Cincinnati, United States
Customs clearance in Cincinnati
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Cincinnati. 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.
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 |
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.
One contact, local customs expertise
Our partner team in the United States files the declarations locally, under the Ziem Logistics brand. You send documents and questions to our operations desk, which coordinates with the team and keeps you informed.
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.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
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.