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Shipping to Israel can be difficult; however Sonigo International can make it easy for you. Based in Ashdod, Israel, we specialize in shipping to Israel. This simple overview will familiarize you with shipping to Israel. Feel free to contact one of our Shipping to Israel Specialists to review your particular needs.
1 - Shipping to Israel - Types and methods of shipments
2 - Shipping to Israel - Time in Transit
3 - Shipping to Israel - Import Duties and Rights Packages
4 - Shipping to Israel - Israeli Port Concerns
5 - Shipping to Israel - What not to ship
When shipping to Israel, there are several basic options:
A - Sea Shipping
B - Air Shipping
C - Door To Door Shipping to Israel
D - Port To Door Shipping to Israel
E - Door To Port Shipping to Israel
F - Port To Port Shipping to Israel
A - Sea Shipping to Israel
Most people and companies choose sea shipping to Israel. While cost effective, this service is much slower than Air Shipping. Sea Ports are designed to handle large volume, and both Commercial and Personal imports are handled on a daily basis.
When shipping to Israel by sea, you can ship a full container, or a partial container (you pay for space used in a container filled with other cargo). Consolidated containers must be emptied at the port and cleared through customs individually.
Ports of entry are Haifa, Ashdod, and Eilat.
B - Air Shipping to Israel
More expensive than sea shipping to Israel, air shipments move much faster. For valuable shipments, artwork, new appliances or electronics, the individual shipping to Israel, might want to consider this option.
Airport of entry is Ben Gurion Airport
C - Door To Door Shipping to Israel (Best for Personal Import/Moving/relocation to Israel)
As the name implies, this type of service generally includes pick-up and packing at your origin, all the way to delivery and unloading at your destination. Please note: many foreign companies offer door-to-door shipping to Israel, but, will NOT INCLUDE "destination Port Fees" in their "Door-to-Door" price. Israel Port Facilities are "Open Shuk", so it is vital to get those port fees in writing BEFORE shipping to Israel. Since Sonigo International is based in Israel, we always list these fees in writing on your estimate.
D - Port To Door Shipping to Israel
This option is usually offered to commercial importers who are buy goods from overseas manufacturers. The advantage to this option is Sonigo will calculate not just sea freight and delivery to your door, but also Israeli Port Fees. For individuals with already packed goods who are shipping to Israel, this option will save the cost of pick-up. You would actually drop the goods off at our warehouse, not the port facility.
E - Door To Port Shipping to Israel
This option is best for large commercial importers to Israel who have in-house customs clearers and their own fleet of trucks. This is not suggested for individuals or small business shipping to Israel, as the seemingly lower price does not include fees that ultimately you will need to pay (such as Israeli Port Fees).
F - Port To Port Shipping to Israel
This option is best for large commercial importers to Israel who have in-house customs clearers and their own fleet of trucks. This is not suggested for individuals or small business shipping to Israel, as the seemingly lower price does not include fees that ultimately you will need to pay (such as Israeli Port Fees).
When shipping to Israel, the time in transit will vary depending on Type (sea or air), Origin, Full or Consolidated container load, National Holidays, and (of course) if there is a strike, slowdown, or other rare event.
It is strongly advised to have all needed documentation to us before the goods arrive so there are no delays with customs (meches) or the clearing process. Commercial shippers who are shipping to Israel should have all Ishurs and a "pre-approval" from Meches BEFORE the shipment leaves.
When shipping to Israel, if you can avoid having your goods arrive during a "Chag" or "Chol Hamoed" (Holiday) it may be worth it. Meches is closed most holidays, and your shipment can not clear customs while Meches is closed. For Full Containers and Air Shipments, this can cause expensive storage charges (which you will be billed), so speak with one of our Shipping to Israel Specialists regarding your specific needs.
As a general rule, when shipping to Israel by air, please allow 7-14 days door-to-door.
