Shipping from Europe to USA: Ocean Freight, Air Freight, Costs and Transit Times
Shipping from Europe to USA covers the full transatlantic move of commercial cargo from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium into US ports, airports, and final delivery points. It is a managed pipeline of factory pickup, export clearance, ocean freight or air freight, US customs on the same file, and inland delivery. Platton runs full ocean freight coverage on every major trade lane into the US.
Platton runs this lane as one workflow with one freight specialist, one tracking number, and one invoice that matches the quote. Importers ship into New York and New Jersey, Norfolk, Savannah, Houston, Charleston, and Los Angeles without splitting the work across separate ocean, customs, and trucking vendors.
Why US Importers Ship from Europe Through Platton
The Europe to USA lane is mature and operationally exacting, with cargo profiles that include German machinery, Italian wine, and French aerospace components. Platton consolidates booking, documentation, customs coordination, and inland delivery on one file.
One platform from factory pickup to US warehouse
Factory pickup in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, or Genoa is booked on the same file as the US customs entry and final delivery. Documents are validated at origin before the cargo leaves the facility, which removes the most common cause of US customs holds.
Customs clearance
on the same file
US customs clearance runs on the same file as the freight, with the entry filed before vessel arrival so cargo clears as soon as it discharges. Europe-specific exposure is reviewed at quote stage: AD/CVD on steel and aluminum, Section 232 on EU metals, TTB compliance on wine and spirits, FDA prior notice on pharmaceuticals and food.
Real-time visibility and one point of contact
Every shipment has one named freight specialist who owns the file from booking to delivery. Vessel rollovers, customs exam holds, and trucking appointment changes appear in the dashboard within hours rather than at invoice time.
Enterprise volume capacity
Platton supports VPs of Supply Chain and Procurement Directors running regular FCL programs, weekly air consolidations, and high-value pharma or aerospace shipments. Carrier contracts on the transatlantic east coast trade lane cover multi-container weekly volumes out of Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, and Felixstowe.
Ocean Freight from Europe to the USA
Ocean freight is the dominant mode for Europe to USA shipping by volume. The transatlantic east coast corridor from Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Felixstowe, and Le Havre into New York, Norfolk, Savannah, and Charleston runs every few days with multiple carriers competing on direct sailings.
FCL Shipping
from Europe to USA
LCL Shipping
from Europe to USA
Major Origin and
US Destination Ports
European volume concentrates around the Hamburg to Le Havre range, Felixstowe for UK origins, and Genoa, La Spezia, Barcelona, and Valencia for Mediterranean cargo.
Air Freight from Europe to the USA
Air freight from Europe to the USA is used when transit time, cargo value, or production sensitivity outweigh the per-kilogram cost premium. Standard service runs 6 to 10 days door to door, and express runs 2 to 4 days. Pharmaceuticals, aerospace components, high-value automotive parts, and time-sensitive industrial spares are the dominant air cargo profiles on this lane.
Standard Air Freight from Europe
Standard air freight consolidates cargo through Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, and Paris Charles de Gaulle and routes to JFK, ORD, MIA, ATL, and LAX. Door to door transit runs 6 to 10 days. It is the default for shipments between 100 kilograms and several tons where ocean is too slow but premium express is not justified.
Express Air Freight Services
Express air freight runs 2 to 4 days door to door on direct flights from Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London, or Paris into US gateways. It is the right choice for AOG aerospace parts, urgent pharma replenishment, or production-down industrial spares. Express rates per kilogram are typically 2 to 3 times standard.
Major Airport Pairs from Europe to the USA
European airport throughput on the US lane concentrates at five airports, with US arrivals split across roughly six gateways. Direct lift is available daily on most pairs.
Door to Door Shipping from Europe to the USA
Door to door shipping covers the full move from your supplier in Europe to your final US destination. Platton manages every leg on one file: origin pickup, export clearance, ocean or air freight, US customs clearance, and inland delivery.
Origin Pickup
and Export Clearance
Origin pickup is coordinated at the supplier facility anywhere in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, France, Spain, or Belgium. EU export clearance, including EX-A declarations and certificates of origin under the relevant trade agreements, is filed by the origin agent on the same file as the freight booking.
