Ocean Freight Route

RotterdamChicago

RTM
USCHI
Distance
3,557 NM
Ocean Transit
## Days
Service Frequency
Daily Sailings

Select Your Cargo Type

See specialized logistics solutions for moving freight between Netherlands and United States.

Logistics Infrastructure Profile

Comparative analysis of origin and destination capabilities.

RT
Origin Port

Rotterdam

Infrastructure Highlights

  • Extensive deep-water berths capable of accommodating next-generation container ships
  • Advanced container terminals with highly mechanized stacking cranes and rail-mounted gantries
  • Integrated hinterland access via dense rail, barge, and trucking corridors into Central Europe
  • Large-scale liquid bulk and LNG facilities with specialized storage and pipeline connections

Key Exports

Refined petroleum products and chemicalsMachinery and industrial equipmentAgricultural products and foodstuffsContainers with mixed manufactured goodsSteel, metals, and construction materials

Export Compliance

Exporters must comply with European Union dual-use and sanctions regulations, such as end-use and end-user checks

US
Destination Port

Chicago

Infrastructure Highlights

  • Well-developed intermodal rail connections linking the port to major North American corridors
  • Upgraded barge and bulk terminals on Lake Michigan and the Calumet River
  • Seamless road access via Interstates I-90, I-94, and I-55 for regional and long-haul trucking
  • Robust warehousing and distribution centers supporting transloading between air and ground freight

Key Imports

Consumer goods and retail merchandiseElectronics and electrical machineryIndustrial raw materials (steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals)Automotive components and finished vehicles (via rail and truck)Building materials and construction inputs

Import Regulations

International shipments routed through Chicago must comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, including proper entry filings and security screenings.

Rotterdam to Chicago Ocean Freight | DNA Supply Chain