Mercator is a UK based freight forwarder handling shipments to the USA regularly. Our export freight forwarder team was recently tasked with this 40’ shipping container to the USA.
Working on behalf of the UK exporter, Mercator arranged the delivery of the shipping container to the export site for loading, haulage to London Gateway port, marine insurance, VGM (verified gross mass), UK export customs and sea freight to Charleston, USA. As the UK exporter sold the goods to their US customer on CIF incoterm (cost, insurance & freight), their responsibility for the shipment ceased once the shipping container landed at Charleston port in the USA, at which point the paperwork and shipment was handed over to the freight forwarder in the USA (as appointed by the US importer).
Sea freight to the USA can take as little as 7 days to New York (port to port), and can go up to 30 days if shipping to the West Coast – passing through the Panama Canal. This particular route, from London Gateway, UK to Charleston, USA, takes around 10 days port to port. If the consignment is a full container load, then you can add just a few days either side of the transit time for cut-off times set by the shipping line and relevant customs checks and submissions. For LCL to the USA, you could be adding up to a week either side for loading, unloading, customs and handling by the warehouses.
If you are looking to appoint a freight forwarder to the USA to handle your exports, then get in touch with our team for a quote. Whether your shipment is a simple FOB (free on board) shipment, or all the way to door in the USA (on DAP or DDP terms), we can handle the whole thing for you. We have a strong relationship with our partner freight forwarder in the USA, who we will liaise with for you to get your shipment delivered as to your requirements with minimal hassle.
You contact the team by calling (+44) 02392 756 575, emailing sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or completing the form below and we will be in touch.
