Sea Freight from China to Tegucigalpa, Honduras — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Tegucigalpa · via TGU air / Puerto Cortes sea · clearance by Administración Aduanera de Honduras
Freight from China into Tegucigalpa clears through TGU air / Puerto Cortes sea. Tegucigalpa is capital and government market, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
Clearance itself is handled by Administración Aduanera de Honduras, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 4–10 days.
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 Tegucigalpa | TGU air / Puerto Cortes sea |
| Inland leg to Tegucigalpa | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Honduras
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
- Budget for the inland leg: +1 day beyond gateway clearance to reach Tegucigalpa.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Honduras duty rate against it yourself.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Put the Tegucigalpa delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Tegucigalpa 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 +1 day inland leg to Tegucigalpa.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Tegucigalpa?
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 Tegucigalpa.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Tegucigalpa?
Yes. Delivery to a Tegucigalpa address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Administración Aduanera de Honduras, 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Tegucigalpa?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
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.
Which port or airport does cargo for Tegucigalpa clear through?
Cargo for Tegucigalpa is routed via TGU air / Puerto Cortes sea. Sea gateways for Honduras are Puerto Cortés, Henecán (San Lorenzo); air gateways are SAP (San Pedro Sula), TGU (Tegucigalpa). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
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 Tegucigalpa
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.