Freight Shipping between the US and Europe

You are looking to import products between the United States and Europe? This is just for you.

For companies involved in international commerce between the United States and Europe, understanding the intricacies of freight shipping is essential. This article explores the key aspects of shipping goods across the Atlantic, providing valuable insights into freight rates, transit times, and the complexities of duties and taxes that businesses must navigate between the United States and Europe.

Whether you are a seasoned importer/exporter or a budding entrepreneur exploring international trade opportunities, you will be fully equipped with the necessary knowledge to thrive in the dynamic world of transatlantic freight shipping.

Ocean freight shipping between the US and Europe

Ocean shipping between the United States and Europe is a critical component of the global trade network, facilitating the movement of goods and fostering economic ties between these two major regions. The shipping relationship between the US and Europe is characterized by a long history of trade, well-established maritime routes, and a substantial volume of cargo exchanged annually.

Historically, in terms of agreement, the United States and the European Union (EU) have a Short Sea Shipping agreement to promote sustainable and competitive freight and passenger transport.

The biggest shipping ports in Europe

Rotterdam Port (Netherlands)

The Port of Rotterdam is The biggest and most important seaport in Europe. The Rhine-Meuse delta's port is situated on the North Sea. It served as the world's busiest port from the 1960s through 1986.

It can accommodate the largest ships in the world, as the maximum draft in the port is 24 meters.

In 2022, the Port of Rotterdam annual throughput was 14.4 million TEUs.

Port of Antwerp (Belgium)

The Port of Antwerp is one of the ports in North-West Europe that is expanding the quickest. Over 150,000 people are employed there, and it has a 13,000 ha area. With a capacity of more than 20,000 TEUs after modernization, the port can accommodate the largest ships in the world. The ports of Antwerp and Bruges combined in 2022.

It has one of the best locations in the center of Europe to transship goods.

In 2022, the Port of Antwerp annual throughput was 13.4 million TEUs.

Port of Hamburg (Germany)

The Port of Hamburg is the biggest port in Germany. Founded on May 7, 1189, it is frequently referred to as the “gateway to the world.” The fact that all container terminals have integrated railroad terminals, improves the port's standing in Europe.

In 2022, the Port of Hamburg annual throughput was 8.2 million TEUs.

Port of Valencia (Spain)

One of the biggest seaports in the Mediterranean is Valencia's port. More than 7,500 ships a year use this port, which employs over 15,000 people. In a 350 km radius, the port of Valencia serves as the hub of commercial activity.

In 20222, the Port of Valencia annual throughput was 5 million TEUs.

Port of Piraeus (Greece)

The largest port in Greece is Piraeus, close to Athens, the capital. It mostly belonged to the Chinese COSCO. The port has three terminals with a combined capacity of more than 8 million TEU.

In 2022, the Port of Piraeus annual throughput was 5 million TEUs.

Port of Algeciras (Spain)

The largest port in Spain (in Andalusia) and one of the biggest ports in Europe is Algeciras. The Port authority is the Port of Algeciras Bay Authority (APBA). APM Terminals Algeciras and Total Terminal International Algeciras, both with maximum drafts of 17.5–18.5 meters, are the port's two container terminals.

In 2022, the Port of Algeciras annual throughput was 4.7 million TEUs.

The biggest shipping ports in the US

Port of Los Angeles, California

The Port of Los Angeles is located in the San Pedro Bay of the western US state of California. Given it’s strategic location, it’s responsible for the majority of the Transpacific trade. In 2021, it handled over 9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containerized cargo annually.

Port of Long beach, California

Right after Los Angeles, there’s the Port of Long Beach. Together with the Port of Los Angeles, they’re responsible for over one quarter of the total container trade in North America. Shipping containers to/from Long Beach is extremely popular as it is considered as one of the major gateways for trade with Asia.

The second-largest port in the United States and also one of the busiest globally, handling in 2021 over 8 million TEUs of containerized cargo annually.

Port of New York and New Jersey

On the Eastern coast, there’s the Port of New York and New Jersey. It’s the largest and busiest US east coast port and the nation’s third-largest. It offers access to one of the most concentrated consumer markets in the world, handling in 2021 over 7 million TEUs of containerized cargo annually.

Port of Houston, Texas

In terms of foreign tonnage, the Port of Houston is the busiest port in the US and the largest on the Gulf Coast. Located in the fourth-largest state, it stretches 25 miles (ca. 40 km) and is just a few hours away from the Gulf of Mexico.

