Port of New York & New Jersey

East Coast's premier gateway - Serving 30% of the US population

7.6M
TEUs Annually
#2
Busiest US Port
6
Major Terminals
$200B+
Annual Cargo Value

Terminal Complex Overview

Elizabeth Marine
  • • APM Terminal - 2.3M TEU capacity
  • • Maher Terminal - 1.8M TEU capacity
  • • Most Asia-US services call here
  • • Best rail connections inland
Port Newark
  • • Largest auto terminal in US
  • • Break bulk & project cargo
  • • Express rail to Midwest
  • • Closest to Newark Airport
GCT Bayonne
  • • Newest, most automated
  • • Handles largest vessels
  • • 50-foot channel depth
  • • Fastest truck processing

East vs West Coast Cost Analysis

Cost FactorNY/NJ PortLA/LB PortsDifference
Ocean Freight (China)$3,500-4,500/40'$2,000-3,000/40'+$1,500 avg
Transit Time (China)30-35 days15-20 days+15 days
Local Drayage$800-1,200$300-600+$500 avg
Rail to Midwest$1,200-1,500$2,000-2,500-$800 avg
Europe Shipping$1,500-2,000$3,500-4,500-$2,000 avg

Key Insight: NY/NJ is more expensive for Asia imports but saves significantly on Europe imports and distribution to Northeast/Midwest markets.

Calculate Total Landed Cost via NY/NJ

Include higher shipping costs and local charges for accurate East Coast importing

Navigating NY/NJ Port Complex

Truck Access & Requirements

  • • TWIC card required for all drivers
  • • Port registration mandatory ($100/year)
  • • Real-time appointment system (RFID)
  • • Multiple toll crossings ($15-95)
  • • Peak hours: 6-10 AM (avoid if possible)

Terminal Operating Hours

  • • Gates: Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM
  • • Saturday: 8 AM - 4 PM (varies)
  • • Reefer: 24/7 monitoring
  • • Customs: Mon-Fri 8 AM - 4 PM
  • • Holiday closures common

Common Challenges

  • • Chassis shortage frequent
  • • Weather delays (winter storms)
  • • Bridge weight restrictions
  • • Complex terminal navigation
  • • Union labor rules strict

Hidden Costs to Budget

  • • Toll roads: $50-95 per trip
  • • Detention: $150-300/hour after 2 hrs
  • • Chassis rental: $25-40/day
  • • Weekend gates: +50% surcharge
  • • Exam fees: $1,500-3,000 if selected

Distribution Advantages

Market Access from NY/NJ

Within 1 Day Trucking:

  • • New York City (8.3M population)
  • • Philadelphia (1.6M)
  • • Boston (700K)
  • • Washington DC (700K)
  • • Baltimore (600K)

Rail Connections:

  • • Chicago: 2-3 days
  • • Atlanta: 3-4 days
  • • Detroit: 2-3 days
  • • Columbus: 2 days
  • • Charlotte: 3 days

45% of US population within 24-hour delivery radius

NY/NJ Port Import FAQs

Major terminals: APM (Elizabeth) - largest, handles most Asia imports. Maher (Elizabeth) - second largest. GCT Bayonne - newest, most automated. Port Newark - break bulk and autos. Red Hook (Brooklyn) - smaller shipments. Choose based on your carrier and cargo type.