Send a container to Brazil from the USA

A 20-ft container typically costs between $1,000 and $2,700 and a 40-ft between $1,500 and $3,000. The final price depends on the origin port, the type of cargo and whether you ship a full or a shared container; when you request a quote we confirm it within one business day with the full breakdown. Brazil adds the Mercosur import duty, IPI, PIS-Importação and COFINS-Importação (2.1% and 9.65%), ICMS and an AFRMM of 8% of the ocean freight, all on top of the freight itself.

You need a commercial invoice with NCM-level descriptions, a packing list and a bill of lading showing the importer's CNPJ, all matching exactly, plus the importer's RADAR enablement in Siscomex. A despachante aduaneiro files the DUIMP, which is replacing the legacy DI. Products controlled by MAPA, ANVISA or INMETRO need an LPCO license, and wood packaging must meet ISPM 15. We prepare them for you and handle customs clearance at destination, so no missing paper holds your cargo.

Choose LCL between 2 and 15 CBM and a 20ft FCL above 15 CBM; above 30 CBM, quote a 40ft. Brazilian destination charges for LCL are significant, so compare all-in landed cost, not just freight. Fixed costs per declaration weigh more in Brazil than elsewhere, so consolidate suppliers into one declaration, and use air below 2 CBM for urgent spares. Not sure? Tell us what you are shipping and we recommend the format with the best total cost.

Yes, but plan for a formal import. The importer needs RADAR enablement, and a despachante aduaneiro files the DUIMP at Santos (BRSSZ) or another port. Brazil restricts used goods more than most markets, so confirm eligibility before shipping. Taxes include import duty, PIS and COFINS at 2.1% and 9.65%, ICMS and, on ocean freight, AFRMM at 8%. Treat personal-effects relief as unconfirmed until your despachante says otherwise. We move personal items, household goods and full relocations, with customs and documentation handled door to door.

We serve Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Navegantes, Fortaleza, Vila do Conde, Itaqui, with customs clearance handled at each one and inland delivery coordinated to the final destination if you need it. Santos (BRSSZ) is Latin America's largest container port; imports clear through Receita Federal on Siscomex, with a DUIMP filed by a licensed despachante aduaneiro.

Ocean freight from Miami to Santos takes 14 to 25 days port to port for a full container (FCL), and LCL takes 18 to 30 days because of consolidation. Paranaguá and Itajaí run 15 to 28 days. Air freight from Miami to São Paulo (GRU or VCP) lands in 1 to 3 days. Clearance time in Brazil depends on the DUIMP inspection channel and on any license still pending.

Brazil is difficult for two reasons: the importer must be enabled in Siscomex (RADAR) before it can import, and taxes cascade. A limited RADAR caps imports at US$50,000 or US$150,000 per six-month period. Import duty, IPI, PIS, COFINS, ICMS and AFRMM are each calculated on bases that include the others, so cheap freight can still mean an expensive landing. Brazil also has no free trade agreement with the United States.

Used goods and products without their required license cause most problems at Brazilian customs. Used machinery and equipment need an import license tied to a similarity examination showing there is no equivalent made in Brazil. Food, medicines, cosmetics, agrochemicals, seeds and many electrical products need prior approval from MAPA, ANVISA or INMETRO. Goods shipped before a required license is granted can face penalties, so confirm the NCM and its licensing first.