Sea Freight from China to Puerto Cortes, Honduras — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Puerto Cortes · via SAP air / Puerto Cortes sea · clearance by Administración Aduanera de Honduras
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Puerto Cortes through SAP air / Puerto Cortes sea. Puerto Cortes is the deepest port in Central America, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is Administración Aduanera de Honduras. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 4–10 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
How this lane actually runs
Puerto Cortés is the deepest and best-equipped port in Central America and clears a large share of the region's Atlantic-side volume. San Pedro Sula is the commercial centre and the natural distribution base, with Tegucigalpa served by road. Asian cargo normally transships at Panama, Cartagena or Kingston.
| Sea gateways used | Puerto Cortés, Henecán (San Lorenzo) |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 26–34 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Puerto Cortes | SAP air / Puerto Cortes sea |
| Inland leg to Puerto Cortes | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Duty, tax and clearance into Puerto Cortes
Imports into Honduras are cleared by Administración Aduanera de Honduras. The headline position is: ISV 15%; Central American common tariff 0–15%. The de-minimis threshold is USD 100 for courier consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Health registration for food and cosmetics; conformity for regulated goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Honduras: Transshipment dependency means feeder timing drives the schedule. Free-zone regimes for the apparel sector have separate duty treatment.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Confirm the consignee in Puerto Cortes can act as importer of record — Administración Aduanera de Honduras will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Check the de-minimis position (USD 100 for courier consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Puerto Cortes.
- 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 Puerto Cortes take?
China to the Honduras gateway is 26–34 calendar days. On top of that, allow 4–10 days of clearance with Administración Aduanera de Honduras and a same-day inland leg to Puerto Cortes.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Puerto Cortes?
Administración Aduanera de Honduras applies: ISV 15%; Central American common tariff 0–15%. The de-minimis position is USD 100 for courier consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Puerto Cortes.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Puerto Cortes?
Yes. Delivery to a Puerto Cortes address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Administración Aduanera de Honduras, and the same-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.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Puerto Cortes?
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 Puerto Cortés, Henecán (San Lorenzo). Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
When is the busiest time on the China–Honduras 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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Puerto Cortes?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 26–34 calendar days by sea versus 4–7 business days by air to the Honduras gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Honduras
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Honduras 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 Administración Aduanera de Honduras or your broker before you ship.
- Administración Aduanera de Honduras
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Puerto Cortes
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.