Ship cargo, machinery or household goods from the USA to South Korea

It depends on the US origin, the container size, the commodity, and whether collection is needed. Busan is one of the best-served ports in the world from the United States, which helps both cost and schedule. As a direct NVOCC we quote the carrier rate rather than a resold one. Get a free quote in 24 to 48 hours.

Book direct with the carrier and fill the container, since ocean freight is charged on the box rather than on what is inside it. If you cannot fill one, ask about consolidation, which splits the container cost between shipments instead of making you pay for empty space.

Usually because they are broker quotes that move once booked, or they exclude collection, loading, or the export filing. Ask what is included and who issues the bill of lading. A company that cannot issue one in its own name is reselling somebody else's space with a margin on top.

It scales with distance from the origin to our loading warehouse in New Jersey, Savannah, Houston, or Baltimore. Transpacific routings behave differently from Atlantic ones, so where the cargo starts affects the routing as well as the trucking cost. We include the figure in the quote.

Import duty where applicable, value added tax, port handling, your customs broker's fee, and inland delivery. These are assessed and charged in Korea. Our quote covers the US side and the ocean leg to the port of discharge.

The Korea Customs Service defines a person moving to Korea as a foreigner or overseas Korean who intends to live in Korea for at least one year, or six months if accompanied by family members. That shorter period for accompanied families is more accommodating than most countries offer.

KCS states that among moving goods, goods used overseas for more than three months are subject to duty exemption unless they are subject to mandatory taxation. Three months is much shorter than the twelve months many countries require, so recently bought household items can often still qualify.

KCS confirms duration for foreigners through the alien registration card issued by the immigration officer, or the visa before the card is issued, or domestic employment contracts. Have that documentation ready, because it is what establishes your entitlement rather than the shipment itself.

No. Personal effects cannot be customs cleared prior to the owner of the goods arriving in Korea. This shapes the whole timeline, because a container that lands before you do simply waits, accruing storage. Tell us your arrival date at quote stage and we will time the sailing to it.

Very likely. Incoming shipments other than diplomatic ones are subject to open inspection by the Korean customs authority, and clearance normally takes place at a customs bonded warehouse. A clear, accurate, itemised inventory in English speeds this up considerably. Vague packing lists slow it down.

Typically your passport showing photo, entry stamp and long-term visa pages, a detailed inventory in English, the bill of lading, and your alien registration card once issued. Your Korean agent will confirm the exact set. Prepare the inventory carefully, since it is what the inspection is checked against.

Yes, and they differ by category. KCS sets arrival windows tied to events such as renunciation of overseas permanent resident status, cancellation of foreign nationality, or restoration of Korean nationality. If you fall into one of those categories, confirm your specific window with a Korean customs broker before shipping.

Yes, full container load commercial cargo from any US origin is routine on this lane. Tell us the commodity, weight and volume and we will quote it. Korean clearance runs electronically through the Korea Customs Service UNI-PASS platform, which makes the process comparatively predictable.

Yes. Depending on size and weight we ship containerised, on flat-rack, or by heavy haulage, with dismantling and securing where required. Gwangyang and Ulsan often suit machinery and project cargo better than Busan, depending on the final site.

US-origin goods may qualify for preferential tariff treatment, which depends on providing acceptable origin certification to Korean Customs. Because trade arrangements between the two countries have been subject to change and review, confirm the current position and the exact certification required with your Korean broker rather than relying on any published summary.

Generally a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and origin certification supporting any preferential claim. Records demonstrating that goods qualify as US-origin should be retained. Your Korean importer of record makes the claim, so coordinate with them before shipping rather than after arrival.

Consolidation is available on request. For smaller commercial shipments it is often considerably cheaper than paying for a full container you cannot fill. Tell us the volume and weight and we will advise whether consolidation or a 20ft container works out better for your cargo.

Yes, by flat-rack, breakbulk or heavy haulage depending on the piece. Korea's industrial ports handle heavy lift well, which makes this an easier destination for oversized cargo than many. Lead times are longer because suitable sailings are less frequent, so plan ahead.

Busan for most cargo, since it is the principal container port with the heaviest direct US service. Incheon serves Seoul and the capital region. Gwangyang and Ulsan serve the southern industrial belt. Tell us the inland destination and we will route it accordingly.

It is one of the largest container ports in the world and a major transshipment hub for northeast Asia, which means high sailing frequency and better schedule reliability than most destinations we serve. For a shipper, that translates into more options and fewer surprises.

Our warehouses in New Jersey, Savannah, Houston and Baltimore all serve this lane, though transpacific routings behave differently from Atlantic ones. Which loading point suits depends on where the cargo originates and which service is running at the time.

The transpacific lane into Busan is high-frequency and generally predictable, though transit depends on the US loading port, the carrier's schedule and any transshipment. Breakbulk and flat-rack cargo takes longer because suitable sailings are less frequent. We give a concrete timeline with the quote.

Our service ends at the port of discharge. Inland delivery is arranged by your Korean customs broker, who is also handling clearance. Note that container access within central Seoul is restricted, so cargo is commonly de-vanned and trans-loaded, which your agent will arrange.

Korea is a left-hand-drive country, so American vehicles suit the road configuration directly with no conversion question. Import eligibility, emissions and registration requirements are matters for your Korean customs broker. Tell us what you are moving and we will handle the ocean side.

Container shipping allows a vehicle and household effects to travel together, which suits relocations. Note that the vehicle must be listed on the detailed inventory with its full technical specifications, and it is treated differently from ordinary effects at clearance. Tell us the full contents at quote stage.

We do not carry live animals. Animals arriving in Korea are subject to quarantine on arrival and vaccination requirements well in advance, and this is handled through specialist services rather than ocean freight. Plants and agricultural products face their own controls and should be raised with your agent early.

Firearms, ammunition and explosive materials including fireworks require permission from the Korean authorities, and a range of other categories are controlled. Send us the full commodity list early, because a single restricted item can hold an entire container at the port.

We handle the US side, including the filing in the Automated Export System, known as AES or EEI. You provide the commercial invoice, packing list and ownership documents as applicable. Korean import duty, VAT and clearance are handled at destination by your customs broker.

No. Clearance is handled by a licensed customs broker in Korea working through UNI-PASS. We are the ocean carrier, we deliver to the port of discharge, and we provide the documentation your broker needs. Businesses generally need to be registered importers to clear commercial cargo.

We are the NVOCC. Cassandra Logistics is a federally licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary under FMC license OTI No. 025125NF, legally Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. DBA Cassandra Logistics. The licence number is public and verifiable with the Federal Maritime Commission before you send anyone money.