Sea Freight from China to Cartagena, Colombia — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Cartagena · via BOG air / Cartagena sea · clearance by DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales
Cartagena is the main container port and petrochemical zone, and it is served through BOG air / Cartagena sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales handles clearance; budget 4–10 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Import duty and tax position for Cartagena
DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Cartagena consignees. Current regime: 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.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: INVIMA registration for food, cosmetics and medical devices; conformity certificates for regulated electricals. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Colombia: 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.
What the routing looks like in practice
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.
| Sea gateways used | Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 26–34 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Cartagena | BOG air / Cartagena sea |
| Inland leg to Cartagena | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Confirm the consignee in Cartagena can act as importer of record — DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Colombia duty rate against it yourself.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Check the de-minimis position (USD 200 for courier consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Cartagena take?
China to the Colombia gateway is 26–34 calendar days. On top of that, allow 4–10 days of clearance with DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales and a same-day inland leg to Cartagena.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Cartagena?
DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales applies: 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. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Cartagena.
Which port or airport does cargo for Cartagena clear through?
Cargo for Cartagena is routed via BOG air / Cartagena sea. Sea gateways for Colombia are Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla; air gateways are BOG (Bogotá), MDE (Medellín), CLO (Cali). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
When is the busiest time on the China–Colombia lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Cartagena?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
What documents does DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (INVIMA registration for food, cosmetics and medical devices; conformity certificates for regulated electricals). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Other delivery cities in Colombia
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Colombia change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales or your broker before you ship.
- DIAN
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Cartagena
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.