In 2021, it handled over 2 million TEUs of containerized cargo annually.

Transit time between the US and Europe

The sea freight shipping time is between 13 and 30 days from the US to European ports.

Ports	Rotterdam	Antwerp	Hamburg	Valencia	Piraeus	Algeciras
Los Angeles	30	30	30	29	33	28
Long Beach	30	30	30	29	33	28
New York and New Jersey	25	15	30	16	20	15
Houston	20	13	21	21	24	20

Types of containers

There are three types of standard sizes' container often used by importers. All of them can be used for both leisure and business travel.

The High Cube at 40 feet, which can hold 76 cubic meters.
The forty-foot container, which can hold 67 cubic meters of material
20-foot container with a 33 cubic meter capacity

Special sea freight between the US and Europe

Refrigerated or Temperature-Controlled

This service is designed for transporting perishable goods and sensitive products that require specific temperature conditions. It ensures that items like fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and certain chemicals maintain their quality and integrity during transit.

Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo)

RoRo vessels are specialized ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, buses, and construction equipment. This method is efficient and secure, allowing vehicles to be driven directly onto the ship for transportation.

Breakbulk

Breakbulk shipping is ideal for goods that are too large, heavy, or irregularly shaped to fit into standard containers. It involves loading individual pieces of cargo directly onto the ship's deck, and it caters to items like machinery, industrial equipment, and oversized components.

Project Cargo

Project cargo refers to transporting complex and large-scale industrial equipment or machinery for specific projects. This service involves careful planning, engineering, and coordination to handle and ship these specialized cargoes.

How much does it cost to ship between the US and Europe

Shipping between the US and Europe can be very expensive. It’s very important for you to know the weight and volume of your products, since it’s usually based on that.

For example, to ship a 20ft container (FCL) from the Port of Los Angeles to the Port of Rotterdam, the price varies between $2100 and $3250 USD.

For a 40ft container (FCL) the price is between $2900 and $4000 USD.

However, maritime freight rates might change depending on a number of variables, including fuel costs, consumer demand, and seasonal variations. Therefore, it is advised to get in touch with many service providers to compare prices and bargain for the best deal for your particular shipping requirements, don’t hesitate to chat with an expert or fill out our form for a free shipping quote.

Air freight between the United States and Europe

Air freight between the US and Europe is very common. There is no doubt that both maritime and aviation traffic pass through the United States.

Air freight is frequently chosen over sea freight when only a few things need to be transported. In fact, because your product must share a container with other deliveries, there are extra expenses related to shipping modest quantities by sea, such as bundling and unbundling fees at the port. Because of this, we advise using air delivery if your shipment isn't exactly 3 m3.

Classic vs. Express Air freight

There are two different options to ship your items by air:

Using the space on scheduled commercial flights offered by airlines like American Airlines, Air China, Cathay Pacific, and Emirates, classic airfreight will load your cargo.
The networks of “courier companies” that provide door-to-door services, such DHL, FedEx, TNT, and UPS, operate express airfreight. Express delivery is a quick and practical choice for sending small products or important papers across international borders.

Major airports in the US

(ATL) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Atlanta, Georgia

(LAX) Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, California

(ORD) O'Hare International Airport – Chicago, Illinois

(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – Dallas, Texas

(DEN) Denver International Airport – Denver, Colorado

(JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport – New York City, New York

Major airports in Europe

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – France

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol – Netherlands

Frankfurt Airport – Germany

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport – Spain

Barcelona–El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport – Spain

Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport – Rome, Italy

Advantages of air freight

One of the most significant advantages of air freight is its speed. Air shipments are much faster compared to other modes of transportation, such as sea or road. This makes it an ideal choice for time-sensitive goods, perishable items, and urgent deliveries.
Then we have the reliable transit times. Airlines typically adhere to strict schedules, providing a high level of reliability for air freight shipments. This predictability is crucial for businesses that need to meet tight production schedules or ensure on-time delivery to customers.
Air freight allows goods to be transported to virtually any location with an airport, making it an excellent choice for international trade. It connects businesses to markets worldwide and facilitates the movement of goods across borders efficiently.

Disadvantages of air freight

One of the most significant disadvantages of air freight is its higher cost compared to other modes of transportation, such as sea or rail. The speed and convenience of air transport come with a premium price tag, making it less cost-effective for certain types of cargo, especially larger or heavier shipments.
Airplanes have limited cargo space compared to ships or trains, making it challenging to accommodate oversized or bulky goods. Air freight may not be the best option for certain types of cargo that require larger containers or specialized handling.
Air freight is one of the least environmentally friendly modes of transportation due to its higher fuel consumption and carbon emissions per unit of cargo transported. While advancements in fuel efficiency are being made, air transport still has a more significant environmental impact compared to other transportation options.

