Ship to Belize by LCL or FCL from Miami to the Port of Belize (about 6 days) or by air into BZE (1 to 3 days); declarations go through Belize Customs and Excise in ASYCUDA World, with CARICOM CET duty, Revenue Replacement Duty, 3% Environmental Tax and 12.5% GST. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America and a full CARICOM member, which gives it a different freight profile from its neighbors. It sits on the Central American mainland but applies the CARICOM Common External Tariff, files declarations in ASYCUDA World like much of the Caribbean, and imports most of what it consumes, builds and sells to tourists. Volumes are modest, so the bulk of US cargo moves as consolidated LCL from Miami into Belize City, with full containers reserved for construction projects, distributors and resort openings. The landed cost is driven less by the freight rate than by the stack of charges at the border: import duty, Revenue Replacement Duty, a 3% Environmental Tax and 12.5% GST, all calculated from the CIF value. With classification and documents planned, Belize is a short, predictable lane from Florida.
LCL from Miami to Belize City takes about six days and costs about $1,020 for 5 CBM / 1,500 kg on IWF's published rate, air freight takes one to three days, and Asian cargo needs 35 to 50 days via transshipment.
| Route & mode | Indicative cost | Transit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami to Belize City, ocean LCL | about $1,020 for 5 CBM / 1,500 kg (IWF published LCL rate, September 2026; excludes destination duties, taxes and local charges) | about 6 days | distributors, retailers, contractors under about 15 CBM |
| Miami / US Gulf to Belize, ocean FCL | 5 to 10 days | building materials, FF&E, full distributor loads | |
| USA to Belize, air freight (BZE) | 1 to 3 days | urgent parts, perishables, high-value goods | |
| China to Belize, ocean FCL or LCL | 35 to 50 days via transshipment | Asian-sourced fixtures, furniture, consumer goods | |
| Europe to Belize, ocean FCL or LCL | 25 to 40 days via transshipment | equipment, specialty goods |
Rates and schedules change with fuel, season and space, so use the table for planning and request a firm quote.
Shipping to Belize follows eight steps, and the permit check in step 2 is the one most first-time importers miss.
For most importers, that process starts with a booking out of Miami.
Most US freight to Belize moves as consolidated LCL from Miami to the Port of Belize, with FCL for project loads and air freight into BZE for urgent cargo. Miami is the natural gateway for Belize. US suppliers deliver to a Miami warehouse, cargo from several vendors is consolidated, and a regular groupage flow carries it to the Port of Belize in Belize City. On IWF's Miami to Belize City LCL lane, a 5 CBM / 1,500 kg shipment is about $1,020 (IWF published LCL rate, September 2026; excludes destination duties, taxes and local charges) with a transit of about six days.
For most Belizean importers, LCL consolidation is the default: you pay for the cubic meters you use instead of a whole box, and you can order from several US suppliers at once without waiting to fill a container. Once volume approaches 15 CBM, or the cargo is heavy and dense (tile, cement products, rebar, steel), compare it against container shipping to Belize as a full 20ft or 40ft. For construction and hotel projects, staging cargo at a Miami warehouse until a full container is ready costs less than several partial loads whenever the build schedule allows the wait.
Air freight goes into Philip S. W. Goldson International (BZE) near Belize City in one to three days, which suits spare parts for generators, boats and HVAC systems, as well as perishables and medical supplies.
Asian and European cargo reaches Belize by transshipment or by consolidation through Miami, since there is no regular direct service from Asia or Europe. Cargo transships at a regional hub (in the Caribbean, Panama or the US) and continues on a feeder, so plan on 35 to 50 days from China and 25 to 40 days from Europe, with LCL at the long end. Our guide to Caribbean transshipment hubs explains how those connections work. Many Belizean buyers instead route Asian or European goods to Miami first, consolidate them with US purchases, and send one combined shipment south. It adds a leg but simplifies the documents and gives you one arrival to manage in Belize City, at one of the gateways below.
The Port of Belize in Belize City handles most containers, Big Creek serves the south, and Philip S. W. Goldson International (BZE) is the air cargo gateway.
Cargo that crosses those borders by land is a separate lane with its own customs rules: see our guides to shipping to Mexico and shipping to Guatemala.
