If you resell lubricants in Puerto Rico, Miami is your closest mainland source. American Oil Wholesale and Distribution (aoilw.com), based in Hialeah, stocks 780+ products and ships to Puerto Rico regularly. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. customs territory, lubricants staged at our Hialeah warehouse arrive on the island without U.S. import duties. This guide covers that customs status, the Jones Act vessel requirement, how the order flow works, and how to size a first mixed-pallet shipment.
Why Puerto Rico resellers source lubricants from Miami
No import duties. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory. Goods shipped from the continental United States to Puerto Rico are not subject to U.S. Customs and Border Protection import duties (U.S. CBP, cbp.gov). There is no Harmonized Tariff Schedule column to navigate and no certificate of origin required for the duty calculation because CBP treats the shipment as a domestic move. This is the cleanest import structure of any of our Caribbean-destination orders: zero tariff friction on the U.S. side.
South Florida freight network. South Florida hosts a dense community of freight forwarders experienced with Jones Act sailings to Puerto Rico. Our warehouse, at 8090 W 30th Ct in Hialeah, is within their standard pickup range. A pallet staged at our facility can be in your forwarder's hands the same day we confirm pickup, ready for transfer to the Jones Act departure terminal.
Brand depth. Puerto Rico's automotive and fleet market specifies by name: Mobil 1, Castrol, Pennzoil, Chevron. We stock all four in the viscosity grades most requested by island workshops and fleet accounts, plus our American Oil house brand in pails and drums for high-volume fleet replacement needs and Thunder in quarts and cases for shop shelves.
The Jones Act: what Puerto Rico buyers must plan for
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 55102), requires that goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on vessels that are U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, and U.S.-crewed. Jacksonville, Florida, is the primary Jones Act departure terminal for Puerto Rico cargo, where all three major carriers (TOTE Maritime, Crowley, and Trailer Bridge) base their island operations.
For lubricant resellers, this has one practical implication: your Miami freight forwarder must book your pallet on a Jones Act-compliant carrier. Foreign-flagged vessels, which handle most of PortMiami's international container traffic to the broader Caribbean, cannot be used for the Puerto Rico leg. Confirm Jones Act compliance with your forwarder before booking.
The vessel requirement does not change what we do at the warehouse. We palletize, stretch-wrap, and stage your order EXW (Ex Works, Incoterms 2020), meaning our obligation ends at our loading dock and your freight costs begin there. Your forwarder handles carrier selection, booking, and bill of lading. Details on our export documentation are on our export hub.
What we carry for Puerto Rico resellers
We carry 780+ products across engine oils, gear oils, transmission fluids, hydraulic oils, antifreeze, and filters. For Puerto Rico resellers, the most common product mix includes:
Shop-shelf cases and quarts. Thunder conventional and synthetic blend motor oil in 10W-30, 10W-40, and 20W-50, packaged as 12-quart cases, are the standard retail unit. Island auto parts shops typically pull cases from a pallet and place them directly on the shelf.
Fleet-volume pails and drums. American Oil in 5-gallon pails and 55-gallon drums covers fleet accounts and lube centers ordering in volume. A 55-gallon drum holds the same volume as 11 five-gallon pails, so a fleet buyer receives and handles one container instead of 11. We carry American Oil Heavy Duty Motor Oil CK-4 SAE 15W-40 in both pail and drum format for diesel fleets, and American Oil Full Synthetic Motor Oil SAE 5W-30 and SAE 0W-20 in drum format for modern passenger vehicles.
National brand quarts. Mobil 1, Castrol GTX, Pennzoil, and Chevron Supreme are in stock in the grades Puerto Rico dealers and specialty shops request most.
How to place a Puerto Rico order
The order flow is five steps.
- Request a quote. Submit your product list and quantities through our quote form or by phone at (305) 825-2788. We respond the same business day, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM Eastern.
- Receive the proforma invoice. Once we confirm availability, we issue a proforma with product descriptions, unit pricing, pallet count, and gross weight. Your freight forwarder uses this to plan the Jones Act booking.
- Wire transfer or Zelle. The $1,250 minimum export order applies. Payment must be received before we palletize.
- We palletize and stage. Once payment clears, we wrap and stage your order at 8090 W 30th Ct, Hialeah, FL 33018.
- Your forwarder picks up and books the Jones Act carrier. Your Miami freight forwarder arranges pickup at our warehouse, books the compliant vessel to Puerto Rico, and handles the bill of lading. We provide a commercial invoice; no certificate of origin is required.
Sizing your first Puerto Rico order
The $1,250 minimum supports a mixed pallet of drums, pails, and cases, enough to cover three to five product lines with existing accounts before scaling to a container. Puerto Rico resellers typically open with 10W-30 and 5W-30 in national brand quart cases for auto parts accounts, add a pail or drum of 15W-40 CK-4 for diesel fleet clients, and round out the pallet with American Oil in larger formats for lube center buyers.
Ready to move a 20-foot container? We assist with product mix planning and a packing list. We export to 31 countries and have built Puerto Rico container loads for resellers at every volume.
Open a wholesale account at aoilw.com or call us at (305) 825-2788 to request your proforma.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay U.S. import duties on lubricants shipped from Miami to Puerto Rico?
No. Puerto Rico is a U.S. customs territory. Goods shipped from the continental United States to Puerto Rico are not subject to U.S. Customs and Border Protection import duties (cbp.gov). You pay ocean freight to move your pallet, but you do not pay U.S. import duties on the product value.
What is the Jones Act and how does it affect my Puerto Rico shipment?
The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 55102) requires that goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, and U.S.-crewed vessels. Your Miami freight forwarder must book your pallets on a Jones Act-compliant carrier. Foreign-flagged vessels that handle international Caribbean routes are not eligible for the Puerto Rico leg.
What is the minimum order for a Puerto Rico shipment?
The minimum export order is $1,250. It can be a mixed pallet of drums, pails, and cases across brands and viscosity grades.
Which motor oil grades move fastest in Puerto Rico?
10W-30, 5W-30, and 10W-40 multigrade are the most requested grades from island automotive accounts. 15W-40 CK-4 moves in diesel fleet and heavy-duty applications. We stock all of these in American Oil pail and drum sizes and in national brand quart cases.
What documents do I need for a Puerto Rico shipment?
We provide a proforma invoice before payment and a commercial invoice once the order is staged. No certificate of origin is required. Your freight forwarder handles the bill of lading. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. customs territory, there is no customs import declaration filed on the Puerto Rico side for domestic-origin goods.
