💰 Current Freight Rates
Price data updating. Contact us for current rates.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to Colombia is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
📋 Service Details
What to expect on the China–Colombia Sea Freight lane
We move door-to-door sea freight from South China into Colombia. Cargo enters through Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla and clears with DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, which takes 4–10 days on average.
Cartagena on the Caribbean coast is the fastest and best-connected gateway, and it is the natural choice for Bogotá and Medellín despite the inland trucking. Buenaventura on the Pacific is closer to Cali but has a heavier congestion history. Textile and footwear imports carry protective tariffs designed to slow low-priced Asian goods, so classify these carefully.
Route facts
| Destination country | Colombia |
|---|---|
| Region | Americas |
| Mode | Sea Freight |
| Gateways used | Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla |
| Transit, China to gateway | 26–34 calendar days |
| Clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities on this lane
Each city below has its own guide covering the gateway that serves it, the inland leg after clearance and the local delivery requirements.
- China to Bogota — capital and the largest consumer market. Via BOG air / Cartagena sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Medellin — textile and manufacturing centre. Via MDE air / Cartagena sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Cali — south-western industrial city near the Pacific port. Via CLO air / Buenaventura sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Barranquilla — Caribbean coast industrial hub. Via BAQ air / Barranquilla sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Cartagena — the main container port and petrochemical zone. Via BOG air / Cartagena sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Bucaramanga — north-eastern regional centre. Via BGA air / Cartagena sea; inland leg +2 days. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Pereira — coffee region commercial city. Via PEI air / Buenaventura sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
Track your shipment
Enter your tracking number below
Powered by 17TRACK — supports 2,000+ carriers worldwide
ℹ️ Additional Information
Duty, tax and documents for Colombia
IVA 19%; duty 0–20%, with a 10–40% tariff applied to some textile and footwear imports. The de-minimis position is USD 200 for courier consignments.
Conformity: INVIMA registration for food, cosmetics and medical devices; conformity certificates for regulated electricals.
Known friction points: Textile and footwear tariffs are set to discourage undervaluation — customs valuation challenges are common. INVIMA registration must be held by the consignee before arrival for regulated goods.
Documents we file under DDP
- Commercial invoice showing HS codes and the true transaction value
- Packing list with carton count, gross and net weight, and dimensions
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin where it reduces the duty rate
- Product certification or conformity documents where the commodity requires them
Packing notes
- Chargeable weight is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 1000 for LCL chargeable volume)
- Use ISPM-15 treated wood for any pallet or crate — untreated timber is a common hold
- Mark every carton with the consignee name, city and carton number of total
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders before booking, not after
Other modes into Colombia
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity rules change by ministerial decision. The figures here are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your HS code with DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales or your broker before shipping.
📊 China to Colombia — Shipping Reference Data
| Main sea gateways | Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | USD 200 for courier consignments |
| Import tax & duty regime | IVA 19%; duty 0–20%, with a 10–40% tariff applied to some textile and footwear imports |
| Local currency | COP |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 4–10 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | INVIMA registration for food, cosmetics and medical devices; conformity certificates for regulated electricals |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for This Sea Route
This page covers a Sea freight service from China to Colombia. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Container Loading Planner
Wondering whether your cargo fills a 20GP or needs a 40HQ for this Colombia route? The 3D container planner simulates cartons, crates, pallets, and even mixed box sizes in one container.
Open Container Planner →✅ Colombia Sea Freight Checklist
- Check pallet vs floor-loading: floor loading typically fits 8-12% more cartons per container.
- Confirm whether your Colombia rate is per CBM or per container before comparing quotes.
- Ask whether the quote includes destination port charges in Colombia or only ocean freight.
- Declare accurate gross weight — VGM misdeclaration delays vessels and triggers fines.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sea DDP Door-to-Door from China to Colombia take?
Sea freight on this route runs about 25–45 calendar days door-to-door, plus roughly 4–10 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into Colombia?
Clearance is handled by DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales. The regime is: IVA 19%; duty 0–20%, with a 10–40% tariff applied to some textile and footwear imports, with a de-minimis position of USD 200 for courier consignments. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
What does DDP shipping to Colombia include on this route?
DDP means one price covering freight, the duty/tax owed to DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, and last-mile delivery to your door in Colombia. There are no surprise charges at destination.
In what currency is this route priced and paid?
Freight is quoted and invoiced in USD; the destination-side currency is COP. Payment is typically due before departure, and DDP means you settle the full landed cost once.
Which ports or airports does this route use into Colombia?
Sea cargo to Colombia clears through Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla; air freight clears via BOG (Bogotá), MDE (Medellín), CLO (Cali). We route through whichever gateway gives the fastest onward delivery to your address and build it into the DDP price.
What documents are required for customs clearance in Colombia?
DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales typically requires a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading/air waybill, a certificate of origin (may lower duty), and any product certification (INVIMA registration for food, cosmetics and medical devices; conformity certificates for regulated electricals). We file these under DDP.
⭐ Customer Reviews
What customers say about shipping to Colombia with us.
🇨🇴 Colombia
This was a DDP shipment to Colombia for mixed cartons. Lead time was realistic and easy to plan around. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before. La entrega fue ordenada y el seguimiento fue claro.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Colombia. Lead time was realistic and easy to plan around. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Colombia through this team. The goods were packed better than expected. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
This was a DDP shipment to Colombia for mixed cartons. Lead time was realistic and easy to plan around. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost. La entrega fue ordenada y el seguimiento fue claro.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Colombia. The goods were packed better than expected. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Colombia. The goods were packed better than expected. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Colombia through this team. The goods were packed better than expected. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Colombia through this team. The goods were packed better than expected. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Colombia. The goods were packed better than expected. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We tested this lane to Colombia with a mid-volume order. The goods were packed better than expected. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Would use the same line again for general cargo. La entrega fue ordenada y el seguimiento fue claro.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Colombia through this team. Lead time was realistic and easy to plan around. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports. Muy buen servicio y sin cargos sorpresa al final.
We tested this lane to Colombia with a mid-volume order. Lead time was realistic and easy to plan around. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
Inland Delivery Coverage — Colombia
We deliver beyond the arrival gateway. Each city below has its own destination guide covering the gateway it clears through, typical inland transit time and the local customs picture.
Note — these are reference guides, not quotes. The city pages describe routing, gateways and clearance for each destination. They do not carry rate tables. For pricing to any city listed here, use the rate table on this page or ask us for a quote.
- Bogota BOG air / Cartagena sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Medellin MDE air / Cartagena sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Cali CLO air / Buenaventura sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Barranquilla BAQ air / Barranquilla sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Cartagena BOG air / Cartagena sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
- Bucaramanga BGA air / Cartagena sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Pereira PEI air / Buenaventura sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
Shipping Colombia cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Apparel Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Hospital Equipment Medical, Laboratory & Precision Instruments
- Parking Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Massage Equipment Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Arts & Crafts Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Artificial Plants Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Direct to Consumer E-commerce & Retail Channels
- Fasteners Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Pressure Vessels Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Industrial Boilers General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Solar Panel New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Lithium Battery New Energy, Power & Electrical
📞 Contact Us
Ready to ship? Our team responds within one business day. We also handle sourcing and purchasing.