How much does air freight cost between the US and Australia

Shipping costs between the US and Europe depends on many factors including Weight and Volume of the shipment, Freight class or even the Airline chosen.

For example, prior to COVID-19, the cost of international air freight normally varied between $2.50 and $5.00 per kilogram, depending on the cargo and available space. When COVID-19 started a period of severe interruptions in maritime freight and consumer demand in February 2020, costs increased significantly, with air cargo rates hitting a range of $4.00–$8.00 per kilogram. Prices have decreased to about $3–$7 per kilogram as of the beginning of 2023, but they are still higher than they were before the epidemic, most likely as a result of rising labor and gasoline costs.

Door-to-door delivery between the US and Europe

Do you want the safe transportation of your goods? Door-to-door delivery is a premium service that includes everything from supplier pickup through delivery to your house or warehouse.

Relax and enjoy one of the specialty of DocShipper and let us take care of your logistical needs. We handle every step of the process.

Why is door-to-door service useful?

Door-to-door service is useful for several reasons, offering numerous benefits to businesses and individuals engaged in shipping and logistics.

Eliminates the need for multiple intermediaries and simplifies the logistics process, as a single shipping company handles the entire transportation journey
fewer handoffs and transitions between different transportation modes, which can lead to faster transit times
You can avoid the complexities and paperwork associated with managing multiple shipping arrangements

Click here to look at our page about door-to-door delivery service, or don’t hesitate to directly fill in our form.

Customs clearance between the US and Europe

When importing into the USA, you need to understand that the US’ customs clearance procedure is a must. Customs clearance in the USA is overseen by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), its primary border control organization.

As for Europe, it’s supervised by the European commission.

What you’ll need to provide:

A commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading
An Airway Bill for Air freight
Entry manifest

For the United States, The customs duties can be found in the US tariff system Harmonized Tariff Schedule, HTS for short.

For Europe, you can check the duty rates in the tariff systems: TARIC, which is the integrated Tariff of the European Communities and applicable in the Member State of destination.

Customs duty

The amount of customs tax that must be paid on imports to both the US and Europe depends on a number of factors. It includes the kind of goods being brought in, the country of origin, and the cost of the finished goods.

The USA’s average customs tariff is 3.4%, which is one of the lowest in the world. Tariffs usually depend on the origin of the product.

For Europe, it’s totally different. When importing, you don’t have to only pay customs duties, you have to pay Value-Added Tax (VAT) standing between 17% and 27% depending on the European countries. There are some other taxes like excise duties which are basically indirect taxes on the consumption or use of certain products (alcoholic beverages, mineral oils and manufactured tobacco).

Where to look up for your HS code for your products

The quickest way to find out your products' HTS code is to ask your supplier for it. In fact, he is more likely to be familiar with the HTS code if they are used to selling their products for export.

By simply typing a term, like “pineapple” in our example, you may also use the “Harmonized System” to search any nation's tariff database.

Another alternative is possible, you can also find your HS code by going to this website and typing the name of your product.

Calculate applicable tariff with your HS code

You located your HS Code, right? Now is the moment to determine how much tax your cargo will be subject to. Just follow these simple instructions:

Visit the Free Trade Agreement Portal European Union link to get to the following page:

We will examine this in conjunction with European website customs as follows:

As for our example, you will have to fill in two things:

Your HS code
Origin of goods

Check the duties and taxes applied to your product

Does Docshipper charge duty?

You won't pay anything if you work with our customs broker. We will come back with the papers produced by US or European customs, so you can confirm it.

Make a distinction between the fees DocShipper (or any other freight forwarder) will charge for customs clearance.

Customs clearance refers to the process of putting together a declaration file and the fees related to the declaration itself.

Customs clearing fees will be paid to DocShipper, while taxes and duties will be paid to the government.

Required documents

In addition to an HTS code, you’ll need a few other documents to clear customs with your imports.

Commercial Invoice

This is the invoice that your supplier gave you when you made a purchase. This document must include the names of the buyer and seller, the type of goods, and the price you paid for them. For your items to be cleared by customs, you will require the original invoice. Verify that the packing list and the original invoice are identical.

