Container Shipping to and from Italy

In the past several years, Italy has had a significant increase in export cargo, and it is more export than import oriented. At Twill, we offer both export and import logistics solutions, so you, as a customer, can rely on a single point of contact for all your logistic needs.

We have a dedicated team that will do anything you might need for importing or exporting your cargo to and from Italy directly from/to your warehouse. This includes inland transport, ocean freight, customs services, cargo protection and any other services that will match your logistics needs.

Please note that when exporting goods from Italy, it is mandatory to weigh the container and advise your carrier and/or terminal port representatives prior to loading it. This is called Verified Gross Mass (VGM). You can find more information around the VGM in our FAQs.

In Italy, there are two common modes of transportation – Rail and Truck:

• The use of trucks is common for short distances within 300km distance and urgently required cargo. The transit time from port to door is between 24-48 hours.

• The Italian ports also have extensive access to the rail network. Therefore, a large volume of containers is transported by rail in Italy. Especially from Liguria, you have a variety of rail departures to several inland container yards where the transfer for the last mile by truck takes place. Rail-road saves CO2 and logistics costs. The transit time by railroad is 48-72 hours.

The preferred modes of transport for your pre-/on-carriage are available on Twill. Check out Inland Transportation now.

Transit times can vary depending on the vessel schedule, whether containers need to be connected to other vessels on their journey and how many ports are on the route. But Italy has a good connection and transit time to the USA. For example, the transit time from Genoa to Newark takes 13 days.

If you want to ship a container from China to Italy, it takes approximately 28 days from a main port like Shanghai. From a smaller port like Nanjing, it will take longer as this normally requires moving the container on a connecting vessel to a Chinese main port first. It will then be loaded onto an international (Mother) vessel to Italy.

The summer peak season in Italy typically runs from May to August. Being August a summer holiday month, we recommend you ship your cargo before that timeframe as most of the local activities are usually closed for two-three weeks.

Another peak period is in October and November, before Christmas when most of the cargo is usually exported from Italy. While in December imports have their peak season due to the arrival of shipments.

At Twill, we specialise in shipping your cargo from door to door, over land and sea. Cargo insurance is not required to ship to or from Italy, but cargo transportation can entail various risks. So, you should always keep in mind which Incoterms you have agreed on with your supplier.

If you're shipping your cargo overseas, it’s best for you to know that you are quickly being compensated if your cargo is damaged or lost. That's why Twill offers Value Protect, giving you peace of mind as your cargo is protected while being transported with us. When you add Value Protect, it is easier and simpler to make claims compared to traditional insurance. It helps you avoid the many difficulties and annoyances that businesses face when shipping cargo while protecting it from risk and damage.

The customs clearance process can differ from country-to-country and port-to-port. At Twill, in Italy, we realise the need to get your goods through customs and we understand the importance of getting your goods through customs without complications. That’s why we support you all the way and handle Customs Services for you. You can easily add Twill Customs Services to your booking via our platform.

For this service you will need the following documents when shipping to or from Italy:

• Commercial invoice(s)

• Packing List(s)

• HS codes of the cargo

• Bill Of Lading

Find more information about these documents here.

The most common ocean trade lanes are from China to Italy.

Italy also has good connections to the USA, especially from Genova with short transit time and direct lines. The biggest logistic area is Lombardia, where most of the cargos is moved in a truck mode.