United States
Air freight, sea freight and customs in San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area ships high-value tech, semiconductor and biotech goods, often time-critical.
Services in San Francisco Bay Area
- Air freight in San Francisco Bay AreaAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in San Francisco Bay AreaFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in San Francisco Bay AreaImport 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 San Francisco Bay Area
- AirportSan Francisco
SFO - AirportOakland
OAK - AirportSan Jose
SJC - SeaportPort of Oakland
The San Francisco Bay Area is served by three international airports. San Francisco International (SFO) has the most widebody connections to Asia and Europe and carries most of the region's international air cargo. Oakland International (OAK) is a major express and freighter location, and San Jose Mineta International (SJC) is closest to Silicon Valley. By sea, the Port of Oakland is the main container port of Northern California and an important export port for agricultural products.
US-101 and I-280 run down the Peninsula to Silicon Valley, I-880 links the Port of Oakland and Oakland airport with San Jose, and I-80 crosses the Bay Bridge towards Sacramento and the East. Union Pacific and BNSF serve the Oakland rail yards. Traffic on the bridges and main corridors makes planning of pick-up and delivery windows important.
Industries in San Francisco Bay Area and how we support them
The Bay Area is home to semiconductor equipment makers, chip designers, hardware and computer companies in Silicon Valley, and one of the largest biotech clusters in the world around South San Francisco. These companies ship high-value, often time-critical goods: wafers, equipment parts, prototypes, clinical samples and research materials. We support them with air freight under our own air waybills via SFO, OAK and SJC, Next Flight Out for equipment parts, On-Board Courier for prototypes and samples, and temperature-controlled transport for biotech. Export controls and import data are prepared before shipping.
Operational logistics facts for San Francisco Bay Area
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | Widebody capacity to Asia and Europe | Main international air cargo gateway for Northern California |
| Oakland International Airport (OAK) | Express and freighter operations | Close to the Port of Oakland and East Bay industry |
| Port of Oakland | FCL/LCL containers, agricultural exports | Main container port in Northern California |
| South San Francisco biotech cluster | Clinical samples and research materials | Short distance to SFO for temperature-sensitive shipments |
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 Bay Area airport is best for my air freight?
SFO offers the most international widebody capacity, while Oakland (OAK) is strong for express and freighter routings and San Jose (SJC) is closest to Silicon Valley. We choose based on routing, capacity and delivery address, and book under our own air waybills.
Can you ship semiconductor equipment parts urgently from the Bay Area?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out from SFO or another suitable airport, prepare export documentation in advance and coordinate delivery at destination. For prototypes or very sensitive items, an On-Board Courier can carry the goods door to door.
How do you handle biotech samples from South San Francisco?
We agree the temperature range and packaging, such as dry ice or temperature-controlled containers, and book carriers that accept these shipments. Dangerous goods rules apply to dry ice, which we take into account in the booking and documentation.
Who clears customs for Bay Area imports?
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. Entries are filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through ACE, and you deal only with Ziem Logistics.
What export controls apply to tech shipments from Silicon Valley?
Semiconductors, equipment, software and technology may fall under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and some destinations or end users require an export licence. The exporter determines the classification; we check the documents and file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) through AES.
Do biological samples imported via SFO need special permits?
Some do. Depending on the material, permits may be required from agencies such as the CDC or USDA, and FDA rules can apply. We review the product description with you before shipping so that the required permits are available when the shipment arrives.