Mercator’s export team recently arranged an air freight to USA shipment on behalf of a UK exporter. The shipment (a consignment of cosmetics) moved under CPT (Carriage Paid To) incoterms, which meant that the UK exporter was responsible for the shipment from their door in the UK through to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Mercator arranged for the cargo to be collected from the customer’s facility and transported to London Heathrow for air freight to USA. We liaised with the UK exporter, collected the necessary documentation and completed UK export customs clearance at Heathrow. As the UK’s leading air cargo hub, Heathrow offers regular capacity to the United States, making it an ideal gateway for air freight to USA shipments.
The shipment was handled under CPT incoterms, meaning the UK seller was responsible for transportation to the agreed destination airport. Mercator’s role included collection in the UK, export customs procedures, airline booking and the international air freight movement to Chicago.
Once the pallet arrived in the US, the risk and responsibility transferred to the US importer, via their customs broker and freight forwarder. Had this shipment been sold to the US importer on an incoterm such as DAP or DDP (delivered at place or delivered duty paid), Mercator would have been able to handle the process whilst remaining the only point of contact for the shipment, completing the US side in conjunction with our US partner agent – based in Chicago. Thanks to our founding membership of MarcoPoloLine a freight forwarder network, we have three well trusted agents in the US that we partner with regularly to complete US to door shipping.
For UK businesses exporting products to North America, air freight to USA is a popular option when goods need to reach the market quickly. Regular direct services from Heathrow to major US gateways such as Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles provide a reliable solution for a wide range of cargo types.
LCL (less than container load) shipping to the East cost of the US is a great option if you have a little more leeway on times. With transits from the UK to ports such as Charleston and New York taking 7-10 days, sea freight is a great option to slim down costs – especially if you have more than a few pallets, or if your shipment is bulky or very heavy.
If you’re looking for air freight to USA for cosmetics, consumer goods, manufactured products or general commercial cargo, get in touch with our team who will be happy to assist you with your shipping to the US from the UK. To request a quote, you can call us on (+44) 02392 756 575, email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or complete the form below and we will be in touch.