US Customs Clearance
and Documentation
US customs clearance runs on the same file. Each entry includes HTS classification, duty calculation, MPF and HMF, ISF for ocean shipments, and product-specific filings such as FDA prior notice for pharma or TTB COLA for wine and spirits.
Last-Mile Delivery
to Warehouse or Amazon FBA
Once US customs releases the cargo, Platton arranges drayage and trucking from the port or airport to your warehouse, 3PL, or directly to an Amazon fulfillment center. For more on the workflow, see our Door to Door Shipping page.
Europe to USA Shipping Transit Times
Transit time depends on origin port or airport, US gateway, and mode. Ocean east coast direct sailings are the fastest ocean option. Air freight is faster than the Asia lane because the transatlantic distance is shorter.
Ocean Freight Transit Times by Port Pair
Direct east coast services are the fastest ocean option from Europe. West coast service via Panama adds 12 to 17 days and is reserved for cargo destined for the western US.
Transit times exclude US customs clearance (typically 1 to 3 days post-discharge) and inland trucking. LCL adds 5 to 7 days at destination for deconsolidation.
Air Freight Transit Times to US Gateways
Air freight runs 6 to 10 days door to door for standard service and 2 to 4 days for express. Direct lift is available daily on most major airport pairs, which keeps schedules reliable. Standard transit includes pickup, export clearance, flight (typically 8 to 11 hours), US customs clearance, and final-mile delivery.
| Origin Port | US Destination Port | Ocean Transit (Days) |
|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | New York / New Jersey | 8 to 14 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Norfolk | 10 to 14 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Savannah | 11 to 15 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Los Angeles (via Panama) | 25 to 30 |
| Hamburg, Germany | New York / New Jersey | 10 to 14 |
| Hamburg, Germany | Charleston | 12 to 16 |
| Hamburg, Germany | Houston | 14 to 18 |
| Antwerp, Belgium | New York / New Jersey | 9 to 13 |
| Felixstowe, United Kingdom | New York / New Jersey | 9 to 13 |
| Felixstowe, United Kingdom | Charleston | 11 to 15 |
| Le Havre, France | New York / New Jersey | 9 to 13 |
| Genoa, Italy | New York / New Jersey | 13 to 17 |
| La Spezia, Italy | New York / New Jersey | 13 to 17 |
| Barcelona, Spain | New York / New Jersey | 12 to 16 |
| Valencia, Spain | Houston | 15 to 19 |
How Much Does Shipping from Europe to USA Cost?
Cost depends on mode, volume, equipment, origin and destination, commodity, and current capacity. The transatlantic east coast lane is mature and competitive, so spot rates are generally more stable than the Asia lanes during peak season.
How Shipping from Europe to USA Works
The seven steps below cover what happens from quote acceptance to final delivery. The same Platton freight specialist runs the file end to end.
Submit shipment details. You provide origin, US destination, mode, volume or weight, ready date, commodity, and incoterm. Platton returns a comparison of live rates from carriers running the lane.
Book the sailing or flight. Once accepted, Platton issues the booking, locks the rate, and sends booking confirmation with cutoffs.
Origin pickup and export clearance. European agents coordinate pickup at the supplier facility and validate documents (commercial invoice, packing list, EUR.1 or other origin certificates) before gate-in.
Ocean or air transit with live milestones. Vessel departure, transshipment events, and ETA appear in the dashboard. Rollovers or delays trigger alerts within hours.
Platton coordinates US customs clearance on the same file as the freight. ISF is filed at least 24 hours before vessel loading. Entry is filed before arrival so cargo clears as soon as it is discharged.
Drayage or trucking pickup at the US gateway. Container drayage or airport pickup is scheduled inside the free time window. Detention and demurrage are monitored.
Final delivery to your warehouse, 3PL, or Amazon FBA. The cargo is delivered on the appointment booked. The file closes with one invoice that matches the quote.
Tariffs and Customs on Europe to USA Imports
US tariff posture on European-origin cargo is materially different from the Asia lane. Section 301, the China-specific structure, does not apply. Active concerns are Section 232 metals, AD/CVD on specific products, and product-specific compliance for pharma, food, and beverages.
