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Shipping from China to Arequipa

China → Arequipa · via AQP air / Matarani sea · clearance by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas

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

Arequipa is southern commercial and mining center, and it is served through AQP air / Matarani sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — allow +2 days for the inland leg on top of clearance.

Clearance itself is handled by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 3–8 days.

How this lane actually runs

The Chancay megaport opened in late 2024 and created the first direct Shanghai–South America service, cutting roughly a week off the traditional Callao routing that transships in Mexico or Panama. For cargo destined to Lima it is now worth quoting Chancay and Callao separately — the difference in transit is material, and Chancay is positioning itself as a redistribution hub for the whole west coast.

Air gateways usedLIM (Lima Jorge Chávez)
Air transit, China to gateway4–6 business days
Sea gateways usedCallao, Chancay, Paita
Sea transit, China to gateway22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao
Gateway serving ArequipaAQP air / Matarani sea
Inland leg to Arequipa+2 days from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell3–8 days
Peak season to plan aroundSep–Nov

Duty, tax and clearance into Arequipa

SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Arequipa consignees. Current regime: IGV 18%; duty 0–11%, with 0% on most goods under the China–Peru free trade agreement, with a de-minimis position of USD 200 for courier consignments.

Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.

Restrictions and known friction points for Peru: FTA preference requires a valid certificate of origin. Health, food and cosmetic products need consignee-side registration before arrival. Chancay's inland connections are still maturing — confirm the final trucking arrangement.

Air cargo build-up used on the China to Arequipa (Peru) freight lane
Handling on the AQP air / Matarani sea routing serving Arequipa.

Air, sea or overland into Arequipa?

ModeTransit to gatewayBest suited to
✈️ Air Freight4–6 business daystime-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo
🚢 Sea Freight22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callaovolume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed

Transit shown is China departure to the Peru gateway and excludes the +2 days inland leg to Arequipa and 3–8 days of clearance.

What to sort out before the cargo leaves China

  • Check the de-minimis position (USD 200 for courier consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
  • Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
  • Confirm the consignee in Arequipa can act as importer of record — SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
  • Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Peru lane.
  • Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
  • Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.

Mode guides for Arequipa

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Arequipa take?

China to the Peru gateway is 4–6 business days by air, 22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao by sea. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas and a +2 days inland leg to Arequipa.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Arequipa?

SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas applies: IGV 18%; duty 0–11%, with 0% on most goods under the China–Peru free trade agreement. The de-minimis position is USD 200 for courier consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Arequipa.

Can you deliver door-to-door in Arequipa?

Yes. Delivery to a Arequipa address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas, and the +2 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.

When is the busiest time on the China–Peru 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.

What documents does SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas 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 (Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products). We prepare and file these as part of the service.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Arequipa?

Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao by sea versus 4–6 business days by air to the Peru gateway, before clearance and the +2 days inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.

Other delivery cities in Peru

All Peru freight information →

References & official sources

Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Peru 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 SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas 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 Peru duty position yourself

Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas 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 Peru, the Peru 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 Arequipa. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.

LCL vs FCL | Difference Between Full Container Load & Less than Container Load | Which is better ? — 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 Arequipa

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 Peru route page →

    Customs clearance in Peru

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

    Peru clearance requirements →

    Priced routes to Peru