🚢 Sea Freight

Sea Freight from China to Callao

China → Callao · via LIM air / Callao sea · clearance by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas

Cargo handling on the China–Callao lane.

For buyers shipping into Callao, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Callao is the port district adjoining Lima; cargo enters through LIM air / Callao sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.

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

Duty, tax and clearance into Callao

SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Callao 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.

What the routing looks like in practice

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.

Sea gateways used	Callao, Chancay, Paita
Sea transit, China to gateway	22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao
Gateway serving Callao	LIM air / Callao sea
Inland leg to Callao	Same day from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell	3–8 days
Peak season to plan around	Sep–Nov

Container terminal operations used on the China to Callao (Peru) freight lane — Handling on the LIM air / Callao sea routing serving Callao.

Before you book: Callao checklist

Confirm the consignee in Callao can act as importer of record — SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
Put the Callao delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
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: Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products.
Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Callao take?

China to the Peru gateway is 22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas and a same-day inland leg to Callao.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Callao?

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 Callao.

Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Callao?

Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Callao, Chancay, Paita. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.

Can you deliver door-to-door in Callao?

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

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 Callao?

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 same-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 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: 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 →

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.

For a wider view of how importing into Peru actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Peru customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.

Watch: the process behind this route

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

Ocean Freight 101 - What Is LCL Ocean Freight — Flexport. 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 Callao

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 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 →