Sea Freight from China to Point Lisas
China → Point Lisas · via POS air / Point Lisas sea · clearance by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Point Lisas through POS air / Point Lisas sea. Point Lisas is the industrial estate and second container port, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
On the destination side, Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago handles clearance; budget 4–10 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What you will pay on arrival in Trinidad and Tobago
Imports into Trinidad and Tobago are cleared by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago. The headline position is: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0–20%. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Trinidad and Tobago: Foreign-exchange access can delay settlement. CARICOM tariff treatment differs from the rates applied in Latin American neighbors. Import licenses apply to controlled goods.
Routing and transit on this lane
Trinidad is the industrial anchor of the southern Caribbean and a distribution point for the eastern islands. Asian cargo generally transships at Kingston, Caucedo or Cartagena. Foreign-exchange availability has been a recurring constraint for importers, which affects how quickly duty and supplier payments settle.
| Sea gateways used | Port of Spain, Point Lisas |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 28–36 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Point Lisas | POS air / Point Lisas sea |
| Inland leg to Point Lisas | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Confirm the consignee in Point Lisas can act as importer of record — Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Trinidad and Tobago duty rate against it yourself.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Point Lisas.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Point Lisas take?
China to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway is 28–36 calendar days. On top of that, allow 4–10 days of clearance with Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago and a same-day inland leg to Point Lisas.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Point Lisas?
Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago applies: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0–20%. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Point Lisas.
Which port or airport does cargo for Point Lisas clear through?
Cargo for Point Lisas is routed via POS air / Point Lisas sea. Sea gateways for Trinidad and Tobago are Port of Spain, Point Lisas; air gateways are POS (Port of Spain). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
What certification do I need for Trinidad and Tobago?
For regulated goods, plan for: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories. 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–Trinidad and Tobago 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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Point Lisas?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 28–36 calendar days by sea versus 5–8 business days by air to the Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Trinidad and Tobago 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 Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago or your broker before you ship.
- Customs and Excise Division
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
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.
- Pressure Vessels Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Switchgear New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Doors & Windows Building Materials & Construction Products
- Corrugated Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Glass Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Kitchenware Furniture & Home Products
- Home Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Inflatable Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Bolts Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Industrial Boilers General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Building Materials Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plumbing Products Building Materials & Construction Products
Checking the Trinidad and Tobago duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago 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.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
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 Trinidad and Tobago actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Trinidad and Tobago 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 Point Lisas. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Sea Freight Shipping Process for Beginners: Complete Factory-to-Door Guide (Every Step Explained) — Vixnk - English. 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.
Customs clearance in Trinidad and Tobago
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Trinidad and Tobago clearance requirements →