China is one of the largest producers of various products at reasonable prices. With imports valued at nearly $56 billion, Brazil stands as one of China’s top trade partners.
If you want to gain profit for your Brazilian business by sourcing from China, this guide is for you. It will cover everything you need to know about shipping from China to Brazil.
7-Steps Process To Import From China To Brazil
You need to follow the given procedure for shipping from China to Brazil.
1. Register As Brazilian Importer
To start the import process, you must be a registered importer. To make things easier, you should register in SECEX (a registry for importers and exporters). You will get a login to open your account in SISCOMEX. It is an online platform established by the Brazilian government to track the process and for online submission of documents.
The use of this system has made the customs process easy. It has also reduced the chance of errors in the documentation process. More than 40 thousand importers benefit from this central system. You must have a RADAR permit to import products. To get a RADAR permit, your company should have a corporate number.
2. Product Hunting
You must analyze the whole Brazilian market before going to import any particular product. Brazil has imposed strict regulations and heavy customs duties on imported products. You must be aware of prohibited items or restricted items that need complex documentation. The products must be selected by keeping all these factors in mind.
Always choose a product after a complete analysis of its duties, taxes, annual consumption, and final cost. You should import quantities in bulk to reduce the final shipping cost.
3. Supplier’s Selection From China
Suppliers are the backbone of the import process. You should search for a reliable and genuine supplier for long-lasting success in this business model. China is a vast market offering millions of products, so finding reliable manufacturing sources is not so tough. You can visit China yourself and search for manufacturers that offer quality at less cost.
Online portals help a lot to find suppliers. Made-In-China, Ali Baba, and Globalsource are famous platforms, where you can find verified and reliable suppliers. Some sourcing companies also provide services to search for genuine manufacturers. You can also get help from freight forwarders, who have a wide social network.
4. Decide Shipping Incoterm Chinese Seller
After the selection of your products and supplier, it’s time to agree on some SOPs with the product seller in China. We use the word incoterms for this purpose. Incoterms is a kind of agreement between you and a Chinese seller for the shipment of your cargo. Your final cost, protection, and customs clearance depend on the incoterms you select. Some famous incoterms are FOB (Free on Board), EXW (EX Works) and CPT, etc.
In EXW, you will be responsible for carrying goods from the supplier’s location in China to the port and then to the final destination in Brazil. In FOB, the buyer is the responsible person when the products are loaded onto the ship. In CPT, the seller takes complete responsibility until your products reach the final destination.
5. Responsibilities of Freight Forwarder
The freight forwarder is responsible for carrying your goods from the Chinese manufacturer’s location to the port and then toward the final location in Brazil. Your freight forwarder must have a proper shipping license. He or she must have broad experience in the shipping world with an extensive network.
He or she should have the ability to submit documents to the authorities. Your shipping agent or company must have all types of transportation services to safely move your goods from one place to the other. The ports are sometimes so congested that your goods are transferred to the warehouse. These all are responsibilities of a freight forwarder.
6. Clearance From Chinese Ports
Your supplier must provide all the important documents needed to clear the products from the Chinese authorities. The certificate of origin is needed, which is produced by the chamber of commerce. An export declaration form is needed to submit to the authorities.
Every single detail about the products is submitted including the cost, variety, and quantity. The expiry date in the case of food items is necessary to be written on products. Some special permissions are required for sensitive products, like weapons, stones, and medical-related items.
7. Customs Clearance From Brazil
You are required to declare the applied taxes and submit the following documents to the customs authorities of Brazil. These things are necessary for cargo shipping from China to Brazil.
a) Taxes And Duties
Brazil imposes almost 0-35% customs duties on imported products depending on their HS category and the state of Brazil. The VAT is also imposed ranging from 17%-25% on these items. These duties and VAT are calculated based on Customs Transaction Value(CTV). This CTV is the sum of the cost plus insurance and shipping charges.
- Electronics items have VAT of 18% and customs duty of 16%.
- Similarly, toys have 35% of duty with 18% VAT.
- The pharmaceutical products have 0% duty while VAT is 18%.
- Textile products have 35% of customs duty with 18% VAT.
b) Import Documents
- Product Listing: It is provided by the supplier including product details. It includes product variants, expiry in case of food, product quantity, and other important information. It also tells about the HS category of the products. The Customs authorities get help from this document to calculate the taxes.
- Airway Bill/ Bill of Lading: It is a kind of receipt that is given by the shipping authorities when your goods are loaded. It has multiple copies, some are used by the administration itself, while 3 copies are handed over to you. It is the proof of ownership of the goods. You must show this document to the customs authorities at the final port of Brazil.
- Commercial Invoice: This document is also provided by the supplier. It contains the necessary information about the cost of the products. The currency used during trade, trade agreements, and other important information.
- Certificate of Origin: This document shows the manufacturing origin of the product. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce will produce this document.
Methods of Shipping From China To Brazil
The following are the common methods to ship your cargo to Brazil from China.
Sea Freight
The most economical and widely used transportation method from China to Brazil is sea freight. You can get all kinds of products through this shipping method. If you are planning to import in bulk and have a suitable time, then sea freight is the ideal way to get your products. A shipping company like Bansar can also provide the products at your doorstep.
- Port to Port: In this service, shipping companies are responsible for transportation from the port of origin to the destination port.
- Door to Port: This involves domestic transportation in China from the supplier’s site to the port and then from that port to the port of Brazil.
- Port to Door: Shipping companies provide your items from the port of origin to your final destination. It includes local transportation and customs clearance in Brazil.
