Shipping from Hong Kong to USA is a key topic of concern for many businesses and individuals. Due to its strategic location, Hong Kong, as an international shipping and trade center, provides efficient and diverse transportation methods. Whether it is exporting wholesale goods or personal cross-border e-commerce needs, shipping from Hong Kong to the United States can meet different timeliness and cost requirements.

The following will introduce several major transportation methods, costs, timeliness, required documents, and how to choose the right transportation plan in detail.

Why Choose Shipping from Hong Kong to USA

Why Choose Hong Kong as a Shipping Start Point?

Hong Kong is known for its efficient and robust logistics network, making it an ideal hub for international shipping. Its low tax policy, strong trade agreements, and world-class ports give it a competitive advantage. Many businesses use Hong Kong’s resources to ship goods around the world for the following reasons:

• Strategic Location: Hong Kong’s geographical location provides fast access to major markets in Asia and the West.
• Tax Efficiency: Hong Kong’s low tax policy makes international transactions more cost-effective.
• Hong Kong Port and Airport: With one of the world’s busiest container ports and a top airport, Hong Kong can provide fast and reliable shipping services.

Shipping from Hong Kong to the USA

There are two main modes of shipping from Hong Kong to the USA: sea and air. Each mode has different advantages and is suitable for goods of different types, sizes and urgency.

Sea freight from Hong Kong to USA

Sea freight is the preferred mode of transportation for importers and exporters, and is an ideal mode for bulk cargo transportation. It is generally divided into two modes: less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container load (FCL).

If you have a large amount of goods that can fill a 20-foot or 40-foot container, then choosing FCL can save time and budget. In contrast, LCL sea freight is suitable for small goods that do not require a whole container and can be combined with other goods or pallets.

According to experience, goods weighing more than 500 kilograms or containing multiple cartons are very suitable for sea freight from Hong Kong to the United States.

Advantages of sea freight:

• Characteristics: Sea freight costs are relatively low, suitable for bulk goods and large-volume goods transportation, especially for companies with high cost control requirements.
• Timeliness: Sea freight usually takes 25-30 days to arrive at the West Coast port of the United States and 35-45 days to arrive at the East Coast.
• Applicable situations: Suitable for goods that do not require high timeliness, such as furniture, machinery and equipment, bulk commodities, etc.

Air freight from Hong Kong to USA

Air freight has a much faster transit time than sea freight, usually 3 to 7 days. Air freight is ideal for urgent goods or perishable goods that need to be transported quickly, such as fruits, meat, etc. In addition, air freight involves very little cargo handling, so it is one of the safest modes of transportation.

But it should be noted that air freight is more expensive than sea freight. Generally, air freight is more advantageous for goods weighing less than 500 kg or with a volume of less than 2 cubic meters (2CBM).

Advantages of air freight

• Characteristics: Air freight is fast and suitable for the transportation of goods with high timeliness requirements, especially for small and high-value goods.
• Timeliness: Air freight can generally reach major cities in the United States within 3-5 days.
• Applicable situations: It is very suitable for small, high-value, and time-sensitive goods, such as electronic products, fashion products, medical supplies, etc.

Learn more: Cheapest Air Shipping from China to USA

Express from Hong Kong to USA

• Features: Express services include DHL, FedEx and UPS, which usually provide door-to-door services, fast, convenient and fast.
• Time: It usually takes 2-4 days to reach the United States, suitable for small and time-sensitive goods.
• Applicable situations: Suitable for personal items or small batches of commercial products, especially urgently needed samples, documents, etc.

Shipping costs from Hong Kong to the USA

The cost of shipping from China to the USA is greatly affected by the mode of transportation.

• The air freight cost from Hong Kong to the USA is based on the weight and volume of the goods, and is based on the billable weight (that is, the larger of the actual weight or volumetric weight). The general starting freight is about $5-$8/kg.
• The sea freight cost from Hong Kong to the USA is calculated based on the volume of the goods (cubic meters) or full container. Usually, a 20-foot container is about $2500-$4000, and a 40-foot container is about $3500-$5500.
• The express delivery cost from Hong Kong to the USA varies depending on the weight, size and service type of the goods. Small items are generally delivered to the United States for $20-$50, and larger items may be $100-$200. It is recommended to obtain discounted prices through a freight forwarder.

