United States
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Washington, D.C.
The Washington region is home to many defence and aerospace contractors with export-controlled shipments.
Services in Washington, D.C.
- Air freight in Washington, D.C.Air freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in Washington, D.C.FCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in Washington, D.C.Import 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 Washington, D.C.
- AirportWashington Dulles
IAD - SeaportPort of Baltimore
The Washington region has three main airports. Washington Dulles International (IAD) in northern Virginia carries most of the international air cargo, with widebody passenger and freighter flights to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) offers additional cargo and express capacity, while Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) is a domestic passenger airport. By sea, the Port of Baltimore serves the region; it handles containers at the Seagirt Marine Terminal and is one of the main US ports for ro-ro cargo such as vehicles and machinery.
The I-495 Capital Beltway encircles Washington, with I-95 running north to Baltimore and south to Richmond, I-66 west towards Dulles and I-270 north-west into Maryland. The Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Access Road connect the airport with the technology corridor in Reston and Tysons. CSX and Norfolk Southern serve the Port of Baltimore by rail.
Industries in Washington, D.C. and how we support them
The Washington region is home to federal government agencies, many defence and aerospace contractors and one of the largest data centre concentrations in the world in Loudoun County. These organisations ship electronics, server and network equipment, defence and space components and sensitive documents, often subject to US export controls. We support them with air freight under our own air waybills via IAD and BWI, Next Flight Out for urgent equipment, On-Board Courier for sensitive items, and sea freight through the Port of Baltimore. For export-controlled goods we check the documentation and licence references with you before shipping.
Operational logistics facts for Washington, D.C.
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | Widebody and freighter flights to Europe, the Middle East and Asia | Main international air cargo gateway for the capital region |
| Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) | Cargo and express capacity | Alternative airport for Maryland and Baltimore |
| Port of Baltimore | Containers, ro-ro and machinery | Sea freight gateway for the Mid-Atlantic |
| Loudoun County data centre corridor | Server, network and power equipment | Close to Dulles for urgent data centre hardware |
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
Do you route Washington air freight via Dulles or BWI?
Dulles (IAD) offers the widest range of international widebody and freighter flights, while BWI is often practical for Maryland and Baltimore. We choose the airport based on routing, capacity and delivery address, and book under our own air waybills.
Can you deliver urgent hardware to data centres in northern Virginia?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to IAD, file customs data in advance and arrange direct delivery to the data centre with partners familiar with security and access procedures. Please share the site's delivery requirements when booking.
How do you handle sensitive shipments for defence contractors?
We agree the handling requirements with you, use carriers suited to the goods and, where needed, an On-Board Courier who keeps the shipment under constant supervision. Export control documentation must be in place before departure, and we check it with you.
Who handles customs clearance for imports into the Washington region?
Clearance is done by a partner team in the Ziem network 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 defence and aerospace goods from Washington?
Defence articles are controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), administered by the State Department, while dual-use items fall under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The exporter determines the classification and obtains licences; we file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) with the correct references.
Can goods for government projects be imported duty-free?
Some can, under specific provisions, but this depends on the goods, the end user and the contract. Duty-free entry is not automatic. We recommend clarifying the applicable provisions with your contracting authority and providing the documents to us before shipping.