Imports clear through the Belize Customs and Excise Department in ASYCUDA World, and a customs broker is optional. The legal basis is the Customs and Excise Duties Act. ASYCUDA World became fully operational across the customs territory in 2012, when the Western and Northern border stations joined Belize City, Big Creek, Punta Gorda and the airport, according to Belize Customs and Excise. The system is linked to the tax department and the Treasury, and duties can be paid through selected banks.
Invoice values are the most common friction point. A low or vague invoice invites a valuation review that adds days and storage charges at the port. With complete documents and any permits in hand, clearance at Belize City takes days, not weeks; missing permits or valuation queries are what stretch it. Once the value is accepted, the duty stack below applies to it.
Belize charges Import Duty under the CARICOM Common External Tariff, Revenue Replacement Duty, a 3% Environmental Tax and 12.5% GST, all built on the CIF value, according to the U.S. Commercial Service's Belize tariff guide.
Because GST is applied on top of duty-inclusive value, a classification error compounds through every layer. Confirm the duty for the exact HS code before quoting a landed price. For a regional comparison, see our overview of Caribbean import duties and taxes.
A Belize import needs a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and any certificate of origin, import licence or BAHA permit the goods require.
Belize prohibits few goods but licenses many food, beverage, chemical and wood products, so check the list before you order.
For Belize, use air under 2 CBM or when time matters, LCL from Miami for 2 to 15 CBM, and FCL above 15 CBM.
Tourism and construction generate most of Belize's import freight. Resorts, hotels and vacation rental developments on Ambergris Caye, Placencia and the cayes need construction materials, furniture, fixtures and equipment, kitchen equipment, linens, and a steady flow of food and beverages. Construction more broadly (residential, commercial and public works) pulls in cement products, steel, lumber, roofing, plumbing and electrical supplies, much of it from the US Gulf and Florida.
On the export side, Belize ships sugar, bananas, citrus products and marine products, with Big Creek serving the southern producing districts. Distributors of consumer goods, auto parts and household supplies round out the import base, almost entirely through Belize City. The heaviest and most schedule-sensitive of these flows, construction materials and resort FF&E, is the topic of our follow-up guide.
The right forwarder for Belize runs a regular consolidation service out of Miami, classifies correctly under the CARICOM tariff, and prepares documents that hold up to a CIF valuation check in ASYCUDA World. Interworld Freight was founded in Miami in 1992 and runs ocean LCL and FCL, air freight and Miami warehousing for staging and consolidating cargo, with customs coordination through licensed Belizean brokers and coverage on every major trade lane from Asia and Europe. Send your cargo details and you will receive a quote within one business day.
On IWF's Miami to Belize City LCL service, transit is about six days. Air freight to BZE takes one to three days, and cargo from China takes 35 to 50 days because it transships before reaching Belize.
IWF's published LCL rate for 5 CBM / 1,500 kg from Miami to Belize City is about $1,020 (September 2026), excluding destination duties, taxes and local charges. Full containers and air freight are quoted per shipment.
Import Duty under the CARICOM Common External Tariff ranges from zero to 120%, averaging about 20%, and Revenue Replacement Duty adds 10% to 50% on many goods. On top come a 3% Environmental Tax (2% to 5% on vehicles) and 12.5% GST on the duty-inclusive value, all calculated from the CIF value.
Goods containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine are prohibited. Many other products, including flour, rice, pasta, beer, spirits, carbonated drinks, cigarettes, wood products, medicines, pesticides, telecom equipment and fuel, need an import licence before they ship.
With a complete invoice, packing list, bill of lading and any required licence or BAHA permit, commercial cargo clears within a few working days of arrival. Valuation queries, missing permits and examinations are what add time and port storage.
Not by law. ASYCUDA World allows importers to file their own declarations, but most commercial importers use a licensed broker to handle classification, valuation and permits.
Many do. BAHA issues import permits for certain foodstuffs, plants, animals and veterinary products, and some food items also require an import licence. Apply before the goods ship.
No. Belize is a CARICOM member and applies the CARICOM Common External Tariff, unlike Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which are CAFTA-DR members.
Photo: Cargo operations at the Port of Belize, Belize City. MSgt Kelly Ogden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.