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🚢 Sea Freight

Sea Freight from China to Recife

China → Recife · via REC air / Suape sea · clearance by Receita Federal do Brasil

Sea Freight from China to Recife, Brazil — cargo handling at the departure terminal
Cargo handling on the China–Recife lane.

For buyers shipping into Recife, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Recife is north-eastern industrial and port city; cargo enters through REC air / Suape sea, and allow +3 days for the inland leg on top of clearance.

The clearing authority is Receita Federal do Brasil. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 7–15 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.

Routing and transit on this lane

Brazil is the most complex tax jurisdiction in the Americas. Federal duty is only the starting point — IPI, PIS/COFINS and state-level ICMS compound on top, and ICMS differs by state, so the same goods cost different amounts landed in São Paulo and Manaus. The Manaus Free Trade Zone is a genuine alternative structure for electronics assembly inputs.

Sea gateways usedSantos, Paranaguá, Itajaí
Sea transit, China to gateway30–40 calendar days
Gateway serving RecifeREC air / Suape sea
Inland leg to Recife+3 days from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell7–15 days
Peak season to plan aroundSep–Nov

Import duty and tax position for Recife

Receita Federal do Brasil assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Recife consignees. Current regime: Import duty 10–35% plus IPI, PIS/COFINS and state ICMS — the compounded effective rate frequently exceeds 60%, with a de-minimis position of USD 50 for consignments between individuals only.

Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: ANATEL homologation for telecom and radio devices; INMETRO certification for a wide range of consumer goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.

Restrictions and known friction points for Brazil: ANATEL homologation is mandatory for anything that transmits, and takes months to obtain — start before production. INMETRO certification covers many consumer categories. Import licensing applies to a substantial list of goods and must be granted before shipment.

Container terminal operations used on the China to Recife (Brazil) freight lane
Handling on the REC air / Suape sea routing serving Recife.

What to sort out before the cargo leaves China

  • Check the de-minimis position (USD 50 for consignments between individuals only) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
  • Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
  • Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
  • Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
  • Get the conformity paperwork moving early: ANATEL homologation for telecom and radio devices; INMETRO certification for a wide range of consumer goods.
  • Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Recife take?

China to the Brazil gateway is 30–40 calendar days. On top of that, allow 7–15 days of clearance with Receita Federal do Brasil and a +3 days inland leg to Recife.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Recife?

Receita Federal do Brasil applies: Import duty 10–35% plus IPI, PIS/COFINS and state ICMS — the compounded effective rate frequently exceeds 60%. The de-minimis position is USD 50 for consignments between individuals only. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Recife.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Recife?

Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 30–40 calendar days by sea versus 4–7 business days by air to the Brazil gateway, before clearance and the +3 days inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.

When is the busiest time on the China–Brazil lane?

Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.

Can you deliver door-to-door in Recife?

Yes. Delivery to a Recife address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Receita Federal do Brasil, and the +3 days inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.

Which port or airport does cargo for Recife clear through?

Cargo for Recife is routed via REC air / Suape sea. Sea gateways for Brazil are Santos, Paranaguá, Itajaí; air gateways are GRU (São Paulo), VCP (Campinas), GIG (Rio de Janeiro). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.

Other delivery cities in Brazil

All Brazil freight information →

References & official sources

Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Brazil change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Receita Federal do Brasil or your broker before you ship.

Page data last reviewed: 10 月 2026.

Shipping by industry

This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.

All 60 industry guides →

Checking the Brazil duty position yourself

Every duty and tax figure quoted on this page is our working estimate for planning, not a ruling. The binding rate for your consignment is whatever Receita Federal do Brasil applies against your declared HS code on the day of entry, and their published guidance is the source to check before you commit stock.

Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.

For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.

If this is your first shipment into Brazil, the Brazil Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.

Watch: the process behind this route

This guide covers routing and clearance for Recife. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.

Sea Freight from China: How to import from China to your country via Ocean Shipping — SINO Shipping. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.

Get a rate for Recife

This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a rate card: the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we price it properly.

Answer these and you get a real price, not a range. These are the exact figures a carrier needs before it will quote. Fill them in once and we can price your cargo the same day — leave them out and we have to come back and ask, which is what turns an hour into a week.

kg
ctn
Carton sizeoptional
× × cm
m³
ctr
Built-in battery?* Lithium cells are dangerous goods.
Someone else's brand?* Logos you are not authorised to ship.
Magnetic product?* Speakers, motors, magnets.
Why these three decide everything

They determine whether your cargo can fly, and on which service. A declared battery changes the price; an undeclared one grounds the shipment at the airport and you pay storage while it sits. Unauthorised brands are seized at customs and the freight is lost with them. Magnetic goods need a field test — routine, but it has to be booked ahead. Telling us now costs a click; telling us later costs the shipment.

Sea or air?*
Tick both and we quote both.
When should it move?optional
Photographs of the goodsoptional
    Your details are used to prepare this quotation and nothing else.

    See the Brazil route page →

    Customs clearance in Brazil

    Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.

    Brazil clearance requirements →

    Priced routes to Brazil