Americas

Shipping from China to Suape

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

Cargo handling on the China–Suape lane.

Freight from China into Suape clears through REC air / Suape sea. Suape is the north-eastern industrial port near Recife, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.

Clearance itself is handled by Receita Federal do Brasil, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 7–15 days.

What the routing looks like in practice

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.

Air gateways used	GRU (São Paulo), VCP (Campinas), GIG (Rio de Janeiro)
Air transit, China to gateway	4–7 business days
Sea gateways used	Santos, Paranaguá, Itajaí
Sea transit, China to gateway	30–40 calendar days
Gateway serving Suape	REC air / Suape sea
Inland leg to Suape	+1 day from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell	7–15 days
Peak season to plan around	Sep–Nov

What you will pay on arrival in Brazil

Imports into Brazil are cleared by Receita Federal do Brasil. The headline position is: Import duty 10–35% plus IPI, PIS/COFINS and state ICMS — the compounded effective rate frequently exceeds 60%. The de-minimis threshold is 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.

Air, sea or overland into Suape?

Mode	Transit to gateway	Best suited to
✈️ Air Freight	4–7 business days	time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo
🚢 Sea Freight	30–40 calendar days	volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed

Transit shown is China departure to the Brazil gateway and excludes the +1 day inland leg to Suape and 7–15 days of clearance.

What to sort out before the cargo leaves China

Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
Confirm the consignee in Suape can act as importer of record — Receita Federal do Brasil will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
Budget for the inland leg: +1 day beyond gateway clearance to reach Suape.
Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.

Mode guides for Suape

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Suape take?

China to the Brazil gateway is 4–7 business days by air, 30–40 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 7–15 days of clearance with Receita Federal do Brasil and a +1 day inland leg to Suape.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Suape?

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 Suape.

Can you deliver door-to-door in Suape?

Yes. Delivery to a Suape address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Receita Federal do Brasil, and the +1 day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.

How is the chargeable weight calculated for Suape?

We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.

What documents does Receita Federal do Brasil require?

A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (ANATEL homologation for telecom and radio devices; INMETRO certification for a wide range of consumer goods). We prepare and file these as part of the service.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Suape?

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 +1 day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.

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: 8 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 139 industry guides →

Get a rate for Suape

This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.

Request a quote → 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 →