How to ship clothing from China to South America?

1. Choose Your Shipping Method

• Air Freight:
  • Pros: Fast (5–10 days), ideal for urgent/small batches.
  • Cons: Expensive (especially for bulky clothing), volumetric weight charges apply.
  • Best for: Samples, low-volume/high-value items (e.g., designer wear).
• Sea Freight:
  • Pros: Cost-effective for large volumes ($800–$3,500 per 20ft container), eco-friendly.
  • Cons: Slow (30–50+ days), port delays common.
  • Options:
    • FCL (Full Container Load): Dedicated container for 10+ pallets.
    • LCL (Less than Container Load): Shared container; pay per cubic meter (CBM).

2. Key Considerations for Clothing

• Packaging: Use vacuum-sealed bags to reduce volume (critical for LCL sea freight).
• Moisture Protection: Add silica gel packs and waterproof lining to prevent mold.
• Labeling: Ensure tags include fiber content, care instructions, and country of origin in Spanish/Portuguese.
• Duties/Tariffs: Clothing often faces high import taxes in SA (e.g., Brazil: 35%+).

3. Work with Partners

• Freight Forwarder:
  • Handles customs, documentation, and multi-modal transport.
  • Look for SA specialists (e.g., DHL Global Forwarding, Kuehne+Nagel, or regional players like Andreani for Argentina).
• Customs Broker:
  • Essential for navigating SA’s complex import regulations (e.g., Siscomex in Brazil).
• Local Distribution Partner: For last-mile delivery in SA’s fragmented logistics network.

4. Critical Documentation

• Commercial Invoice (with HS codes for clothing, e.g., Chapter 61/62)
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading (Sea) or Air Waybill (Air)
• Certificate of Origin (often required for duty calculation)
• SA-Specific Docs:
  • Brazil: NCM codes, ANVISA clearance (for infant/medical clothing).
  • Argentina: SIMI import permit.
  • Chile: Simplified customs for shipments <$1,000 USD.

5. Navigate Customs & Duties

• HS Codes: Verify exact codes for garments (e.g., 6109.10.00 for cotton T-shirts).
• Taxes: Expect:
  • Import Duty: Varies by country (e.g., Colombia: 0–20%, Argentina: 35%).
  • VAT: 10–19% across SA countries.
  • Additional Fees: Port handling, anti-dumping duties (e.g., Peru on Chinese textiles).
• Landed Cost Calculator: Use tools like SimplyDuty to estimate total costs.

6. Avoid Common Pitfalls

• Delays: SA ports (e.g., Santos, Buenos Aires) face congestion—build buffer time.
• Regulatory Changes: Monitor Mercosur trade bloc updates (Brazil/Argentina/Paraguay/Uruguay).
• Counterfeiting Risks: Ensure brand authenticity documentation to avoid seizures.
• Theft: Insure shipments (0.3–2% of cargo value).

7. Cost-Saving Tips

• Consolidate Shipments: Use LCL for smaller orders; group with other shipments.
• Free Trade Zones: Use hubs like Zona Franca de Manaus (Brazil) or Colón (Panama) for duty deferral.
• Incoterms: Choose FOB Shanghai (you control freight) over EXW to avoid hidden fees.

8. Top Routes & Ports

• China → Brazil: Shenzhen/Yantian → Santos (largest SA port)
• China → Chile: Ningbo → Valparaíso (efficient customs)
• China → Argentina: Shanghai → Buenos Aires

Tools & Resources:

• Freight Quote Platforms: Freightos, Flexport
• Customs Databases: DATACOMEX (Brazil), VUCE (Peru)
• Insurance: Allianz, TT Club