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Shipping from China to Chile

China → Chile · clearance by Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile

Freight forwarding from China to Chile, Chile — container and air cargo handling
Cargo handling on the China–Chile lane.

For buyers shipping into Chile, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Chile is served through San Antonio, Valparaíso, Coronel; cargo enters through IQQ air / Iquique sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.

Clearance itself is handled by Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 2–6 days.

Routing and transit on this lane

Chile was the first South American country to sign a free trade agreement with China, and most goods now enter at 0% duty against a valid certificate of origin — leaving 19% IVA as the main landed-cost element. Clearance at San Antonio and Valparaíso is comparatively fast and predictable by regional standards, which makes Chile a common first market for exporters testing South America.

Air gateways usedSCL (Santiago)
Air transit, China to gateway4–6 business days
Sea gateways usedSan Antonio, Valparaíso, Coronel
Sea transit, China to gateway26–35 calendar days
Gateway serving ChileIQQ air / Iquique sea
Inland leg to ChileSame day from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell2–6 days
Peak season to plan aroundSep–Nov

Delivery cities in Chile

Principal delivery points: Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción, Antofagasta, La Serena, Temuco. Pick a city for the gateway it uses and the inland leg beyond clearance.

Iquique Northern free-zone port serving Bolivia and the mining belt IQQ air / Iquique sea · inland +1 day Santiago Capital holding the majority of national demand SCL air / San Antonio sea · inland +1 day Valparaiso Historic port city SCL air / Valparaiso sea · inland same day San Antonio The largest container port SCL air / San Antonio sea · inland same day Concepcion Southern industrial and forestry center CCP air / Coronel sea · inland +1 day Antofagasta Northern mining supply hub ANF air / Antofagasta sea · inland +2 days La Serena Northern regional city SCL air / Coquimbo sea · inland +1 day Temuco Southern agricultural center ZCO air / San Antonio sea · inland +2 days
Container yard operations used on the China to Chile (Chile) freight lane
Consolidation and handling before departure for Chile.

Import duty and tax position for Chile

Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Chile consignees. Current regime: IVA 19%; general duty 6%, but 0% on most goods under the China–Chile free trade agreement with a valid certificate of origin, with a de-minimis position of USD 41 for courier consignments.

Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: SEC certification for electrical products; SAG clearance for wood packaging and agricultural goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.

Restrictions and known friction points for Chile: FTA preference depends on a correctly issued certificate of origin; without it the 6% general rate applies. SAG inspects wood packaging strictly — ISPM-15 treatment must be visible and valid. SEC certification is required for electrical goods.

Air, sea or overland into Chile?

ModeTransit to gatewayBest suited to
✈️ Air Freight4–6 business daystime-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo
🚢 Sea Freight26–35 calendar daysvolume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed

Transit shown is China departure to the Chile gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Chile and 2–6 days of clearance.

Before you book: Chile checklist

  • Check the de-minimis position (USD 41 for courier consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
  • Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
  • Get the conformity paperwork moving early: SEC certification for electrical products; SAG clearance for wood packaging and agricultural goods.
  • Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
  • Put the Chile delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
  • Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Chile duty rate against it yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Chile take?

China to the Chile gateway is 4–6 business days by air, 26–35 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 2–6 days of clearance with Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile and a same-day inland leg to Chile.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Chile?

Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile applies: IVA 19%; general duty 6%, but 0% on most goods under the China–Chile free trade agreement with a valid certificate of origin. The de-minimis position is USD 41 for courier consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Chile.

What certification do I need for Chile?

For regulated goods, plan for: SEC certification for electrical products; SAG clearance for wood packaging and agricultural goods. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.

When is the busiest time on the China–Chile 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 Chile?

Yes. Delivery to a Chile address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile, and the same-day 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.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Chile?

Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 26–35 calendar days by sea versus 4–6 business days by air to the Chile gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.

References & official sources

Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Chile 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 Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile 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 Chile duty position yourself

Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.

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 Chile, the Chile 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 Chile. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.

How to Calculate CBM in Shipping | Volume vs Weight Explained | CBM Formula & Freight Cost Guide — 10 Min For Supply Chain. 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 Chile

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 Chile route page →

    Customs clearance in Chile

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

    Chile clearance requirements →

    Priced routes to Chile