Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from the United States to Qatar

The United States is one of Qatar’s leading trade partners, bringing advanced technology, machinery, food products, and more to the country. The trade relationship between the nations is built on mutual economic interest and strategic partnerships, helping the exchange of goods flourish.

In 2022, US exports to Qatar amounted to $3.7 billion, a 42.2% increase from 2021 and 3% from the previous decade. The main products exported include gas turbines, jewelry, and cars.

Ship from the US to Qatar with ease with our guide. We provide all the information you need to achieve a successful shipment.

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

You can ship freight from the US to Qatar in two ways: ocean freight and air freight.

Ocean Freight From the United States to Qatar

Ocean freight is the most affordable and flexible shipping mode from the US to Qatar. It can handle any type of cargo and even offers shippers two options for container shipping; less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container load (FCL) allowing them to optimize their shipments according to their needs and budgets.

Small cargo shippers use LCL. Here, your goods are consolidated with cargo from other shippers and shipped in one container. Each shipper only pays for the space their goods occupy, making LCL an economical option for small shipments.

FCL is for larger cargo. In this method, you rent the space in a container for your goods alone, giving you more space, control, and security for your shipment. It’s ideal for larger volumes of goods and heavyweight and oversized commodities.

Air Freight from the United States to Qatar

Air freight, on the other hand, is the fastest way to transport goods from the US to Qatar. A shipment takes only a couple of days to complete, making it highly suitable for time-sensitive or perishable shipments.

It’s also the most secure means of transportation. Airports have strict regulations and processes, which help guarantee the security of high-value goods during transit.

Air freight, however, can be significantly more expensive than ocean freight. It’s also less flexible, unable to ship all types of cargo and limiting shipments’ weight, size, and volume.

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

The cost to ship cargo from the US to Qatar differs case-to-case basis. These factors will come into play:

• 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 the US to Qatar:

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

The transit time for goods shipped from the US to Qatar 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 the United States to Qatar?

Ocean freight from the US to Qatar will take between 15 to 50 days.

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

It takes 2 to 8 days to ship cargo from the US to Qatar by air..

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

Customs Clearance in the United States and Qatar

Once your goods arrive in Qatar, they will go through the customs clearance process, which will require 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](https://www.icontainers.com/help/shipping-documents/ if you need 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 cargo requirements. Here are some pointers to help you make the right decision.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is ideal for those shipping on a budget or whose cargo has special size and weight requirements. This mode of shipping can accommodate any type of cargo and even offers two container shipping options.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is the best 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 suitable for you 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 need your goods to arrive in Qatar quickly, air freight is your best bet. This is the fastest way to ship cargo overseas, often taking only 2-8 days to complete. It’s also the most secure transport option, with strict airport regulations helping guarantee cargo security.

Air freight is ideal for time-sensitive, perishable, and high-value goods. However, it can get expensive. It’s also not as flexible as ocean freight, with strict limits on the type, weight, size, and volume of goods you can ship.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in the United States

Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles, also known as “America’s Port,” is the largest port in North America. It boasts 25 cargo terminals that handle over 10.66 million TEUs and 222 million metric revenue tonnes of cargo per year.

Port of Houston

The Port of Houston is the busiest port in the US by foreign waterborne tonnage. It helps drive economic growth in the Gulf Coast, with an economic impact of $339 billion. The port has an extensive network of terminals, handling over 1.6 million TEUs of diverse cargo per year.

Port of Charleston

The Port of Charleston is a southern port that handles over 2.79 million TEUs per year. Its economic impact is over $17 billion, supporting economic growth and infrastructure development. The port is popular for its efficient operations and commitment to the environment.

Cargo ports of arrival in Qatar

Port of Hamad

The Port of Hamad is Qatar’s main seaport. It replaced the Doha port in 2016 when it operated for commercial trade. It handles a wide range of cargo and is mainly in charge of the imports of livestock, grains, cereals, and vehicles.

Ras Laffan Port

The Ras Laffan Port is the world’s biggest LNG exporting facility. It has the capacity to accommodate the largest carrier ships and handles over 10 million tonnes of cargo per year. The port mainly ships LPG, petroleum products, and sulfur.

Al-Ruwais Port

The Al-Ruwais Port is Qatar's second-most important commercial port, helping increase and diversify regional cargo shipments. The port handles conventional cargo as well as foodstuffs, canned food, meat, and other commodities.

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

Airports of origin in the United States

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the US’ third-largest cargo airport, handling over 17 billion pounds of cargo per year. The airport is home to the UPS Worldport, which covers 5.2 million square feet and can process 115 packages per second.

Chicago Rockford International Airport

The Chicago Rockford International Airport is the seventeenth largest cargo airport in the US in terms of landed weight. Its impressive growth rate of 244% is higher than that of all the other airports in the top 30. It’s home to the second-largest North American UPS facility and is a major Amazon Air hub.

Los Angeles International Airport

The Los Angeles International Airport is an essential hub for US trade. It is the fourth largest cargo airport in the US, more than doubling the cargo it handled in the last 10 years. The top commodity that comes through here is electronics.

Airports of arrival in Qatar

Hamad International Airport

The Hamad International Airport is the home base of Qatar Airways and Qatar Airways Cargo, the county’s national flag carrier airline. It’s located east of the capital city of Doha. The airport is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East in terms of passenger, aircraft, and cargo movements. It sees over 252,000 aircraft movements yearly and moves over 2.3 million metric tonnes of cargo.

Why Ship From the United States to Qatar With iContainers?

Shipping cargo involves multiple factors, including the season, the size of the shipment, the shipping method, and the origin and destination points.

Leveraging years of industry experience, iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services with modern technological enhancements for customer convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage your shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.

Contact us anytime for a free quote. We are always ready to give you the information you need.