U.S. Import Duties and
HS Code Classification
Every shipment is classified under an HTS code that determines the base duty rate. General-rate duties on European cargo span zero to roughly fifteen percent for most commercial categories. Misclassification is the most common cause of overpayment or post-entry audit findings.
Section 232 Steel and Aluminum,
AD/CVD, and Sector Tariffs on European Imports
Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum apply to European-origin material that falls in scope, with rates that have shifted between exclusions, quotas, and full duty across recent years. AD/CVD orders apply on certain steel grades, aerospace components, dairy, wine, and olive oil. Current 2026 status should be confirmed before quoting, since rates have shifted under recent EU-US trade negotiations.
How Platton Handles US
Customs Clearance
Platton manages US customs clearance on every Europe to USA shipment on the same file as the freight. ISF, entry summary, AD/CVD review on European steel, wine, dairy, and aerospace items where orders apply, Section 232 declarations where applicable, and duty payment all sit on one workflow with one tracking number and one invoice.
Amazon FBA Shipping
from Europe to the USA
Amazon FBA shipping from Europe to the USA covers the full move from European supplier to a US Amazon fulfillment center, including FBA prep, labeling, customs clearance, and direct truck delivery to the assigned FC. European-origin FBA volume concentrates on Italian fashion, German consumer electronics, French personal care, and UK consumer brands.
FBA Prep and Labeling at Origin or US Warehouse
FBA prep can run at origin (supplier or co-loader in Europe) or at a US warehouse before final delivery to the FC. Origin prep is faster and cheaper for SKUs with stable packaging. US prep is the right call when SKUs need polybagging, bundling, or final FNSKU labeling closer to dispatch.
Direct Delivery to Amazon Fulfillment Centers
Once US customs clears, Platton books the FBA carrier appointment and trucks the shipment directly to the assigned fulfillment center. Pallet specs, carton counts, and ASN match the Amazon shipment plan, the most common reason for FC rejections when handled by less experienced forwarders. See our Amazon FBA Shipping page for deeper detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Shipping from Europe to USA
Ocean freight from Europe to the US east coast runs 8 to 14 days on direct sailings (Rotterdam, Antwerp, Felixstowe, Le Havre to New York). West coast via Panama runs 25 to 30 days. Air freight runs 6 to 10 days standard and 2 to 4 days express, door to door.
FCL ocean rates from northern European ports to the US east coast typically run in the low to mid four-figure range per 40ft container in stable market conditions. LCL is priced per cubic meter. Air freight is priced per kilogram. Total landed cost includes freight, US customs, duties, MPF, HMF, and inland trucking.
Ocean LCL is the cheapest mode for shipments under roughly 13 cubic meters. Above that volume, FCL has lower per-cbm cost. Northern European ports (Rotterdam, Antwerp) into US east coast gateways are the most cost-effective routing.
A 40ft container from northern European ports to the US east coast typically runs in the low to mid four-figure range in stable market conditions, with Mediterranean origins running a few hundred dollars higher. Bunker adjustments, peak season surcharges, chassis fees, and inland drayage are added on top of the base ocean rate.
Rotterdam is the largest European port and offers the most carrier options into US east coast gateways, which is why it is the default for northern European cargo. Hamburg, Antwerp, Felixstowe, and Le Havre also run frequent direct services. Mediterranean cargo routes through Genoa, La Spezia, Barcelona, or Valencia.
Yes. US import duties apply based on HTS classification, with general rates ranging from zero to roughly fifteen percent for most categories. Section 232 metals tariffs apply to in-scope steel and aluminum. AD/CVD applies on specific products including certain steel, dairy, wine, olive oil, and aerospace categories. Section 301 does not apply to European origins
Ready to Ship from Europe to the USA?
Platton runs the full Europe to USA pipeline as one workflow: origin pickup, export clearance, ocean or air freight, US customs on the same file, and inland delivery to your warehouse, 3PL, or Amazon FBA. One freight specialist, one tracking number, one invoice that matches the quote.