Customs Clearance in Mexico
Import entries into Mexico are administered by Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) and SAT. Cargo typically sits 4–10 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Mexico
| Customs authority | Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) and SAT |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | IVA 16%; duty 0–35%, with additional temporary tariffs of up to 35% applied to textiles, footwear, steel and several other Chinese-origin categories |
| De-minimis | USD 50 for courier consignments |
| Certification | NOM standards compliance for regulated goods; the consignee must be listed on the Padrón de Importadores |
| Typical port dwell | 4–10 days |
| Sea gateways | Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Veracruz, Ensenada |
| Air gateways | MEX (Mexico City), NLU (Felipe Ángeles), GDL (Guadalajara), MTY (Monterrey) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Mexico expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
A registered importer of record is mandatory — the forwarder cannot simply act as one. Temporary tariff decrees on Chinese-origin textiles, footwear and steel change periodically; verify the current rate. NOM certification cannot be remedied after arrival.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Manzanillo handles the bulk of Asia–Mexico volume and is the congestion point to watch. Two things break DDP quotes here: the importer of record must be registered on the Padrón de Importadores, and Mexico has layered temporary tariffs on a long list of Chinese-origin goods. NOM certification for regulated products is verified at the border, not after.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Mexico
Our entries in Mexico are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Mexico clearance partner →Freight rates into Mexico
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ningbo–Lazaro Cardenas Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Ningbo–Manzanillo Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Ningbo–Veracruz Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Shanghai to Lazaro Cardenas FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Shanghai to Veracruz Container Shipping — 40NOR Rates
- Shanghai–Altamira Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Shipping a Container from Ningbo to Altamira: Cost & Transit
- Shipping a Container from Qingdao to Manzanillo: Cost & Transit
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Mexico — the background this clearance page assumes.
Mexico destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Mexico?
Import entries are administered by Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) and SAT.
How long does clearance take in Mexico?
Cargo typically sits 4–10 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Mexico?
IVA 16%; duty 0–35%, with additional temporary tariffs of up to 35% applied to textiles, footwear, steel and several other Chinese-origin categories The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Mexico that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Mexico?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.