A Guide For Shipping From Sweden to USA

Do you aspire to be one of the world’s most successful business people? Read this guide to learn more about shipping from Sweden to the US.

Since Sweden was one of the first countries to acknowledge the United States’ independence in 1783, the two countries have developed a strong bilateral connection. Moreover, the largest Nordic economy is highly export-oriented, making it a desirable trading partner for the US.

The United States is now Sweden’s fifth-largest export market, accounting for 6.4 percent of all Swedish exports at around $10.7 billion each year.

This page is for you if you want to export from Sweden to the United States. We’ve compiled useful data to assist you in navigating the complexity of international ocean and air freight transportation.

Tips on Saving Your Money & Time Before Shipping From Sweden to USA

Check to See if the Items Can Be Delivered

By being mindful of DHL’s shipping restrictions, you can ensure that your account remains in good standing and most importantly, that your packages are able to be shipped to your overseas customers.

Items that are restricted or prohibited

Every country restricts or prohibits the importation of certain goods. Regardless, ensuring that your shipments are free of contraband is vital. They’ll be held at customs if you don’t arrange for a return shipment.

The items listed on our US nation shipping page that are restricted or prohibited in the United States are as follows.

Restricted Items

Animals
Drugs
Explosives
Hazardous Materials
Weapons

Prohibited Items

Chemicals
Counterfeit Goods
Cultural Heritage Goods
Drugs
Endangered Animals
Fresh Food
Objectionable Publications
Plants
Seeds

The list of forbidden materials is updated on a regular basis, so double-check it before sending your goods.

Find out the best amazon freight forwarders in the USA

Learn about the Holidays of Sweden

Overall, due to a combination of the aforementioned variables, the stakes are higher than ever during this Christmas season. Organizations with superior visibility and decision-making will reap the greatest benefits from this season unlike any other. Leading businesses are stepping up their digital transformation efforts. After all, what good is a crisis if it goes to waste?

Date	Holiday Name
Jan 01	New Year’s Day
Jan 06	Epiphany
Apr 02	Good Friday
Apr 04	Easter Sunday
Apr 05	Easter Monday
Apr 30	Walpurgis Night
May 01	Labour Day
May 13	Ascension Day
May 14	The Friday after the Ascension Day
May 23	Pentecost Sunday
May 30	Mother’s Day
Jun 06	National Day
June 25	Midsummer Eve
June 26	Midsummer Day
Nov 06	All Saints Day

Make Certain You Meet Your Delivery Deadlines

Another simple but crucial aspect of your freight process is determining your deadlines.

When shipping cargo from Sweden to the United States, how long does it take?

It should come as no surprise that ocean and air freight transit times differ dramatically. By air, your shipment can arrive in the United States in as little as eight days. The total transit time includes the actual flight time, as well as customs and security inspections, loading, and unloading.

Shipping a container from Sweden to the United States by sea takes substantially longer and varies greatly depending on the final port. If your items must arrive on the East Coast of the United States, they will arrive sooner than if they must arrive on the West Coast. In general, the complete voyage should take roughly 17 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo from Sweden to the United States via sea?

To give you an idea of how long it takes to send your goods from Sweden to the United States, the route from Gothenburg to New York takes roughly 17 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo from Sweden to the United States via air?

For typical air freight routes between Sweden and the United States, below are some samples of travel times:

Stockholm-Arlanda to Los Angeles – 8 days
Gothenburg-Landvetter to New York – 8 days
Gothenburg-Landvetter to Atlanta – 8 days
Malmo-Sturup to New York – 8 days

Make certain you understand your delivery costs and budget.

How Much Does Cargo Shipping From Sweden to the United States Cost?

The cost of transporting goods from Sweden to the United States is determined by a number of factors. Typically, freight forwarders provide quotations based on the following criteria:

Nature of goods
Chosen mode of transport (FCL, LCL, Air)
Weight of the cargo
Dimension of the cargo
Distance between origin and destination
Type of service (such as Port-to-Port, Door-to-Door)

So, which form of transportation is the most cost-effective for your requirements? When shipping consignments of 100 kg or less, you can use this basic rule of thumb: the cost of air and ocean freight will be nearly the same. When transporting products weighing 100 kg or more, ocean shipment is usually less expensive than air freight.

Ascertain that you have all of the necessary documents for your trip.

This is the most probable area to experience delays. Each country and region has its own set of customs standards, laws, and rules that you must follow. Failure to do so can result in substantial delays as well as potentially costly fines.

