Shipping goods from the USA to Russia
From the USA the main options are air freight from the major hubs, with transfer in Istanbul or Dubai, and sea freight with transhipment in European ports such as Antwerp or Rotterdam to St Petersburg. There is no direct sea service to Russian ports, so the route is always multi-leg. Air takes 5–10 days to Moscow and sea 28–35 days. US export controls, together with the multi-leg route, mean that timing and feasibility depend on the specific product.
We work for US suppliers whose customers are in Russia or the CIS, and we only move items that may lawfully be exported. We collect in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta, book air or sea freight and clear the goods through Russian customs for your buyer. Shipments start at 50 kg, with no weight limit by air, and each item is checked by ECCN and against the OFAC and EAR lists before payment is made.
How we ship from the USA to Russia
Air freight
From any country in 2–8 days door to door via Istanbul or Dubai, charged by volumetric weight (1 m³ = 167 kg), no weight limit. Minimum service fee €200.
Transit times to Moscow
| Mode | Door to door |
|---|---|
| Sea (via port) | 28–35 days |
| Air | 2–8 days |
What suppliers ship from the USA to Russia
Enquiries from the USA typically concern industrial components and spare parts, laboratory and medical equipment, instruments and agricultural machinery parts. Many items in these categories require an export licence or cannot be exported to Russia at all, so every enquiry starts with classification and a compliance check before anything else is agreed.
Where we collect from the USA
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Atlanta and any other address.
Export formalities
US exports follow their own rules: each item needs an ECCN classification, the counterparties must be screened against the OFAC and EAR lists, and some items require an export licence. We carry out this check before your customer pays — otherwise the goods cannot leave the country and the money is tied up. The US export filing is made by the exporter or its agent at dispatch, and we clear the goods in Russia for your buyer.
How it works for you as a supplier
- 1Quote within 2 hours
Send the invoice or packing list — we check the HS codes against EU sanctions lists and quote transport, export formalities and customs clearance in Russia. - 2Collection from your premises
We pick up the goods from your warehouse or factory and take them to our consolidation warehouse or load a dedicated truck. - 3Export declaration
We lodge the export declaration on your behalf and send you the MRN and the proof of exit — the basis for zero-rating VAT. - 4Delivery to your customer
Border crossing, customs clearance in Russia and delivery to your buyer’s warehouse; tracking at every stage.
Practical tips
- Send the ECCN, HS code and end use with your enquiry — we check them before your customer pays.
- It is cheaper to decline at the quoting stage than to ship goods that will be stopped in transit.
- For medical products and pharmaceuticals, agree temperature-controlled handling at the booking stage.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from the USA to Russia take?
Air freight via Istanbul or Dubai takes 5–10 days to Moscow. Sea freight via Antwerp or Rotterdam to St Petersburg takes 28–35 days. Timing also depends on the compliance checks required for the specific product.
How can my Russian customer pay me?
Through our supplier-payment service, once the goods have passed export-control screening: the Russian buyer pays an agent under an agency agreement, and a partner company resident in the EU transfers the invoice amount to you by SWIFT. Payments for sanctioned goods or to listed parties are not made.
Which documents and checks are needed?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, prices and Incoterms, a packing list, the ECCN classification of each item, screening of all parties against the OFAC and EAR lists and, where required, an export licence. The US export filing is made at dispatch.
Can you ship any US product to Russia?
No. We only carry goods that are not subject to EU, UK, Swiss or US sanctions and that may lawfully be exported under US rules. Items that need a licence which has not been granted, dual-use goods and listed parties are declined.