Located in the Caribbean, Jamaica’s economy relies largely on tourism and its service sectors. After decades of slow growth, the government began a series of reforms, which has paid off. GDP has remained largely flat over the past three decades, but the World Bank has given an estimation of 2% for GDP growth in 2017.
Ocean freight to/from Jamaica forms a big part of imports and exports in and out of Jamaica. In 2015, the country recorded $1.3 billion in exports, with nearly 30% of its exports destined for the US. Chemical products, foodstuffs, and mineral products form the top three most exported products. Its top imports include mineral products, machines, foodstuffs, and chemical products.
If you’re thinking about sending ocean freight to Jamaica, you should consider how much cargo you’ll be sending. One important decision you’ll have to make is whether you should ship a Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than a Container Load (FCL). The most common containers used in ocean freight to Jamaica are 20-foot and 40-foot containers. A 20-foot FCL container can fit 10 standard American pallets, and a 40-foot FCL container can fit 21 standard American pallets. A standard American pallet measures 47.24 by 39.37 inches.
Generally, our advice is to opt for an FCL if your cargo will be taking up more than half the container space. This is to help you reduce risk for your ocean freight to Jamaica. On the other hand, it would be more cost effective to choose an LCL if you do not have that many goods and it also lowers the risk of damages and contamination.
Find the best rates for your** ocean freight to Jamaica** on our iContainers page.
The Port of Kingston is home to one of the largest natural harbors in the world. It measures 16km by 3.2km and is deep enough to receive large ships. Just recently, the government of Jamaica announced plans to develop the port into a premier transshipment hub in the Caribbean. The port offers direct services to and from important ports such as Ningbo, New York, Rotterdam, and Le Havre. Feeder lines also connect it to other ports in the Caribbean, Central America, and even up to the Gulf of Mexico.
iContainers provides quick and affordable ocean freight services to Jamaica from ports located all over the world. These include those in:
For more information, consult ship container rates for your ocean freight to Jamaica here.