Shipping from US to Singapore

The US is the world’s largest trading nation with Singapore as one of their top 30 trading partners. As reported from the Department of Statistics Singapore, total imports from the US added up to a total of S$71.3 billion in 2020.

Besides being a trading partner, Singaporeans also enjoy shopping from overseas. Out of all overseas purchases, 20% of cross-border purchases are from the US.

This page will help you to understand the items you can import from the US into Singapore. You can also explore the different shipment modes and familiarise yourself with the steps needed when engaging a freight forwarder.

Preparing to ship your cargo from US to Singapore? Just drop us an enquiry to get a quote today!

Contact Us

Items Commonly Shipped From US To Singapore

As the world’s second busiest port, both the public and private sectors of Singapore ship a wide variety of imports.

The government imports the following items, either for resale or the country’s use, from the US:

  • Machinery
  • Petroleum products 
  • Medical equipment

Corporations play an important part in the shipping industry by shipping the following from US:

  • Chemicals 
  • Gems and precious metals
  • Electronic equipment 
  • Motor vehicles 

From a consumer’s perspective, the US is one of the top online shopping destinations for Singaporeans. In fact, some items are also cheaper to buy from the US.

Common Prohibited Items To Be Exported From US

There are many items that are prohibited from being exported from the US to any country. The list of prohibited items below is exhaustive but not limited to:

Common Prohibited Items To Be Imported To Singapore

There are many commonly prohibited items in Singapore. Prohibition is mainly caused by the negative effects of these products on the economy and to its citizen’s well being. These items include but is not limited to:

Ammunition
Bank bills, currency (coin excluded)
Corpses, cremated or disinterred remains
Ammunition not allowed for import
Bank bills not allowed for import
Corpses not allowed for import
Fireworks
Ivory
Marijuana, including marijuana intended for medicinal use
Fireworks not allowed for import
Ivory not allowed for import
Marijuana not allowed for import
Hemp-based products (including cannabidiol [CBD])
Counterfeits
Explosives
Hemp-based products not allowed for import
Counterfeits not allowed for import
Explosives not allowed for import

Shipment Modes For Shipping From US To Singapore

The two most practical modes of transporting your goods from the US to Singapore are air and sea freight. Other than these, land transportation via trucking may be used to transport your goods door-to-door smoothly.

Air Freight

Air freight is the shipping of goods via transport planes. It is the most ideal way if you need your goods to reach their destination quickly. Air freight usually takes about 3 to 8 days to clear customs and reach the destination.

Sea Freight

Sea freight is the transportation of goods between ports by cargo ships, and is the most selected shipping option by traders. Your goods will be packed into LCL or FCL containers before sailing to their destination.

Sea freight from the US to Singapore typically takes around 27 to 46 days, depending on the departure point.

LCL shipping

For LCL shipping, you will pay a flat rate and share the space of the container with other shippers’ products. Shipping period can be longer as all cargos will have to be consolidated from the US and unconsolidated in Singapore.

FCL shipping

If FCL is used, you will pay for the entire container and can decide if you would like to fill it completely. FCL can be faster and more cost-effective for shipping of large cargos.

Trucking

Trucking is also known as land transportation, where goods are transported by trucks. It is generally used to move goods locally, over the border or port to a warehouse. This will be used for last mile delivery of goods to their designated location.

Do you want to find out which shipping method is most cost effective for you? Get in touch with our advisors today!

Contact Us

How To Ship From US To Singapore Using Freight Forwarder

There are five simple steps to take in order to ship your goods over to Singapore.

  • Step 1: Contact your preferred freight forwarder

    Send an email with the following details:

    • Mode of transport
    • Movement type
    • Package type, size (length, width, height), weight and quantity
    • Cargo type

    You should take into account the number of days required for air freight or sea freight. This will give you an estimate of the time needed to inform your freight forwarder of the details above.

  • Step 2: Approve quotation provided

    Your freight forwarder will prepare a quotation for you. At this stage, you may look at the proposal and decide if you would like to negotiate any terms.

    Once you and your freight forwarder have an agreement of terms, a written contract and purchase order will be formed.

  • Step 3: Prepare documents

    There will be many documents required for international cargo delivery, however your freight forwarder will guide you along.

    The documentation will include:

    • Bill of lading
    • Commercial invoice
    • Certificate of origin
    • Inspection certificate
    • Export licence
    • Export packing list
    • Export declaration
    • Letter of credit – if applicable
    • Insurance certificate
    • Declaration of hazardous cargo – if applicable

    Other than the preparation of documents, your freight forwarder should also inform you about customs clearance. They can also arrange freight insurance for you.

  • Step 4: Goods will be transported to port

    Your goods will be transferred from their original location to the freight forwarder’s warehouse before export custom clearance. Once your goods are cleared for export, they will be transported to the port and leave the country of origin.

  • Step 5: Goods are shipped

    Your goods will be shipped via air or sea according to your preference to the destination location. Import custom clearance will be handled by your freight forwarder. Once the cargo reaches the destination safely, it will be transferred to the import warehouse, then to the final destination.

Why choose M&P International Freights?

M&P International Freights has a vast international network and extensive experience in providing one-stop freight shipping services.

Additionally, we also provide container trucking, chartering, trans-shipment, pick and pack warehousing and logistic freight services.

Reliable and Experienced

We have been in the industry since 2006 and proud to have serviced a multitude of clients from different industries.

You will have a personal consultant attached to you, so that you can be updated along the way.

Adaptable To Changes

Having been in the industry since 2006, we have an expansive network of service providers.

Our network has allowed us to adapt to challenges in the industry and build a high level of independence.

Personalised Freight Solutions

As every client’s shipping needs are different, we will advise on the suitable freight methods and route based on the shipping requirements.

At M&P, we will find solutions to ensure that the shipping plans are tailored to your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When shipping items from the US to Singapore, air freight usually takes between 3 to 8 days, while sea freight takes between 27 to 46 days.

Air freight and sea freight will have different costs.

Air freight
The cost of air freight is dependent on the total weight of the cargo and distance travelled. For an estimate, air freight can cost about S$1.90 to S$2.60 per kg.

Sea freight
LCL and FCL sea freight rates are calculated differently. It is advised to choose FCL if your cargo is larger than 15 CBM.

  • LCL

LCL sea freight cargo is priced on the total chargeable volume in CBM. Also depending on the route, the cost for LCL ranges between $25 and $140 per CBM.

  • FCL

FCL sea cargo is calculated per container from port-to-port, and will vary based on the distance travelled.

For example, the shipping cost of a 20” container can range between USD$5,700 and USD$15,000. For a 40” container, it can range between USD$10,000 to USD$22,000.

There are no taxes and duties for exporting from the US.

Duties are levied on goods imported into Singapore at a general rate, which is 20% of the goods’ custom value. However, there are specific rates for these 4 categories:

  • Intoxicating liquors
  • Tobacco products
  • Motor vehicles
  • Petroleum products and biodiesel blends

There are taxes for both non-dutiable and dutiable goods imported to Singapore. For non-dutiable goods, tax will be 7% x Customs value or Last Selling Price (LSP). For dutiable goods, tax will be 7% x (Customs value or LSP + duties payable).