- Door-To-Door: It is a form of DDP service. In this, products are delivered from the Chinese supplier’s site to the final site in Brazil.
If you have less quantity than a container, then LCL is an ideal choice in which you share your products with others. In case you are importing goods in bulk, then FCL is the best option to carry your goods. It is a cost-effective option and usually, two sizes of containers are available one is 20 feet and the other is 40 feet.
Special Sea Freight Services For Shipping To Brazil
- Reefer Container: These are specialized containers that are specially designed to carry sensitive products like seafood, chemicals, and other such materials. Reefer containers have controlled temperatures to avoid damage to products.
- Dry Bulk: If you are carrying products that can not be filled in containers, then they are just poured onto the deck and covered. Materials like coal and other heavy machinery are shipped through this method to Brazil.
- OOG: Out-of-gauge containers are big-size containers to carry those products that do not fit into the normal containers. Heavy machinery and petroleum products are carried in these types of containers from China to Brazil.
- RoRo Containers: Material is loaded on wheels in these kinds of ships. These ships are also used to carry cars and other vehicles.
Major Ports In China
- Port of Shanghai
- Port of Qingdao
- Port of Ningbo
- Port of Shenzhen
- Port of Tianjin
- Port of Guangzhou
Major Ports In Brazil
- The Port of Santarem
- The port of Pecem
- The port of Itaqui
- The port of Salvador
- The port of Vitoria
- Rio Grande Port
- Santos Port
Air Freight
Air freight is the best option when you have goods from small to medium in quantity. Reliability and safety are the plus points of air freight. If you have specific deadlines for shipping from China to Brazil, you should opt for this mode. Air cargo is the fastest way to import products, however, it is costly compared to sea freight.
If you want to import your goods through this route, you should know about the calculation method. It is always calculated through volumetric weight. You can calculate the volumetric weight of any parcel by multiplying width, length, and height with each other. The sum will be divided by 6000. Finally, you will get your volumetric weight.
General Cargo vs Special Cargo
If you have normal products to import, then general cargo will be used to import your products. Products like electronics, jewelry, textiles, agricultural products, etc are carried through general cargo. On the other hand, if you have sensitive products like chemicals, seafood, and pharmaceutical products, then special cargo will be used to import the products.
Major Airports In China
- Beijing International Airport
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- Shenzhen International Airport
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Major Airports In Brazil
- Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport
- Brasilia International Airport
- Augusto Severo International Airport
- Macapa International Airport
- Rio De Janeiro Galeao International Airport
- Afonso Pena International Airport
Express Freight
It is the fastest method and is normally used in emergencies for delivering goods to Brazil. Many international courier companies provide these services. DHL, FedEx, TNT, and M&P are big names in courier companies.
Express freight is also calculated through volumetric weight. The volumetric weight is calculated by multiplying the width, length, and height of the parcel, and then dividing it by 5000.
DDP
It is a special transportation method in which the duties and taxes are paid in advance. This mode is most suitable for e-commerce businesses, where you need products in time and don’t have time for hassle. You will get your products at your desired place in Brazil through DDP without involvement.
Modes of DDP
- Sea Freight DDP
- Air Freight DDP
- Express freight DDP
DDP Business Models
You can start your arbitrage business model in Brazil with the help of some big websites like Ali Express and Temu, etc. In this model, you receive your order from your customer, and then you place the order on the website. The products will be delivered to your desired address. So, you will earn profit margins without any investment. You will get the products through air freight DDP services.
Cost of Shipping From China To Brazil
The shipping price is different for different methods of shipping. Here is the average price range for importing goods to Brazil.
| Shipping Mode | Cost | Reviews |
| LCL sea freight | $50-$100 per cubic meter | It is ideal for small quantity |
| FCL freight 40 feet container from China to Santos | $5700-$6000 | It is best for bulk quantities |
| FCL freight 40 feet container from China to Paranagua | $5700-$6000 | Best for larger quantities |
| FCL freight 40 feet container from China to Rio de Janeiro | $6400-$6600 | Ideal for bulk quantities |
| Air freight | $6-$8 per kg | Protection and safety |
| Express Freight | $7-$10 | Fastest route |
Transit Times For Shipping From China To Brazil
Below is the average range of days needed to ship cargo from China to Brazil.
| Shipping Mode | Transit Time |
| LCL shipping | 25-35 working days depending on the environment and vessel condition |
| FCL shipping | 25-33 days depending on the ship’s condition and the transitway |
| Air freight | 4-6 days |
| Express freight | 1-3 days |
| Sea freight DDP | 35-45 days |
Major Chinese Imports To Brazil
- Electrical and electronic products range up to 16 Billion dollars.
- Nuclear reactors, Heavy machinery, and boilers.
- Semiconductor devices
- Broadcasting equipment
- Vehicles except trains and trams range up to 3.5 Billion dollars.
- Organic chemicals
- Telephones including mobile phones
- Agricultural products
- Integrated Circuits
- Electrical transformers
- Pesticides
- Rubber Tyres
Prohibited Products To Ship To Brazil
The following items are forbidden from being imported to Brazil.
- Hazardous Materials
- Gambling material
- Pornography
- Animal Products
- Narcotics and its related substances
- Tobacco and its derivatives
- Ammunition and military goods
Final Thoughts
Bansar offers customized shipping services from China to Brazil, covering sea freight, air cargo, rail, DDP, and express delivery options.
From major Chinese ports like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, we ensure your goods are delivered on time to Brazilian ports, including Santos, Rio Grande, Salvador, and Vitoria.
Contact us to manage all your shipping needs for a hassle-free shipping experience.
