Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Honduras to the United States

The United States is one of the largest trading partners in Central America, including Honduras. The trade relationship between the two nations is strong, playing an essential role in both countries’ economies.

Honduras has a sizable net trade with the US. In 2022, Honduras exported $6.31B worth of goods to the US. These included products like knit sweaters, knit t-shirts, and insulated wire. In the last 5 years, Honduras’ exports to the US have increased at an annualized rate of 7.58%.

To ship from Honduras to the US, you need to be familiar with the process, which starts with your ocean and air freight shipping options. Learn everything you need to know in this article.

What are the Options for Shipping Freight from Honduras to the United States?

You have two options for shipping freight from Tunisia to the US: ocean and air freight.

Ocean Freight from Honduras to the United States

Ocean freight is the most common shipping option because of its affordability and flexibility. You can ship any type of cargo by sea and even have two options for container shipping, namely, less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).

LCL is used for small shipments. Goods here are consolidated with shipments belonging to other shippers and transported together in one container. Each shipper only pays for their goods' space, making it an economical shipping option.

FCL is where the shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone, giving them more space, control, and security for their cargo. This is mostly used for larger shipments to maximize container space.

Air Freight from Honduras to the United States

Your other option for freight shipping from Honduras to the US is air freight. This is the fastest mode of international shipping, only taking a couple of days to complete. It’s also the most secure way to transport cargo, with strict airport regulations helping guarantee cargo security.

However, air freight is expensive and not flexible, with limits on the type, size, weight, and volume of cargo you can transport.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Honduras to the United States?

The cost to ship cargo from Honduras to the US will depend on a couple of factors. These include:

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

Determine your shipping costs by using our online freight costs calculator. The table below shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Honduras to the US:

How long does it take to ship cargo from Honduras to the United States?

The transit time for goods shipped from Honduras to the US depends mainly on the international shipping mode you select. Additional factors influencing the transit time are:

• The shipping season (peak or low)
• Direct or indirect shipment route
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Potential incidents at ports

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from Honduras to the United States?

Shipping cargo by sea from Honduras to the US will take between 15-50 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from Honduras to the United States?

If you ship by air, you can expect your cargo to arrive in the US in 2-8 days.

For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.

Customs Clearance in Honduras and the United States

Once your goods land in a US port or airport, they will go through the customs clearance process. This will require that you prepare and submit the following documents:

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

Refer to our full documents list for examples of these customs clearance requirements.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

When choosing between ocean and air freight, you need to consider your needs, priorities, and the requirements of your cargo. Below, we outline some pointers to help you make the right decision.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is ideal for shippers on a budget and those who need flexibility with their shipment. It can accommodate any type of cargo and even allows you to choose between two container shipping options.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is a good choice for cargo that is:

• Small in size and quantity
• Lightweight
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Not requiring special handling or movement

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

FCL is a better option for cargo that is:

• Large in size and quantity
• Heavy or overweight
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Requiring special handling or movement

Air Freight

If you need your goods to arrive in the US fast, then air freight is your best bet. This is the fastest mode of shipping, only taking a couple of days to complete. This makes it ideal for time-sensitive and perishable cargo.

Air freight is also the most secure shipping option. Airports have strict rules and guidelines that help protect high-value goods during transit.

Just keep in mind that air freight comes with its cons. The first is its cost, which is significantly higher than ocean freight. The second is its lack of flexibility, with limits on the type, size, weight, and volume of cargo.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Honduras

Puerto Cortez

Puerto Cortez is the only deep-water port in Central America and is one of the best-equipped ports in the region. It has a natural bay that can handle 10 large ships at a time. The port sees a lot of cargo traffic, being a designated safe port. This means it can safely ride on the giant vessels that cross the Panama Canal.

Port of Castile

The Port of Castile has some of the best port facilities in Honduras despite being a small fishing village. It has a container facility for fresh fruit produced by Dole and is also home to a Honduran naval base. The port is the main port of call for oil exports.

La Ceiba Port

The La Ceiba Port is located on the Southern end of the Caribbean Sea coastline, bordering the Gulf of Honduras. It’s the third-largest port in the country, developed throughout the 19th century. The port mostly handles agricultural shipments, including fish, coffee, citrus, and fruits.

Cargo ports of arrival in the United States

Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah is home to the largest single-terminal container facility in North America. It has a container volume of 4.35 million TEUs. It mostly handles the shipment of automobiles, agricultural products, and heavy machinery.

Port of Seattle-Tacoma

The Port of Seattle-Tacoma is one of the largest container ports in North America, handling over 4 million TEUs per year. It’s a diverse hub for goods, including containerized cargo, automobiles, and agricultural products.

Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland is a major seaport in the San Francisco Bay area in California. It is one of the busiest ports in North America, handling over 2.5 million TEUs of cargo per year. It handles over 99% of containerized goods in Northern California.

Air Freight from Honduras to the United States: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Honduras

Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport

The Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport is also known as the La Mesa International Airport. It’s located 11 kilometers southeast of San Pedro Sula city in the Cortes Department of Honduras. The airport is a hub for Avianca Honduras and SAHSA.

Toncontin Airport

The Toncontin Airport, also known as the Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport, is a civil-military airport 6 kilometers from the Tegucigalpa city center. According to the History Channel program Most Extreme Airports, it’s the second most extreme airport in the world.

Goloson International Airport

The Goloson International Airport is located in the city of La Ceiba in the Atlantida Department of Honduras. It’s also known as the La Ceiba Airport and Hector C. Moncada Air Base. The airport is a hub for Lanhsa Airlines, Aerolíneas Sosa, Avianca Honduras, AeroCaribe de Honduras, EasySky, and Atlantic Airlines de Honduras.

Airports of arrival in the United States

Memphis International Airport

The Memphis International Airport is a central hub for air cargo facilities. It’s the second busiest airport in the US, home to a FedEx central hub. The airport has a strategic location for both domestic and international shipments.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the US’ third busiest cargo airport. It’s an integral part of its city’s economy. The airport is home to the UPS Worldport, the world’s largest package sorting facility.

Los Angeles International Airport

The Los Angeles International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports and is the fourth busiest cargo airport in the US. It handles over 2 million tonnes of cargo per year and boasts facilities used by the largest air freight companies in the world.

Why Ship From Honduras to the United States With iContainers?

Transporting cargo involves numerous factors, such as the season, shipment size, shipping method, and the origin and destination points.

With extensive experience in the industry, iContainers provides traditional freight forwarding services integrated with cutting-edge technology for your convenience. Our digital platform lets you handle your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—from your mobile device.

Feel free to contact us for a free quote at any time. We are always here to provide the information you need.