Houston, United States
Sea freight in Houston
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Houston, via Port Houston. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
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.
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 |
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.
From the port to your door in Houston
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Port Houston, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Houston area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
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
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Houston?
Usually Port Houston. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.