Clearance of Customs in Sweden and the United States

Customs requirements are required when importing from Sweden to the United States. The majority of organizations are not confident in their ability to manage this process internally. To reduce the danger of snags and delays, they enlist the services of a freight forwarder. Furthermore, an experienced partner can ensure that everything is handled in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

However, hiring a freight forwarder is only the beginning of your tasks. You must still supply the needed documentation. The following information will most likely be requested by customs authorities in Sweden and the United States:

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)
Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight

Additional documents, such as licenses, permits, or certificates, may be required. Your freight forwarder will notify you as soon as possible if this is the case. We’ve put together a list of documents where you can learn more about each type of document and view some samples.

Use the Services of a Reliable Freight Forwarder

Make some judgments on how you’d like to ship your products to your customers as the following action item on your product shipping plan development checklist.

What Are Your Shipping Options From Sweden to the United States?

When importing from Sweden to the United States, you have two fundamental options: ocean freight and air freight. Let’s have a look at both of them.

Ocean Freight From Sweden to the US

oean freight from Sweden to the US — Image Source:largest-container-shippings

Less than Container Load (LCL): If you don’t need a complete container for your cargo, LCL is the way to go. You can just pay for the use of a shared container for your items. In many circumstances, this is the most cost-effective method of transporting your goods from Sweden to the United States.

FCL (Full Container Load): If you need a complete container for your own usage, FCL is the way to go. FCL is sometimes less expensive than LCL because you pay a set rate for the container.

Air Freight from Sweden to the US

Air shipment is the best option if you need your items in the United States as soon as feasible. However, you must be willing to pay a significantly greater price.

Should You Ship Your Goods by Sea or by Air?

Shipping by Sea

The majority of shipments will travel by sea freight aboard specialized cargo ships across the Atlantic Ocean. These transport your goods from Sweden to the United States in a shipping container. If your items are too large to fit in a container, your forwarder or carrier may suggest other choices, such as break-bulk ocean transportation.

LCL and FCL are the two options for containerized maritime shipping. Both options are available as a port-to-port or door-to-door service. The optimum option for your logistics requirements will be determined by the weight, volume, and nature of the shipment.

LCL FREIGHT SHIPPING CONSIDERATIONS

LCL shipment may be the best option for your freight if the following conditions apply:

You’re delivering cargo in modest quantities of 14 CBM or less (around six standard pallets).
You don’t have a pressing need for your goods in the United States.
You’re not sure what size container you’ll need.
You don’t mind if your shipment is transported alongside that of other carriers.
For the time being, air freight is not a viable choice for you.
However, LCL shipping is not the greatest option if your cargo is extremely fragile, perishable, or valuable.
Your items either take up a lot of room or are really heavy.
Your products should not be moved or handled more than is strictly necessary.
You can’t accept any delays with regard to the delivery date.
You are unable to tolerate any delays in the delivery date.

FCL FREIGHT SHIPPING CONSIDERATIONS

If you have the following items, FCL shipping may be the best option for you:

You have a deadline for your shipment to arrive in the United States.
You want your cargo to be enclosed in a container until it gets to its final destination.
Your cargo is quite heavy.
Because your products are fragile, they should not be moved during transportation.
You have a consignment that is at least 14 CBM in size (around half the load capacity of a 20ft container).
FCL, on the other hand, may not be the ideal option for you if: Your customer or supplier does not have the capacity to handle full containers at their facility.
Your goods need to get to their destination as soon as possible, but you don’t have enough cargo to justify paying for an entire container.

Freight via Air

If you want to send your cargo via air, you should do so if:

You’re transporting perishable items with a short shelf life.
Your shipment must arrive in the United States as soon as possible.
The benefits of speed exceed the disadvantages.
Your items are valuable and require the highest levels of protection.
You only have a few pallets to move, maybe three or four at most.
Both the shipper and the recipient are in close proximity to an international airport.
However, if your freight is big or has an odd shape, air shipment may not be the best option for you.
You must keep your delivery expenditures to a minimum.

Guide to Ocean Cargo Ports

Sweden’s Origin Ports for Cargo

GOTHENBURG

Port Facts:

Largest port in the Nordic region, serving both Sweden and Norway.
Almost one-third of all Swedish exports come via this port.
Offers 130 direct services to destinations worldwide.
Has the ability to accommodate the world’s largest ships.

Owned By: City of Gothenburg.

Annual Container Volume: >860,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: SEGOT.

HELSINGBORG

Port Facts:

Sweden’s second-largest seaport and a vital maritime and logistics hub.
Located in the Oresund Strait.
The rest of the country connected by road and rail.

Owned By: Helsingborg Hamn AB.

Annual Container Volume: >280,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: SEHEL.