Bill of Lading

Document issued by the carrier. It attests that the exporter provided the items that were specified. It is a contract that details the specifics of an agreement between a shipper and a transportation firm and confirms receipt of the goods. Furthermore, it designates the type of cargo that will be transported between certain locations at a certain cost. The most fundamental document used in the transportation of goods serves as the goods' title, contract of carriage, and receipt. On forms provided by the carrier, the shipper prepares it.

This could be an airway bill (AWB) for airborne cargo.

Packing list

A document filled out by the shipper outlining the contents of the shipment. It includes the weight (gross and net), measurements, contents, and the numbering of each package in the shipment, as well as any distinctive characteristics (such as serial numbers), must be included. The buyer only pays duty on what they really received; it can also be used to spot things that are damaged or missing.

Certificate of origin

A Certificate of Origin (CO) is a document used in international trade that historically identifies the country of origin of the goods transported. However, the term "origin" in a CO refers to the place where the items are actually created, not the location from which they are shipped. The CO's function is to verify the country of origin of the sent products. This certificate certifies that the products being exported were truly produced in one of the nations listed on the certificate. If you want to take advantage of preferential rates of duty on particular products, this is crucial.

Restricted and prohibited products

The importing of some goods into the US is restricted. Without prior approval from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) or the USDA (US Department of Agriculture), other food products, whether made of animal or vegetable sources, are not permitted to enter the United States.

Similar restrictions on the importation of drugs, alcohol, firearms, and other items apply.

Restricted and prohibited products to import to the US

Restricted	Prohibited
Controlled substances Weapons and Firearms Counterfeit goods Endangered Species and Wildlife products Cultural Artifacts Agricultural and food products	Illicit drugs Hazardous materials Cuban Cigars and Rum Certain goods from specific countries

Restricted and prohibited products to import to Europe

Restricted	Prohibited
Pharmaceuticals and Medications Food and Agricultural Products Tobacco Products Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages Medicinal Plants and Herbs Endangered Species and Wildlife	Illegal Drugs and Narcotics Counterfeit Goods Firearms and Weapons Hazardous Waste Cultural and Historical Artifacts Stolen or Illegally Obtained Goods

Packaging services

In order to guarantee that items arrive at their destination in good shape, adequate packing is crucial whether importing or exporting commodities. Professional packaging services, including bespoke packaging choices, air freight packaging, sea freight packaging, and LTL freight packaging that complies with international standards, are what consumers can expect from a renowned freight forwarder like us at DocShipper.

For more information, visit our page:https://docshipper.us/en/freight-packaging-services/

Cargo insurance

Cargo insurance provides protection against material loss or damage to goods. They are being transferred both to and from the United States at the same time. It covers losses caused by a variety of occurrences, such as mishaps, fires, theft, and other natural disasters. By purchasing cargo insurance, you may protect yourself from the monetary loss brought on by these damages and avoid having to replace or repair pricey items.

Check our website: https://docshipper.us/en/cargo-insurance/

Moving services

The moving service is a professional business that helps people and organizations move their belongings from one location to another. The majority of the time, moving companies provide a wide range of services, including packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking.

Overall, hiring a moving service is always a practical and stress-free choice, whether you're moving for personal or professional reasons.

To learn more about this, check our page: https://docshipper.us/en/moving-services/

FAQ - Freight Shipping between the US and Europe | Rates - Transit Times - Duties & Taxes

What are the main factors to consider when shipping freight between the US and Europe?

When shipping freight between the US and Europe, important factors to consider are shipping rates, transit times, and the applicable duties and taxes for the goods.

How can businesses determine the applicable duties and taxes for their freight shipments between the US and Europe?

Businesses can determine the applicable duties and taxes for their freight shipments between the US and Europe by consulting customs authorities or working with experienced freight forwarders who can provide accurate information based on the goods' classification and destination country.

How can DocShipper help businesses optimize their shipping costs for freight between the US and Europe?

DocShipper leverages its expertise in freight forwarding and logistics to find the most cost-effective shipping solutions for businesses shipping between the US and Europe. They analyze various factors such as shipping routes, transportation modes, and cargo volumes to minimize shipping expenses.

What expertise does DocShipper offer in handling customs clearance for freight between the US and Europe?

DocShipper has experienced customs brokers who are well-versed in the customs regulations of both the US and European countries. They can efficiently manage customs clearance procedures, ensuring compliance and minimizing delays.

What is the best method of transport between the US and Europe