If you are shipping to Israel by sea, the following chart is a good guideline.
| Origin |
Time in Transit FCL |
Time in Transit LCL * |
| Australia |
5-7 weeks |
7-9 weeks |
| South America |
6-8 weeks |
8-10 weeks |
| North America (East Coast Departure) |
4-6 weeks |
6-8 weeks |
| North America (West Coast Departure) |
6-8 weeks |
8-10 weeks |
| Great Britain |
2-4 weeks |
6-8 weeks |
| France |
2-4 weeks |
6-8 weeks |
| Southern Europe |
2-4 weeks |
6-8 weeks |
| Northern Europe |
2-4 weeks |
6-8 weeks |
| Eastern Europe |
3-5 weeks |
7-9 weeks |
| China |
2-3 weeks |
5-7 weeks |
| Mediterranean Ports |
3 days to 1 week |
1-3 weeks |
As a rule, all imports to Israel are subject to import duties. There are some notable exceptions. Please download our informative sheet "Import Duties and Rights in Israel" for more information.
Commercial Entities shipping to Israel should have all needed "Ishurim", labeling requirements, and a pre-ruling from Meches Before the shipment leaves.
When shipping to Israel, there are several concerns regarding Israeli ports, as reviewed below:
Port Fees - Israeli Ports and Facilities charge fees for the work they do. These fees are not all regulated, so you must get them in writing before shipping to Israel. Sonigo ALWAYS puts these fees in writing, and because of the volume of business we do with Israeli Ports, the fees we get charged (and charge you) are often times much lower than other companies shipping to Israel will bill you (and even up to 70% lower than you will pay if you get billed directly from the port facilities).
Storage fees - All shipments must clear customs and be removed from the port before a certain period of time (see below) or you will have to pay storage fees. When shipping to Israel, consider these time periods and charges:
Air Shipments - Storage fees start the day the shipment arrives.
Full Container Sea Shipments - Storage starts 4 days after the shipment arrives
Consolidated Sea Shipments (LCL) - Storage starts 30 days after shipment arrives.
Air shipments are billed storage according to weight and volume, as well as time in storage. Please ask your Sonigo Shipping to Israel Specialist to give an estimate of Storage at Ben Gurion. These charges can add up quickly, so time your shipment accordingly. (We don't want it arriving on the first day of Pesach, for example)
Full Container Sea Shipments are billed on a daily basis, after 4 days free. Each week (from 2-5) shows an increase in the Daily Storage charge. There is also a separate charge for container rental (Demurrage) which varies depending on the Ship Lines used. Because of these two charges, the cost of keeping a container in storage for (about) 2 weeks exceeds the cost of unloading the container and re-loading the goods onto a truck. If you will not be ready to accept delivery on a full container load as soon as it clears customs, or if you will not be able to supply us the needed documents before the container arrives in Israel, please let your Shipping to Israel Specialist know BEFORE deciding on a full container versus a consolidated shipment.
Consolidated Sea Shipments (LCL) - Israeli Port Facilities allow 30 days of free storage on LCL loads. After 30 days, you get billed $2.00 Plus Ma'am (15.5%) per Metric Ton Per Day. While the bonded port warehouses are suitable for short-term storage (30-60 days) they are not designed for long term storage. Please ask your Sonigo Shipping to Israel Specialist about storing goods in our clean, secure, private warehouse once your goods have cleared customs.
Strikes/Slowdowns -
Since privatization of the Israeli Ports, long-term strikes have been less common, however short (2-3 day) strikes and "Slowdowns" have become more common. This doesn't seem to have settled any labor-management disagreements, but it has caused some additional fees, such as unplanned storage charges (see above) and "Congestion" charges. As of this writing (July 2007), Sonigo includes congestion as part of our charges, however other companies that are not shipping to Israel regularly may not.
Customs/Security Inspections -
Very few (about 4%) of shipments coming into Israel get inspected, however it does happen. There will be associated charges that are not included in your estimate. If your shipper tells you there was a customs inspection, you can verify with meches that this did, in fact, happen.
Some tips to help avoid this:
Do not self-load the container for personal imports to Israel.
Limit the number of owner packed boxes.
Fill out the customs declaration accurately and honestly.
Do not import goods for other people in your own name.
Do not import items listed below (see 6 - Shipping to Israel - What not to ship)
When shipping to Israel, follow these guidelines of what not to bring:
- Guns or Firearms
- Explosives or flammables
- Gas appliances with a Pilot Light
- Corrosive Chemicals
- Pornography
Also, check with your Shipping to Israel Specialist about limitations on the following items:
- Motor Vehicles
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Food Products
- More than 4 of any type or new item when doing a personal import
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