You can refer to the following table:

Shipping Method	Weight/Size	Rate (USD)	Destination
Air Freight	+100 kg	$6.5/kg	USA
	+300 kg	$5.9/kg	USA
	+500 kg	$5.5/kg	USA
	+1000 kg	$5.1/kg	USA
Sea Freight (LCL)	Shipping to Long Beach	$70.00/CBM	Long Beach
	Shipping to Los Angeles	$65.00/CBM	Los Angeles
	Shipping to New York	$70.00/CBM	New York
Sea Freight (FCL)	20GP to Long Beach	$2,800/20GP	Long Beach
	40GP to Long Beach	$3,500/40GP	Long Beach
	20GP to Los Angeles	$3,000/20GP	Los Angeles
	40GP to Los Angeles	$3,800/40GP	Los Angeles
	20GP to New York	$3,200/20GP	New York
	40GP to New York	$4,000/40GP	New York

Learn more: 20FT & 40FT Container Shipping Cost from China to USA

How long does it take to ship from Hong Kong to the USA?

Shipping times from Hong Kong to USA can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the shipping method chosen, the specific ports involved, the carrier, and other circumstances.

Shipping Mode	Port to Port	Door to Door
Sea Freight by FCL	25-40 days	30-45 days
Sea Freight by LCL	28-43 days	35-50 days
Air Freight	1-3 days	3-7 days

Learn more: How Long does it Take to Ship from China to the USA

How Long is Freight from China to USA

Shipping from Hong Kong to the USA: Routes and Port Selection

The main shipping routes from Hong Kong to the United States include going directly to the West Coast of the United States (such as the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach) through the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, or crossing the Panama Canal to the East Coast (such as the Port of New York-New Jersey and the Port of Savannah). When choosing a route, you need to consider the urgency of the goods, the cost budget, and the port congestion.

Shipping Routes from China to USA

Ports in the USA

Major Ports on the West Coast of the USA

The Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of Oakland are relatively close to Hong Kong, with shorter shipping times, which are suitable for quickly delivering goods to the western United States.

Major Ports on the East Coast of the USA

The Port of New York, the Port of Savannah, the Port of Norfolk, etc. are suitable for covering the cargo needs of the East Coast and the Central Region, but the transportation time is longer.

Major Airports in the USA

Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, New York Kennedy International Airport, etc. are suitable for air transport to major cities in the United States.

Duties and customs clearance documents for shipping from Hong Kong to the USA

Import Duties and Taxes in the USA

It is crucial to understand the applicable import duties and taxes when shipping goods from Hong Kong to the USA. These charges can significantly affect your overall costs and must be factored into your budget.

• Duties: levied on imported goods valued at more than $800.
• Excise Duty: Applicable to excise duty goods (such as alcohol and tobacco).
• Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): Levied on ocean shipments.
• Merchandise Handling Fee (MPF): Applicable to both informal and formal entries.

Document Requirements for Shipping from Hong Kong to the USA

• Commercial Invoice: Contains details such as the value, quantity, and unit price of the goods and is an important document for customs clearance.
• Packing List: Indicates details of the goods packaging, such as quantity, weight, volume, and packaging type.
• Bill of Lading: Serves as proof of ownership of the goods and is used for receipt or transfer.
• Certificate of Origin: Some goods require a certificate of origin to enjoy tariff benefits or comply with import regulations.

Freight forwarders from Hong Kong to USA

Freight forwarders can simplify the complex process of shipping goods from Hong Kong to the United States. They provide expertise in logistics, customs clearance, and transportation to ensure a seamless experience.

• Logistics management: Coordinate all aspects of the shipping process.
• Customs expertise: Understand complex customs regulations.
• Cost efficiency: Leverage relationships with carriers to ensure competitive pricing.

Basenton Logistics is a professional freight forwarder with extensive international transportation experience, especially in the transportation of goods from China (Hong Kong) to the United States. We provide integrated air, sea, express and warehousing services to help customers easily complete the logistics process from Hong Kong to the United States. Whether it is large-scale corporate goods or small-volume e-commerce packages, we can provide you with the most competitive transportation solutions to ensure that the goods arrive in the United States safely, quickly and in compliance with regulations.

Learn more: Best Freight forwarder China to USA