The right US port for your export depends on three things: where your supplier is, where the goods are going, and what you're optimising for (cost vs transit time vs reliability).
This piece compares the five highest-volume US container export gateways for the typical lanes US-origin buyers ship: UK/EU, Australia, India, Mexico, and Latin America.
The five export gateways
1. Los Angeles / Long Beach (LA/LB)
- Trans-Pacific anchor. Best for shipments to Australia, New Zealand, India, and the rest of Asia.
- Volume: the largest US container complex. Capacity is rarely an issue but congestion peaks Aug–Oct.
- Inland reach: serves the entire West Coast and intermodal rail to Chicago/Memphis.
- Cost: typically 5–10% premium over Seattle/Tacoma for the same destinations.
2. New York / New Jersey (NY/NJ)
- Trans-Atlantic anchor. Best for UK, EU, North Africa.
- Volume: largest East Coast complex; second largest US overall.
- Inland reach: best for Northeast and Midwest US suppliers.
- Transit: 10–14 days to Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg.
3. Houston
- Latin America + Gulf of Mexico anchor. Best for Mexico (via Veracruz/Altamira), Central America, Caribbean.
- Volume: largest Gulf Coast port; ideal for Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana suppliers.
- Specialty: petrochemicals and project cargo dominate.
- Trans-Atlantic: also viable to Mediterranean ports (Algeciras, Genoa) with comparable or better rates than NY/NJ in some seasons.
4. Savannah
- Fastest-growing US East Coast port. Good capacity, less congestion than NY/NJ.
- Inland reach: Southeast US (Georgia, Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama).
- Transit to Felixstowe: 11–13 days.
- Cost: typically 5–8% cheaper than NY/NJ to comparable European destinations.
5. Seattle / Tacoma (NWSA)
- Pacific Northwest gateway. Best for Pacific Rim destinations and a sometimes-cheaper alternative to LA/LB.
- Volume: smaller than LA/LB but less congestion.
- Transit to Sydney: 18–22 days. To Mumbai: 27–32 days (via Suez or direct).
Comparison: $30,000 FOB shipment, US to typical destinations
Indicative LCL rates in USD as of May 2026 (1 CBM, 200 kg):
| Origin → Destination | LCL Rate | Sea Transit |
|---|---|---|
| LA → Sydney | $185 | 18–22d |
| Seattle → Sydney | $175 | 19–23d |
| NY/NJ → Felixstowe | $145 | 11–13d |
| Savannah → Felixstowe | $135 | 12–14d |
| Houston → Veracruz | $95 | 5–7d |
| LA → Mumbai (via Suez) | $245 | 28–34d |
Rates vary 15–30% week-to-week based on capacity. Get three quotes before booking. The Sea Freight Cost Calculator lets you model FCL vs LCL crossover for your specific volume.
How to pick
A simple heuristic:
- Supplier in CA/AZ/NV → LA/LB unless destination is Asia and Seattle quotes better.
- Supplier in TX/OK/LA/MS → Houston for Mexico/Central America; LA or NY/NJ for further.
- Supplier in GA/AL/SC/NC/TN → Savannah.
- Supplier in NY/NJ/PA/OH → NY/NJ.
- Supplier in Pacific NW (WA/OR/ID) → Seattle/Tacoma.
Then check the Sea Freight Cost Calculator for the specific lane and adjust for current spot rate.
What changed in 2026
Two operational shifts since 2024:
- East Coast port capacity is broadly easier than West Coast — chronic LA/LB congestion has eased but is still season-dependent.
- Drewry WCI shows trans-Atlantic rates have normalised to roughly pre-pandemic levels, while trans-Pacific is still 30–50% above 2019 baselines.
If you're flexible on port, route through the East Coast when shipping to Europe or the Atlantic Basin.
