Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Romania to the United States

Romania, a member of the European Union and a strategic partner to the US in Eastern Europe, has become an essential player in the growth of various industries, including tech, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture. As it strives to improve its market economy, the US becomes a prominent market.

In 2022, Romania exported $2.93 billion worth of goods to the US. Trade between the two nations has grown at an annualized rate of 13% in the last 5 years.

This guide covers everything you need to know about shipping goods from Romania to the US

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

You can ship freight from Romania to the US using ocean or air freight.

Ocean Freight from Romania to the United States

cean Freight From Romania to the United States
Ocean freight is the most common shipping option because of its affordability and flexibility. It can transport any type of cargo and even offers shippers two options for container shipping: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).

LCL involves the consolidation process. Here, cargo belonging to different shippers is consolidated and transported together in one container. That way, each shipper only needs to pay for their goods' space, making it an economical choice for small shipments.

FCL is where a shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone. This gives them more space, control, and security for their shipment. The space inside the container should be maximized to get good value for money, making FCL a better option for large shipments.

Air Freight from Romania to the United States

Another way to ship goods from Romania to the US is by air. Air freight is the fastest mode of international transport, taking only a couple of days to complete. This makes it suitable for time-sensitive shipments or when transporting perishable goods.

Air freight is also a good option for high-value shipments, as it’s more secure than ocean freight. Strict airport processes and regulations guarantee this, ensuring that cargo is safe during shipping.

However, air freight has its cons. The first is its cost, which can get significantly higher than ocean freight. It’s also not as flexible, unable to transport all cargo types and putting limits on the size, weight, and volume of your shipment.

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

The cost to ship cargo from Romania to the US will depend on the following factors:

• 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 Romania to the US:

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

The transit time for goods shipped from Romania to the US depends mainly on your selected international shipping mode. 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 Romania to the United States?

It takes 15-50 days for an ocean freight shipment to arrive from Romania to the US.

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

Air freight from Romania to the US will take between 2-8 days.

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

Customs Clearance in Romania and the United States

When your goods from Romania arrive in the US, they will go through the customs clearance process. This requires 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

Check out 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 must consider your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements. Here are some pointers to help you decide on the best shipping option.

Ocean Freight

If you value cost efficiency and flexibility, we recommend shipping by sea. It can transport any type of cargo from Romania to the US and even offers two options for container shipping.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is a good option 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 fit 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 to get your cargo from Romania to the US quickly, you should ship by air. Only taking 2-8 days to complete, it’s the best option for time-sensitive and perishable shipments. It’s also the most secure way to transport goods, with strict airport regulations and processes helping ensure cargo safety. This makes it ideal for high-value cargo.

However, remember that air freight is the most expensive shipping method, with shipping costs being significantly higher than ocean freight. It’s also not as flexible and cannot ship cargo of all types, sizes, weights, and volumes.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Romania

Port of Constanta

The Port of Constanta is the most important port in Romania, serving as a critical hub for trade. It can handle a wide range of cargo types, including dry, liquid, project, and general cargo. The port is a principal gateway for agricultural shipments.

Port of Midia

The Port of Midia is a satellite port in Constanta, constructed to serve the nearby industrial and petrochemical industries. It mainly handles the shipment of chemicals, ammonia, fisheries, and oil products.

Port of Medgidia

The Port of Medgidia is one of Romania’s largest riverine ports. It’s also among the busiest because of its location on the Danube-Black Sea Canal. The port handles over 1.2 million tonnes of annual commercial traffic and 10.3 million tonnes of annual industrial traffic.

Cargo ports of arrival in the United States

Port of South Louisiana

The Port of South Louisiana handles 60% of all grain cargo in the Midwest. It’s one of the biggest and most widespread ports in the country, covering over 54 miles in land area and handling over 248.1 million short tonnes of cargo.

Port of Corpus Christi

The Port of Corpus Christi is a popular port, mainly because of its energy conservation blueprint, which is a rarity in US ports. It handles over 200 million tonnes of cargo, primarily crude oil and gas.

Port of New Orleans

The Port of New Orleans connects a network of 14,500 miles of trading waterways to the coast of America. It is one of the busiest ports in the US, handling over 455,000 TEUs per year. The port sees 360,000 vessel calls annually, 41.6% of which hold the movement of dry bulk cargo.

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

Airports of origin in Romania

Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport

The Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport is the busiest international airport in Romania. It is located in Otopeni, about 16.5 kilometers north of Bucharest city center. The airport serves the capital city and is a hub for Wizz Air, Ryanair, TAROM, HiSky, Blue Air, Animawings, and more.

Oradea International Airport

The Oradea International Airport is located 5 kilometers southwest of Oradea in Romania’s northwestern region. It’s near one of the main road and rail border crossings to Hungary. The airport serves as a hub for Țiriac Air and JeTran Air.

Băneasa - Aurel Vlaicu International Airport

The Băneasa—Aurel Vlaicu International Airport is located in the Băneasa district of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It used to be the only airport in Bucharest until the construction of the Otopeni Airport in 1969. The airport is a hub for Wizz Air, Fly Lili,
Blue Air, Star East Airline, Air Bucharest, and more.

Airports of arrival in the United States

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the 6th largest cargo airport in the US. It’s home to the DHL North American hub and the Amazon Central Prime Air hub. The airport handles over 2 million tonnes of total cargo per year.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport

The Chicago O’Hare International Airport is among the largest cargo airports in the US. It serves Chicago in the state of Illinois, located 17 miles northwest of the Loop business district. The airport handles over 1.9 million metric tonnes of cargo per year.

Chicago/Rockford International Airport

The Chicago/Rockford International Airport is the US’ seventh-largest cargo airport by landed weight. It’s home to UPS's second-largest North American facility and also serves as a major hub for Amazon Air. The airport boasts a 90,000-square-foot cargo hub.

Why Ship From Romania to the United States With iContainers?

The process of shipping cargo involves considering several factors, such as the season, shipment size, the chosen shipping method, and the origin and destination points.

Backed by years of experience, iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services enhanced with modern technology for your convenience. Our digital platform allows you to manage your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—directly from your mobile device.

Contact us anytime for a free quote. We are always here to provide you with the necessary information.