Philadelphia, United States
Sea freight in Philadelphia
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Philadelphia, via Port of Philadelphia. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Philadelphia
- AirportPhiladelphia
PHL - SeaportPort of Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the main airport for the Philadelphia region, with transatlantic widebody passenger flights, freighter operations and a large express hub. For further international capacity, shippers in the region also use JFK and Newark, both reachable by road. By sea, the Port of Philadelphia on the Delaware River handles containers at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal and is known for refrigerated cargo such as fruit; the neighbouring Port of Wilmington in Delaware and the New Jersey terminals along the river complement it.
I-95 runs along the Delaware River past the airport and the port, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276), I-76 and I-476 connect Philadelphia with the warehouse areas of eastern Pennsylvania. The New Jersey Turnpike gives direct access to New York. CSX and Norfolk Southern provide rail connections, putting Philadelphia within easy trucking range of the main markets of the Northeast.
Operational logistics facts for Philadelphia
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | Transatlantic flights, express and freighter operations | Air freight close to the pharma corridor |
| Port of Philadelphia (Packer Avenue Marine Terminal) | Containers and refrigerated cargo | Delaware River port with focus on reefer cargo |
| Cell and gene therapy cluster | Cryogenic and temperature-controlled shipments | Specialised handling for time-critical therapies |
| I-95 / Pennsylvania Turnpike | Distribution to the Northeast | Road access to New York, Baltimore and Washington |
Industries in Philadelphia and how we support them
The Philadelphia region is a major pharmaceutical location, with large manufacturers and research sites in the suburbs and New Jersey, and has become a centre for cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing. Chemicals and specialty materials are also produced along the Delaware River. These products often need strict temperature control, sometimes at cryogenic levels. We support them with air freight under our own air waybills via PHL, JFK or EWR, On-Board Courier for patient-specific therapies and samples, Next Flight Out for urgent materials, and sea freight through the Delaware River ports. Customs and FDA data are prepared in advance.
FCL and LCL via Port of Philadelphia
Full containers are booked directly with the shipping line; for smaller volumes we use LCL consolidation services. Pre-carriage from Philadelphia to Port of Philadelphia, or on-carriage after arrival, is arranged by road or rail as part of the same booking.
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 Philadelphia?
Usually Port of Philadelphia. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.