NORRKOPING

Port Facts:

Located on the Baltic Sea coast, approximately 130 kilometers south of Stockholm.
The Pampus terminal is the main container gateway.
The port is a full-service facility that can handle any type of cargo.
Two major highways, a major railway, and an international airport are all within close proximity.

Owned By: Norrkopings Hamn Och Stuveri AB.

Annual Container Volume: >132,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: SENRK.

STOCKHOLM PORT FACTS:

This port handles 10 million metric tons of cargo per year.
It can accept boats up to 500 feet in length.
It has an average container handling time of eight minutes.
Near May 2020, the new Norvik deep seaport in Sweden will open.

Owned By: Stockholm

Over 57,400 TEUs are shipped each year.

SESTO, UN/LOCODE

Cargo Ports of Arrival in the US

NEW YORK PORT FACTS:

Officially known as the Port of New York and New Jersey, it is the third-busiest port in the US and ranked number 20 globally.
It is also the most extensive sea freight port on the US East Coast.
Four container terminals are available for use.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns and operates this facility.

>3.2 million TEUs in annual container volume

USNYC, UN/LOCODE.

HOUSTON

This port handles nearly two-thirds of all container cargo in the United States.
Two container ports are part of the 80-kilometer-long complex.

Owned By: Port of Houston Authority

>2.7 million TEUs in annual container volume

USHOU is a UN/LOCODE code that stands for United Nations/United Nations/United Nations

CHARLESTON PORT FACTS:

Located in southeastern United States, in the state of South Carolina.
Handles $70 billion in annual cargo. Wando Welch and North Charleston are the two containerized cargo terminals in the city.
The port’s capacity will increase by 50% when a third container facility opens in 2021.

Owned By: South Carolina Ports Authority.

Annual Container Volume: >2.2 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USCHS.

PORT EVERGLADES

Port Facts:

Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it is the tenth-busiest container port in the US.
There are more than 20 container shipping lines that operate in this port.
Direct connection to Florida’s interstate system is available.

Owned By: Broward County, Florida.

Annual Container Volume: >1 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USPEF.

SAN FRANCISCO

Port Facts:

In 2016, the Southern Waterfront cargo port reopened its quays to cargo traffic.
There are five berths in the deep water.
There is a separate foreign trade zone, refrigerated storage, and over 500,000 square meters of the covered storage area.

Owned By: San Francisco Port Commission.

Annual Container Volume: Unknown.

UN/LOCODE: USSFO.

INTERNATIONAL PORTS

Aside from the five container gateways listed above, the following ports are acceptable for importing cargo from Sweden into the United States:

Los Angeles
Savannah
Seattle
Oakland
New Orleans
Boston
Baltimore -Atlanta -Long Beach
Norfolk
Tacoma
Miami
Mobile

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide

Airports of Origin in Sweden

STOCKHOLM-ARLANDA

Airport Facts:

Sweden’s largest airport and the third-largest in the Nordic region.
Located 37 kilometers north of Stockholm, Sweden’s capital.
There are 81 airlines serving 181 locations throughout the world.
Cargo City, a specialized freight facility, is located in the southern part.

US Airports Served: Miami, New York, Chicago.

Stockholm to the US Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: ARN.

GOTHENBURG-LANDVETTER

Airport Facts:

Sweden’s second-largest airport and a major freight hub.
Only 20 kilometers from Gothenburg’s main center.
Around 90 direct trips to 20 countries across three continents are available.

US Airports Served: None.

Gothenburg to the US Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: GOT.

MALMO-STURUP

Airport Facts:

The airport is Sweden’s fourth busiest.
In the center of the expanding Oresund region, 28 kilometers east of Malmo city.
This company serves more than 40 locations.
There are two freight terminals on the property.

US Airports Served: None.

Malmo to the US Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: MMX.

JONKOPING

Airport Facts:

In the heart of southern Sweden, there is a little airport.
Is in charge of a freight terminal.
Throughout the year, it handles freight flights at night.

US Airports Served: None.

Jonkoping to the US Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: JKG.

NORRKOPING

Airport Facts:

Sweden’s oldest airport for commercial aviation travel.
The city of Norrkoping is about 10 minutes away.
Seasonal scheduled and charter flights, as well as cargo flights, are all available.

US Airports Served: None.

Norrkoping to the US Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: NRK.

Airports of Arrival in the US

CHARLOTTE

Airport Facts:

Airfield that is both civil and military in nature.
Located about 8 kilometers from Charlotte, North Carolina’s downtown area.
Serves the United States’ fourth-largest manufacturing hub.
Next to the airport’s four runways is a designated air cargo terminal.