳 Vietnam → 🇺🇸 United States
We move ocean and air freight from Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong to all US ports. Vietnam pays no Section 301 tariffs, so it ranks as one of the best low-cost picks instead of China.
🇨🇳 China → 🇺🇸 United States
This is the world's busiest trade lane. We offer FCL, LCL, air freight, and express options from all major Chinese ports. Our team also manages Section 301 tariffs and customs brokerage for you.
Services available for United States.
United States guides and related logistics insight.
US Tariffs 2026: What Importers Need to Know
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United States shipping questions.
Answered from the country profile and the operating requirements documented for this market.
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