Container shipping to El Salvador

A 20-ft container typically costs between $1,300 and $1,800 and a 40-ft between $2,200 and $2,800. 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. Imports into El Salvador pay 13% IVA, and US goods that meet CAFTA-DR rules of origin enter duty free with a valid certification of origin.

From the U.S.: 8-12 days. From other regions: 15-25 days. These are estimated ocean transit times; when you request a quote we confirm the next weekly sailing and the estimated arrival date. From Miami, ocean service to Acajutla via the Panama Canal takes 8 to 12 days and LCL 10 to 18 days; Asian cargo takes 30 to 45 days to Acajutla.

You need a commercial invoice with parties, description, quantity and value, a packing list, a bill of lading or land transport document, and a CAFTA-DR origin certification for duty-free US goods. Since June 1, 2026, definitive imports also need a sworn forced labor declaration filed with the DUCA. The DGA takes the DUCA through its teledespacho service, and regulated goods need licenses or permits. We prepare them for you and handle customs clearance at destination, so no missing paper holds your cargo.

Use LCL for 2 to 15 CBM and compare a 20ft FCL above 15 CBM; from 25 CBM a 40ft is usually the cheaper unit per cubic meter. Heavy loads such as rebar, tile or cement products hit container and truck weight limits first. Oversized or Asian cargo suits the all-water route to Acajutla (SVAQJ); US cargo can go overland via Guatemala or Honduras. Not sure? Tell us what you are shipping and we recommend the format with the best total cost.

Yes. The DUCA is filed through the DGA's teledespacho, and individuals file through a licensed agente de aduanas, because the agent is optional only for legal entities authorized by the DGA. Clearance is statutorily 24 hours, and importers then have four days to pay duties and taxes through P@GOES-DGA. IVA is 13%. Ask the DGA or your agent about personal-effects relief. We move personal items, household goods and full relocations, with customs and documentation handled door to door.

We serve Port of Acajutla, Port of La Unión, with customs clearance handled at each one and inland delivery coordinated to the final destination if you need it. Acajutla (SVAQJ) on the Pacific is the main container port, operated since December 2024 by Unión Portuaria del Pacífico, while La Unión on the Gulf of Fonseca is being reactivated. Customs (DGA) clears cargo on the electronic DUCA.