Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From Spain to the United Kingdom

Spain and the United Kingdom continue to maintain significant trade relationships post-Brexit. In 2022, Spain exported $22.6 billion worth of goods to the UK, with cars being the top exported product, accounting for $3.44 billion of the export value. For the last 27 years, the trade partnership between Spain and the United Kingdom has only gotten stronger, with Spain's exports increasing at an annualized rate of 4.33%. 

However, post-Brexit, dynamics in freight shipping between Spain and the UK have changed, requiring your business to adapt and learn the complexities of the process. This article provides a complete guide to everything you need about this vital trade route. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Spain to the United Kingdom?

You can ship freight from Spain to the United Kingdom using ocean or air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Spain to the United Kingdom

Ocean freight is the most popular way to ship goods from Spain to the UK because of its cost efficiency and flexibility. It can accommodate a wide range of cargo types and provides shippers with two ways to transport their cargo: less than container load (LCL) or full container load (FCL). 

LCL involves the consolidation process. Here, your cargo will be consolidated with goods belonging to other shippers and transported in one container. That way, you only have to pay for the space your cargo occupies, making it highly economical. 

On the other hand, FCL is when a shipper rents the space in an entire container for their shipments alone. This gives them more control and security and allows them to ship items with large dimensions, weights, and volumes. 

Air Freight from Spain to the United Kingdom

Another option to ship goods from Spain to the UK is air freight, which is the fastest shipping option. It can get your goods to their destination in a couple of days, making it preferred by shippers transporting time-sensitive and perishable goods. 

Air freight is also the most secure transport option, with stricter airport regulations and security protecting high-value cargo. However, it is more expensive to ship by air because of higher fuel costs for airplanes and other factors. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Spain to the United Kingdom?

The cost of shipping cargo from Spain to the UK 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

To calculate your shipping costs, try our online freight costs calculator. The table below displays the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Spain to the UK:

How long does it take to ship cargo from Spain to the United Kingdom?

The transit time for goods shipped from Spain to the United Kingdom 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 Spain to the United Kingdom?

Ocean freight from Spain to the UK will take approximately 15 to 50 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from Spain to the United Kingdom?

Air freight from Spain to the UK is much faster, only taking 2 to 8 days for the cargo to arrive at a UK airport.

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

Customs Clearance in Spain and the United Kingdom

The moment your cargo arrives in the UK, it will need to go through the customs clearance process before it can be successfully imported. This will require you to 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

You can refer to our full documents list to see examples of these customs clearance requirements. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

As a shipper, you must decide between ocean and air freight, considering your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements. Here are some pointers to help you make the right decision. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight might be ideal for you if you need flexibility with your shipment. It’s best for high volumes of goods and can ship almost any type of cargo without putting a huge dent in your budget. Ocean freight also provides two shipping options. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

You can go for LCL shipping 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

FCL is best 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 speed is your ultimate priority for shipping, then air freight is your best bet. It’s also ideal for high-value goods thanks to more secure airport regulations. It’s worth noting that the speed of air freight comes at a relatively high cost. It’s also unable to accommodate certain types of goods.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Spain

Port of Algeciras

The Port of Algeciras is the largest in Spain, the third largest in the Mediterranean, and the ninth-largest globally. It is located in Andalucia, Cadiz, Spain, a hotspot for tobacco, fishing, agriculture, and oil trade. The port handles around 92 million tons of goods per year. 

Port of Valencia

The Port of Valencia is the fifth-busiest port in Europe and the second-largest in Spain. It receives 4.2 million TEUs of container traffic annually and has the capacity for a whopping 57 million tons of cargo. 

Port of Barcelona

The Port of Barcelona is located in the Catalan Province of Spain. It is one of the country's oldest ports, having existed for over 2000 years. Today, it’s still one of the most important ports in Spain, handling around 3 million TEUs per year. 

Cargo ports of arrival in the United Kingdom

Port of Immingham

The Port of Immingham is the largest cargo port in the UK in terms of tonnage. It is part of a port complex along with Grimsby and other small facilities. The port handles more than 48 million metric tons of cargo, the majority of which is liquid bulk cargo. 

Port of Felixstowe

The Port of Felixstowe is one of the top 10 busiest European port facilities, handling 48% of container shipments in the UK. It spans 33.83 square kilometers and boasts 10 berths for container operations. The port handles 3.8 million TEUs per year. 

Port of Tees

The Port of Tees covers a land area of 490 acres and handles a large portion of inland traffic. It is the third biggest port in the UK. 6,000 vessels arrive at the Port of Tees every year, most of which carry dry bulk, container goods, steel, and petroleum. 

Air Freight from Spain to the United Kingdom: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Spain

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

The Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, also known as the Madrid–Barajas Airport, is the main international airport serving the capital city of Spain, Madrid. With a land area of 3,050 hectares, it is hailed as the second-largest airport in Europe. The airport is a hub for Iberia, Ryanair, Air Europa, Vueling, easyJet, and more. 

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport

The Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, known simply as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, is located 15 kilometers southwest of Barcelona. It is the second largest and busiest airport in Spain and a hub for Iberia, Level, Air Nostrum, and Vueling.

Vitoria Airport

The Vitoria Airport, also known locally as Foronda Airport, is located near Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain. It has one terminal and a 3.5-kilometer-long runway. The airport is a hub for Nordjet Airlines and ASL Airlines Spain.

Airports of arrival in the United Kingdom

Manchester Airport 

The Manchester Airport is located in Ringway, Manchester, England. It is one of the busiest airports in the UK in terms of passenger traffic. It’s also a hub for various cargo airlines, including easyJet, Jet2.com, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Airways, Ryanair UK, and more. 

Newcastle International Airport 

The Newcastle International Airport is located in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is 7.7 miles from the city center. It is considered the busiest airport in North East England and is a hub for EasyJet, TUI Airways, Loganair, XL Airways UK, and more. 

London Stansted Airport 

London Stansted Airport is a tertiary international airport serving London, England. It is located 42 miles northeast of Central London, near Stansted Mountfitchet. The airport serves 160 destinations around the world and is a base for European low-cost carriers.