San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Customs clearance in San Francisco Bay Area
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from San Francisco Bay Area. 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 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 |
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.
Clearance through the Ziem network in the United States
In the United States, customs entries are filed by a partner team in the Ziem network. They work under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures; our operations desk prepares the shipment data and remains your contact for the whole shipment.
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.
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in the United States can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
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.