Logistics services in Bermuda.

Bermuda logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Bermuda focus on sea and air. Containers move through the main ports of Ireland Island, Hamilton, St. George and Freeport, with Hamilton and St. George having cargo berths about 7.9 m deep and Ireland Island about 11 m. L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) handles scheduled air services for time-sensitive cargo.

Bermuda is coastal, so freight does not cross land borders. Imports are much larger than exports, at about 1.2 billion USD of imports against about 43 million USD of exports, so logistics services are mainly geared to inbound flows and associated distribution on the islands.

Freight forwarders in Bermuda should understand small-island operations around Ireland Island, Hamilton, Freeport and St. George, and how to route cargo through L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA). Container volumes are modest at about 4,000 TEU, and the liner shipping connectivity index is about 1.8, so forwarders with reliable carrier relationships are important.

Trade is concentrated with a few partners: exports mainly go to Germany, South Africa and the Netherlands, while imports are led by the USA and Cyprus. When selecting freight forwarders in Bermuda, check their experience with these trade lanes, their customs clearance capability with the Bermuda Customs Department, and how they manage high average tariffs near 30 percent.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to Bermuda uses four seaports, with Ireland Island the main medium sized cargo port and Hamilton and St George smaller container and general cargo points. Cargo pier depths are about 11 m at Ireland Island and around 7.9 m at Hamilton and St George, affecting how FCL vessels and feeder ships are deployed. Overall container volume was roughly 4,000 TEU in 2019, so shippers should expect a focus on feeder and regional services rather than very large mainline vessels.

The liner shipping connectivity index was about 1.8 in 2021, showing that regular liner links exist but schedules and port choices are limited compared with larger hubs. Three oil terminals and a merchant fleet of 122 ships, including 15 container ships and 8 oil tankers, support liquid bulk and container flows. Typical export cargoes by sea include crude petroleum, ships, aircraft, liquor and railway cargo containers, while imports include ships, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine and cars.

Air freight in Bermuda moves through L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), the only airport with scheduled services. This airport handles higher-value or urgent cargo, complementing seaborne flows through the four main ports.

The trade mix includes exports such as crude petroleum, ships, aircraft, liquor and railway cargo containers, and imports like ships, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine and cars. Air freight in Bermuda is especially relevant for pharmaceuticals, urgent spare parts and smaller high-value consignments tied to partners such as the USA, the UK, China and Canada.

Rail and road freight in Bermuda serve internal distribution rather than cross-border moves. The ports of Hamilton and St. George are noted as having rail access, which supports transfers between berths and nearby storage or facilities.

There are no land borders because Bermuda is an island territory in North America. Road haulage connects ports, oil terminals and L.F. Wade International Airport across a coastline of about 103 km, moving imported consumer goods, vehicles and fuel within the islands.

Customs clearance in Bermuda is handled by the Bermuda Customs Department. The territory has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 1990. It is not a member of the World Trade Organization. The average applied tariff is about 29.5 percent.

The World Bank logistics performance index world median customs score is 2.6. Shippers should provide at minimum a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document, and work with local agents familiar with duties on imported ships, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine and cars, as well as export procedures for crude petroleum, ships, aircraft, liquor and containers.