United States
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Houston
Houston's energy industry ships heavy and urgent equipment worldwide, often as AOG-style emergency cargo.
Services in Houston
- Air freight in HoustonAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in HoustonFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in HoustonImport 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 Houston
- AirportGeorge Bush Intercontinental
IAH - SeaportPort Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is Houston's main cargo airport, with freighter and widebody belly connections to Europe, Latin America and Asia. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) mainly serves domestic and regional flights. By sea, Port Houston and the private terminals along the Houston Ship Channel make the region one of the busiest US port areas by tonnage; the Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals handle most of the container traffic, and the port is especially strong in breakbulk and project cargo.
Houston is served by I-10 (east-west), I-45 (to Dallas and Galveston) and I-69/US-59, with Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway forming ring roads. Union Pacific and BNSF rail lines connect the port and petrochemical complexes with the rest of the US. The Ship Channel is lined with refineries and chemical plants, making Houston a centre for dangerous goods and oversized cargo handling.
Industries in Houston and how we support them
Houston is the centre of the US energy industry, with oil and gas equipment manufacturers, oilfield service companies and a large petrochemical complex along the Ship Channel. The Texas Medical Center adds medical and research shipments. Energy companies frequently need urgent replacement parts for drilling rigs, refineries and offshore platforms worldwide. We support them with air freight under our own air waybills via IAH, sea freight including breakbulk through Port Houston, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for critical spare parts, and dangerous goods handling for chemicals. Export and import customs data is prepared in advance.
Operational logistics facts for Houston
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | Freighter and widebody connections | Direct international air freight for the energy sector |
| Port Houston (Barbours Cut and Bayport) | Containers, breakbulk and project cargo | One of the busiest US port areas by tonnage |
| Houston Ship Channel | Petrochemicals and dangerous goods | Direct access to refineries and chemical plants |
| Beltway 8 / I-10 / I-45 | Truck distribution across Texas | Fast road access to the port and industrial areas |
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
Can you send urgent oilfield parts from Houston worldwide?
Yes. For rig or refinery breakdowns, we book Next Flight Out from IAH under our own air waybills, prepare the export data in advance and coordinate delivery at destination. If the part must stay with a person, an On-Board Courier can carry it door to door.
How do you handle dangerous goods by air from Houston?
We check the classification, packaging and documentation with you, book carriers that accept the relevant dangerous goods classes and prepare the shipper's declaration. Some substances can only travel on cargo aircraft, which we take into account when choosing the routing.
Can oversized equipment be flown out of Houston?
Yes, within the limits of the available aircraft. We check dimensions and weight against freighter capacity and, where air freight is not possible, propose breakbulk sea freight through Port Houston instead.
Who handles customs for shipments arriving in Houston?
Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, working under the Ziem Logistics brand, to our procedures and with the shipment data we prepare. You deal only with Ziem Logistics. Entries are filed with CBP through the ACE system.
What export formalities apply to oil and gas equipment from Houston?
Most exports above certain value thresholds, and all licensed exports, require Electronic Export Information (EEI) filed through AES. Some equipment and technology are subject to Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and may need a licence depending on destination and end use. We review this with you before shipping.
Can returned equipment re-enter the US duty-free after repair abroad?
US goods returned without being advanced in value may qualify for duty-free re-entry, and repaired items may be dutiable only on the value of the repair. The right documentation of the original export is essential, so we recommend planning this before the equipment leaves.