Sea and air freight from the USA to Ghana
Full container (FCL). A 20ft or 40ft container loaded at your supplier, your home or a warehouse near a US East Coast or Gulf port. Most cargo to Ghana sails from New York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah or Houston. From roughly 15 cubic metres upward, a full container is usually the better value.
Shared container (LCL). Your pallets or cartons travel with other shippers' cargo and you pay for the space you use. A good fit for a first order, a few pallets of stock or a small household move. See FCL vs LCL shipping for how to choose.
Air freight. For samples, spare parts, documents and urgent stock, flown into Accra International Airport. Charged by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
Online purchases and personal effects vs commercial cargo
Many people shipping cargo to Ghana from the USA are sending online purchases, gifts or household goods rather than trade stock. We arrange collection at origin or receipt through our agents at origin, so goods bought from several US stores can be consolidated into one shipment with one set of documents.
Ghana Customs treats these two kinds of shipment differently, so tell us at the start which one yours is:
- Personal effects are used household and personal items for your own use. A returning resident may qualify for relief on used effects, subject to conditions, so keep receipts and a clear inventory.
- Commercial cargo is anything for resale or business use. It needs a commercial invoice, a packing list and your TIN or Ghana Card number, and duty is assessed on the full value.
New goods in quantity, even if bought online, are usually treated as commercial. Mixing the two in one box without declaring it clearly is a common cause of delays at Tema.
US export filing before your cargo leaves
The United States has its own export rules. Electronic Export Information (EEI) must be filed in the Automated Export System (AES) when any single Schedule B line on the shipment is worth more than USD 2,500, or when the goods need an export licence, whatever the value. Used vehicles also need an EEI filing.
The filing is made by the US exporter or by the forwarder on their behalf, and it must be done before the cargo is loaded. A missing filing can stop a container at the US port. When you book with us, our agents at origin check whether a filing is needed and prepare it with the exporter.
Shipping a car from US auctions to Ghana
Cars bought at US auctions such as salvage and dealer sales are a large part of the traffic from America to Tema. Check three things before you bid:
- Age: from 1 October 2026 Ghana no longer admits used vehicles more than 15 years from their date of manufacture.
- Condition: flood, fire and salvage damaged vehicles are refused, which rules out many cheap auction lots.
- Inspection: each used vehicle must be inspected before shipping by a body approved by the Ghana Standards Authority.
US cars are left-hand drive, which Ghana requires. The original title must also be presented to US Customs at the export port ahead of loading. Estimate the duty with our vehicle duty calculator and read more on car shipping to Ghana.
How long it takes and what drives the cost
By sea, plan for about 25 to 40 days from a US port to Tema, depending on the shipping line and transhipment, plus time for collection in the USA and clearance in Ghana. By air, about 3 to 7 days.
The cost of shipping from the USA to Ghana is made up of US inland haulage to the port, ocean or air freight, Ghana import duty and taxes, and local charges at Tema such as terminal handling, shipping line fees and delivery. For commercial goods duty is usually the largest part. Use the import duty calculator to estimate it, and keep your containers moving so storage and demurrage do not build up.
Clearance at Tema and door to door delivery
As a licensed customs broker, we prepare your declaration in ICUMS before the vessel arrives, arrange any permits, pay the duty on your behalf if you want us to, and deliver to your home, shop or warehouse in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi or anywhere in Ghana. One team handles the freight, the clearing at Tema and the last mile, and you can follow every step on our tracking page.
Questions
How long does shipping from the USA to Ghana take?
By sea, about 25 to 40 days port to port from the US East Coast or Gulf, depending on the shipping line and transhipment. Add a few days for collection in the USA and clearance at Tema. Air freight usually takes about 3 to 7 days.
How much does it cost to ship from the USA to Ghana?
It depends on the volume or weight, sea or air, how far the goods are from a US port, the type of goods and the duty band in Ghana. Send your cargo details through our quote form for a price covering freight, clearance and delivery, and use the duty calculator to estimate the duty.
Can I ship a car I bought at a US auction to Ghana?
Yes, provided it is not more than 15 years from manufacture, has no flood, fire or salvage damage, and passes a GSA-approved pre-shipment inspection. Check these points before you bid, because a refused vehicle is costly to re-export.
Do I need to file EEI in AES?
Yes, when any single Schedule B line is worth more than USD 2,500, when the goods need an export licence, and for used vehicles. Our agents at origin check this with the exporter before loading.
Do you offer door to door shipping from the USA to Ghana?
Yes. We arrange collection at origin, the sea or air freight, customs clearance at Tema or Accra airport, and delivery to your address anywhere in Ghana.
Will I pay duty on personal effects from the USA?
Used personal effects of returning residents may qualify for relief, subject to conditions. New goods and anything for resale are dutiable. Tell us what you are shipping and we will advise before it leaves.
Talk to our operations desk.
Send your documents or cargo details and we will reply with a full quote: freight, clearance and delivery on one page.