United States
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Cincinnati
CVG is one of North America's largest express cargo hubs.
Services in Cincinnati
- Air freight in CincinnatiAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in CincinnatiFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in CincinnatiImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Cincinnati
- AirportCincinnati/Northern Kentucky
CVG - SeaportInland rail ramps, sea via East Coast ports
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), located in Hebron, Kentucky, is one of the largest cargo airports in North America. It hosts the global Americas hub of DHL Express and a major Amazon Air hub, alongside freighter operations by other carriers. This gives Cincinnati a level of air cargo capacity well beyond the size of the city. Cincinnati has no seaport for ocean containers; sea freight arrives by rail from East Coast ports, and the Ohio River provides barge connections for bulk cargo.
I-71, I-74 and I-75 meet in Cincinnati, with the I-275 ring road passing directly by CVG. I-71 and I-75 connect the region with Louisville, Columbus, Dayton and Lexington. Norfolk Southern and CSX operate rail lines and intermodal services, and the Ohio River carries barge traffic for bulk goods.
Industries in Cincinnati and how we support them
Cincinnati is home to major consumer goods companies, including the headquarters of a large global household products manufacturer, and to one of the main aircraft engine manufacturing sites in the US, in Evendale. Retail, food and logistics companies also have their headquarters or large operations in the region. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via CVG, Next Flight Out for engine parts and production-critical components, On-Board Courier for samples and tools, and sea freight with rail delivery to Cincinnati. Customs data is prepared before the cargo arrives.
Operational logistics facts for Cincinnati
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) | Express and freighter hub operations | Large air cargo capacity in the Ohio Valley |
| Evendale aerospace site | Aircraft engines and parts | Close to CVG for urgent engine components |
| I-71 / I-75 / I-275 | Truck distribution in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana | Road access to several Midwest cities |
| Ohio River barge connections | Bulk and heavy cargo | Inland waterway option for bulk goods |
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Frequently asked questions
Why route air freight through Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky?
CVG has extensive express and freighter operations, which provide capacity to Europe, Latin America and Asia from the Ohio Valley. We book under our own air waybills and arrange pick-up and delivery across the Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky area.
Can you handle urgent aircraft engine parts from Cincinnati?
Yes. For AOG situations and urgent engine parts, we book Next Flight Out, prepare the export data in advance and coordinate delivery at destination. If the part needs constant supervision, an On-Board Courier can carry it door to door.
Do you ship consumer goods samples from Cincinnati for product launches?
Yes. Samples for launches and testing can travel as air freight or with an On-Board Courier, depending on value and urgency. We agree packaging and delivery addresses in advance and prepare the customs data for the destination country.
Who handles customs for shipments arriving at CVG?
Clearance is done by a partner team in the Ziem network, working under the Ziem Logistics brand, to our procedures and with the data we prepare. Entries are filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through ACE, and you deal only with Ziem Logistics.
Can consumer goods imports be stored duty-deferred near Cincinnati?
Yes, goods can be stored in bonded warehouses or foreign-trade zones, which defer duties until the goods enter the US market and can avoid them on re-exports. Whether this fits depends on your volumes and flows, so we check the options with you.
What applies to the export of aircraft engine parts from Cincinnati?
Many civil aircraft parts are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and military parts to ITAR. The exporter determines the classification and any licence requirement; we file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) through AES with the correct references.