More than 1.1 million revenue tons of cargo moved through the Port of Guam during the 2022 fiscal year.

 

If your shipment will join this year’s count—or it’s one of the ~20,000 yearly metric tons headed for A.B. Won Pat International Airport—you might find yourself wondering how long it will take your freight to arrive on Guam.

 

Below, we’ll walk you through the air freight and ocean freight transit times from common Guam origin and destination points. These transit times will give you a solid idea for how long it will take your freight to arrive. We’ll also walk you through the answers to a few frequently asked questions about Guam freight to give you a solid foundation on the overall topic.

 

If you’re looking for more exact timing, we suggest reaching out to one of our Guam freight experts. They can put together a timeline for your particular scenario. They’d also be happy to help add ease to your next Guam freight project.

 

In This Article:

Frequently Asked Questions About Guam Freight

Air Freight Transit Times to Guam

If you need your freight fast, air freight will be your best bet for moving cargo to Guam. Although it is the fastest freight mode, it can also be the most expensive.

 

As a result, most people send high-value or time-sensitive goods via air freight. Freight such as electronics; precision instruments; textiles and leather; pharmaceuticals; high-end accessories like handbags and jewelry; fresh meat and seafood; and medical/surgical equipment are all often sent via air freight.

 

How Fast Is Air Freight to Guam?

2-4 Days

Air freight can arrive on Guam as quickly as two to four days.

If you’re looking to save a little money, you might consider an air freight consolidation. In partnership with our sister company, DeWitt Guam, we offer weekly air freight consolidations to Guam. If we have your freight at our terminal by noon on Thursday, it will arrive on Guam by Monday.

 

To learn more about our weekly air freight consolidations to Guam, just reach out for a quote.

Ocean Freight Transit Times to Guam

Although it’s slower than air freight, ocean freight is the most budget-friendly mode for moving cargo to Guam. For heavy, dense, or oversized items, ocean freight may also be your only option for getting freight to Guam.

 

A Note About Transit Times

Keep in mind that transit time refers to the time a vessel takes to go from one port to the next. Transit times don’t include the cut-off for receiving freight or time unloading at the destination port. Nor does it include time for any customs procedures or retrieving the container and delivering your freight.

 

To get a full picture of how long it will take your freight to get to Guam, add a few days on either end of the transit time

How long does it take freight to arrive in Guam?

When you take into account the cut-off time—and the time it takes for the container to be offloaded, cleared through customs, and made available for pickup or delivery—you’re probably looking at three weeks to receive your freight on Guam. Let’s take a closer look at some of the common origin and destination points so we can nail down a timeline:

  • Los Angeles, CA > Guam 2 Weeks
  • Honolulu, HI > Guam 7 Days
  • Okinawa, Japan > Guam 3-4 Weeks
  • Busan, Korea > Guam 7-8 Days

Guam > Mainland

2½-3 Weeks

Freight heading from Guam to Los Angeles takes approximately 18-21 days, port to port. If your freight is headed for another West Coast port, you’ll need to account for additional transit time.

  • Guam > Los Angeles 18-21 Days
  • Guam > Oakland 24-29 Days
  • Guam > Seattle 36-40 Days

If you don’t have enough for a full container load, you might choose to send an LCL (less-than-container load) shipment from Guam, also called a consolidation. In that case, you’re looking at the following average transit times:

  • Guam > West Coast 6-9 Weeks
  • Guam > East Cost 8-11 Weeks

Guam > Hawaii

3-4 Weeks

Freight headed eastbound from Guam to Honolulu can take as long as three to four weeks. Rather than heading straight to Honolulu, the freight often takes a more circuitous route through Asia first.

Guam > Japan

3 Days

Freight headed from Guam to Naha Harbor in Okinawa can arrive in as little as three days.

Guam > Korea

6 Days

If you’re moving cargo from Guam to Busan expect a transit time of six days.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guam Freight

Yes, all shipments to Guam must be accompanied by documentation, since all freight will clear through the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA).

Our experts will help you assemble the right paperwork so your shipment clears quickly and efficiently.

Yes. There are items that are completely prohibited from entry to Guam, and items that are restricted but may be imported in compliance with the CQA’s guidelines.

Prohibited Items – The following items may not be imported to Guam:

  • All food items, including things like dried food, spices, perishables, meats, and liquids
  • Narcotics and dangerous drugs
  • Pornography
  • Misbranded articles
  • Hazardous articles, including fireworks
  • Toxic and poisonous substances
  • Endangered species and artifacts
  • Rooted plants, flowers, soil, and fruits
  • Non-DOT approved tires

Restricted Items – Although many of these are more common in household goods shipments, it’s always good to be aware of these restrictions, just in case:

  • Guam law allows the import of up to four legally authorized firearms for personal use. Ammunition is strictly prohibited, and documentation is required.
  • An individual 21 years and older can bring in one gallon (3.8 liters) of alcoholic beverages. Any amount in excess will result in a 4% duty based on the value of the alcohol and the cost of the ocean freight of the entire shipment.
  • Only normal required quantities of medicines and narcotics are acceptable for import, provided they are supported by a prescription or statement from a personal physician. They must also be properly identified. Narcotics listed under Schedule I, II and III of the Controlled Substance Act are generally prohibited. Severe penalties will be imposed if these substances are improperly imported.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. A few up-front questions can save a lot of time down the line.

Guam is a U.S. territory, so shipments between another U.S. destination and Guam are not considered international by most carriers.

However, since Guam operates its own Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA), freight shipments headed to Guam from a U.S. destination still need to be accompanied by proper documentation.

Eastbound freight from Guam to the U.S. also needs to clear U.S. customs at the first point of entry.

Yes, shipments headed for Guam are processed by Guam’s Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA). When you’re shipping freight to Guam, we’ll help you prepare the correct paperwork you’ll need for customs clearance.

Additionally, if you need assistance clearing customs—or if your container is selected for inspection—we have on-the-ground resources in Guam to assist. Our sister company, DeWitt Guam, even operates a Container Freight Station (CFS) on Guam, where your container can be securely unloaded for inspection (if necessary).

In other words, if your freight hits any snags in Guam, we’ve got the resources to assist.

Guam Freight Made Easy

We’d love to help with your next freight project to Guam, including preparing a precise timetable so you know exactly when your shipment will arrive. We’ve been moving freight to Guam since 1991, and we’d be happy to help make your next Guam freight shipment simple and easy.

 

Just reach out for a complimentary quote to get started.

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