Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From Portugal to the United States

Portugal and the United States have shared years of connections characterized by the vibrant and dynamic exchange of goods. With its prosperous industries, Portugal continues to become an important trade partner for the U.S. 

In 2022, Portugal exported $3.38 billion worth of goods to the United States. The top commodity exported is refined petroleum, accounting for $1.15 billion worth of exports. 

If you want to ship goods from Portugal to the United States, here’s your complete guide to your ocean and air freight shipping options, the customs clearance process, transit times, estimated costs, and more. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Portugal to the United States?

Your options for shipping freight from Portugal to the United States are ocean freight and air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Portugal to the United States

Ocean freight is the cheapest way to ship goods from Portugal to the United States. It’s also incredibly flexible, able to transport any type of cargo. It even offers shippers two container shipping options: less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container load (FCL). 

LCL is used by those shipping small cargo. Their goods are consolidated in a container with cargo belonging to other sellers. Each shipper only pays for their goods' space, making it highly economical for small shipments. 

FCL is used by those with large shipping needs. They rent the space in an entire container for their goods alone, giving them more space to accommodate large and heavyweight cargo. 

Air Freight from Portugal to the United States

The other way you can ship goods from Portugal to the United States is air freight. This is the fastest international shipping mode, making it ideal for time-sensitive and perishable shipments. It’s also the most secure, with strict airport rules and processes helping guarantee cargo safety. 

Despite its pros, air freight is not as popular as ocean freight. This is mainly because of its cost—it’s the most expensive shipping option. Air freight is also less flexible and unable to accommodate all types, sizes, weights, and volumes of goods. 

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

The cost of shipping cargo from Portugal to the United States will depend on the following: 

• 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

Use our online freight costs calculator to get an estimate of your shipping costs. The table below provides the current cost for shipping a standard 20-foot container from Portugal to the United States:

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

The transit time for goods shipped from Portugal to the United States is mainly determined by your selected international shipping method. However, other influencing factors include:

• The season of shipment (peak or low season)
• Whether the shipment route is direct or not
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Possible incidents at any port

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

Ocean freight from Portugal to the United States will take 15 to 50 days. 

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

Air freight from Portugal to the United States will take only 2-8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in Portugal and the United States

When your goods arrive in the United States, they will undergo customs clearance. This requires that you prepare and submit the following paperwork: 

• 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

If you need examples of these customs clearance requirements, see our full documents list. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

When choosing between ocean and air freight, you have to consider your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements. Here are some pointers to help you decide. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is best for those who value cost savings and flexibility. It can accommodate any type of cargo you need to transport to the United States, whether small, large, light, or heavy. Ocean freight also gives you two options for container shipping so you can optimize your shipment. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

You should go for LCL if your cargo 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

Choose FCL if your cargo 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 want to get your goods from Portugal to the United States quickly, air freight is the best option. Only taking a couple of days, air freight is ideal for time-sensitive and perishable shipments. 

You’ll also appreciate it if you’re shipping high-value goods. Air freight has strict processes and regulations that can help guarantee the security of your cargo throughout the process. 

There are drawbacks, however. First, air freight is expensive, costing significantly more than ocean freight. Second, it’s not as flexible, unable to ship all types of goods and putting limits on your cargo’s weight, size, and volume. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide 

Cargo ports of origin in Portugal

Port of Lisbon

The Port of Lisbon is Portugal’s main and busiest seaport. It handles over 13 million tonnes of cargo and 555,000 TEUs per year. Its annual vessel calls are 3,500. The port mainly deals with containerized cargo and foodstuff. 

Port of Aveiro

The Port of Aveiro is a sheltered river port on Portugal's western coastline. It handles a range of export cargo types, including general cargo, paper pulp, fish, and liquid chemicals. The port handles over 3.5 million tonnes of goods per year. 

Port of Leixoes

The Port of Leixoes is one of Portugal's most essential ports. It handles containerized cargo, conventional cargo, liquid and solid bulk, Ro-Ro, and passenger vessels. The multipurpose port facility handles over 20% of Portugal’s international trade. 

Cargo ports of arrival in the United States

Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles is the number one port in the United States in terms of annual cargo worth. Daily shipments to and from the seaport exceed 1 billion dollars, making it the 19th biggest freight hub in the world. 

Port of Savannah 

The Port of Savannah is a major United States East Coast port. It’s the fourth busiest port in the nation and has the biggest container terminal in the Western Hemisphere. The port is ideal for shipments of goods to Europe or Africa. 

Port of Houston

The Port of Houston is the fastest-developing port in the United States. It’s located in Houston, Texas, and ranks seventh in the U.S. for the total amount of cargo handled. The port oversees 70% of all container traffic in the U.S. Gulf Coast. 

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

Airports of origin in Portugal

Lisbon Airport

The Lisbon Airport, more formally known as the Humberto Delgado Airport, is located seven kilometers northeast of the Lisbon city center, the capital of Portugal. It is the main international gateway to the region and handles over 178,000 freight movements per year. 

Porto Airport

Also called the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, the Porto Airport is located near Porto in Portugal. It is a hub for EasyJet and Ryanair and handles over 77,000 freight movements per year. 

Airports of arrival in the United States

Chicago/Rockford International Airport

The Chicago/Rockford International Airport is a commercial airport located in Rockford, Illinois, just 68 miles northwest of Chicago. It is a hub for UPS Airlines and Festival Airlines and has over 44,000 aircraft operations annually. 

Indianapolis International Airport

The Indianapolis International Airport is located seven miles southwest of downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It handles more than 983,000 metric tonnes of cargo per year and receives over 193,000 aircraft operations. 

Portland International Airport

The Portland International Airport is a civil-military airport in the state of Oregon, in the U.S. It’s also the largest airport in the state, handling over 95% of its air cargo operations. The airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Horizon Air, Ameriflight, SeaPort Airlines, United Express, and North Pacific Airlines.