Sea Freight from China to Medellin, Colombia — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Medellin · via MDE air / Cartagena sea · clearance by DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales
Medellin is textile and manufacturing centre, and it is served through MDE air / Cartagena sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
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 Medellin
DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Medellin 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 Medellin | MDE air / Cartagena sea |
| Inland leg to Medellin | +1 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 Medellin can act as importer of record — DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Put the Medellin delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Colombia lane.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Colombia duty rate against it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Medellin 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 +1 day inland leg to Medellin.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Medellin?
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 Medellin.
Which port or airport does cargo for Medellin clear through?
Cargo for Medellin is routed via MDE 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.
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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Medellin?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 26–34 calendar days by sea versus 4–6 business days by air to the Colombia gateway, before clearance and the +1 day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Medellin?
Yes. Delivery to a Medellin address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to DIAN — Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, and the +1 day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
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 Medellin
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.