B2B Sourcing from China to Latin America — Factory Sourcing, Compliance & DDP Delivery to Mexico, Brazil, Colombia & Peru

Main ports

Manzanillo, Veracruz, Lázaro Cárdenas

Key categories

Automotive parts, electronics, industrial machinery, packaging materials, textiles

Compliance note

NOM certification required for regulated product categories. USMCA rules of origin apply for goods destined for onward sale into the US market.

Main ports

Santos, Paranaguá, Rio de Janeiro

Key categories

Electronics, machinery, chemicals, consumer goods, medical equipment

Compliance note

INMETRO certification required for regulated products. Brazil's import licensing (LI) system requires pre-shipment approval for many categories. Import duties are among the highest in Latin America — we provide accurate landed cost modelling before orders are placed.

Main ports

Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla

Key categories

Electronics, machinery, textiles, construction materials, consumer goods

Compliance note

INVIMA registration required for medical devices and cosmetics. SIC technical regulations apply to electronics and electrical products.

Main ports

Callao, Paita

Key categories

Electronics, machinery, construction materials, automotive parts, consumer goods

Compliance note

Peru has a Free Trade Agreement with China (ChAFTA) offering preferential tariff rates on many categories. We advise on certificate of origin requirements to access FTA rates.

Main ports

San Antonio, Valparaíso

Key categories

Mining equipment, electronics, machinery, construction materials, consumer goods

Compliance note

Chile-China FTA provides preferential tariff rates. SEC certification required for electrical products.

Main ports

Buenos Aires, Rosario

Key categories

Machinery, electronics, chemicals, automotive parts, agricultural equipment

Compliance note

Argentina operates a complex import licensing system (SIMI). We advise clients on pre-shipment documentation requirements and timing to avoid customs delays.

Consumer Electronics & Accessories

Smartphones, tablets, laptops, audio equipment, cables and accessories. China supplies over 70% of Latin America's consumer electronics imports. We verify CE/FCC certification and run AQL inspections before shipment.

Industrial Machinery & Equipment

CNC machines, injection moulding equipment, construction machinery, generators and industrial tools. We manage factory audits, capacity assessments and pre-shipment inspection reports with full photo documentation.

Automotive Parts & Accessories

OEM and aftermarket parts, tyres, batteries, filters, brake components and accessories. We verify manufacturer credentials and certifications, and manage PPAP documentation where required for OEM supply chains.

Construction Materials

Tiles, sanitary ware, steel profiles, aluminium systems, hardware, tools and building materials. We consolidate multi-supplier shipments and manage HS code classification for accurate customs declaration.

Textiles, Apparel & Footwear

Fabric, garments, shoes, bags and accessories. We coordinate lab testing for restricted substances and manage care label and country of origin requirements for each destination market.

Solar Energy & Power Equipment

Solar panels, inverters, battery storage, cables and mounting systems. We verify TÜV, IEC and local certification requirements and manage pre-shipment testing with accredited labs.

Agricultural Equipment & Inputs

Tractors, irrigation systems, greenhouse materials, hand tools and agricultural machinery. We verify CE marking and manage phytosanitary documentation where required.

Packaging Materials & Plastics

Corrugated boxes, plastic packaging, bags, containers and industrial packaging. We run dimensional and drop-test QC and consolidate multi-SKU orders into single shipments.

FTA Tariff Advantages

China has Free Trade Agreements with Chile, Peru and Costa Rica, and a partial trade agreement with several other Latin American nations. These FTAs offer preferential tariff rates — often significantly lower than standard MFN rates — for qualifying goods. We advise on certificate of origin requirements and HS code classification to maximise FTA benefits for our clients.

Brazil INMETRO & Import Licensing

Brazil's INMETRO certification covers electronics, appliances, toys, medical devices and many other categories. Import licensing (Licenciamento de Importação) requires pre-approval for regulated products. We manage INMETRO certification with accredited laboratories in China and advise on LI timing to align with production schedules.

Mexico NOM Certification

Mexican Official Standards (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas) apply to electronics, electrical products, toys, textiles and many other import categories. NOM certificates must be obtained before goods clear Mexican customs. We work with approved certification bodies to obtain NOM documentation in China before shipment.

USMCA Considerations for Mexico

For importers in Mexico who resell into the US or Canada, USMCA rules of origin must be considered. We advise on value-added requirements and country of origin documentation to protect USMCA eligibility on goods that incorporate Chinese components.

Anti-Dumping & Import Controls

Several Latin American countries have anti-dumping measures on specific Chinese product categories. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have the most active trade defence measures. We advise clients on affected HS codes and product categories before orders are placed, to avoid unexpected duties at destination.

Transit Times by Country

• Mexico (Manzanillo): 18-22 days from South China ports
• Brazil (Santos): 28-35 days from South China ports
• Colombia (Cartagena): 25-30 days from South China ports
• Peru (Callao): 28-32 days from South China ports
• Chile (San Antonio): 28-35 days from South China ports
• Argentina (Buenos Aires): 32-40 days from South China ports

All times are sea freight estimates for FCL. LCL adds 3-7 days for consolidation at origin.

Consolidation Services

Most Latin American importers source across multiple product categories from different Chinese factories. We consolidate all suppliers into a single container at our consolidation warehouse in China, reducing freight cost per unit and simplifying customs clearance at destination.

Customs Documentation

We prepare all export documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (standard and preferential FTA versions), phytosanitary certificates where required, and all product compliance certificates. For Brazil, we align documentation with SISCOMEX requirements. For Mexico, we prepare pedimento-ready documentation.

DDP to Your Warehouse

We deliver duty-paid to your warehouse or distribution centre in Mexico City, São Paulo, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago or Buenos Aires — and other cities on request. You receive one all-in landed cost quote before the order is placed.

What are the main challenges importing from China to Latin America?

The main challenges are: high and complex import duties (particularly in Brazil and Argentina), product certification requirements (INMETRO in Brazil, NOM in Mexico), anti-dumping measures on specific categories, currency volatility affecting landed cost calculations, and port congestion at major hubs like Santos and Callao. We manage all of these proactively — advising on duty exposure before orders are placed and handling certification in China before shipment.

Which Latin American countries have Free Trade Agreements with China?

Chile, Peru and Costa Rica have full FTAs with China offering preferential tariff rates on qualifying goods. Several other Latin American nations have partial trade agreements or are in negotiation. We advise clients on certificate of origin requirements to access FTA tariff rates where available.

How long does shipping from China to Brazil take?

Sea freight from South China ports (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Ningbo) to Santos takes approximately 28-35 days for FCL shipments. LCL (consolidated) shipments add 3-7 days for consolidation at origin. Air freight is available for urgent shipments and typically takes 5-7 days to São Paulo.

Do you handle INMETRO certification for Brazilian imports?

Yes. We manage INMETRO pre-certification in China for regulated product categories, working with accredited certification bodies to obtain the required documentation before goods leave the factory. This prevents shipments being held or rejected at Brazilian customs.

Can you consolidate orders from multiple Chinese suppliers into one shipment to Latin America?

Yes. Consolidation is one of our core services for Latin American clients. We receive goods from multiple factories at our consolidation warehouse in China, inspect the full shipment, and load everything into a single container. This reduces freight cost significantly compared to shipping separately from each supplier.

What is the minimum order size for sourcing from China to Latin America?

We work with B2B importers placing orders from USD 5,000 upward. For smaller orders, we offer LCL (consolidated) shipping which allows you to ship less than a full container and share freight costs with other importers. We provide a complete landed cost estimate — factory price, freight, duties, certification and delivery — before you commit to any order.