Shipping from China to Colon, Panama — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Colon · via PTY air / Manzanillo sea · clearance by Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá
We move freight cargo from South China into Colon through PTY air / Manzanillo sea. Colon is the Colon Free Zone and Atlantic container hub, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 2–5 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
Routing and transit on this lane
The Colón Free Zone is the largest free port in the Americas and the natural staging point for Chinese goods distributed across Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. Cargo can sit in the zone duty-free and be re-exported in smaller lots, which is a far more efficient structure than shipping direct to a dozen small markets.
| Air gateways used | PTY (Panama City Tocumen) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 4–6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Balboa (Pacific), Colón / Manzanillo (Atlantic) |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 22–30 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Colon | PTY air / Manzanillo sea |
| Inland leg to Colon | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for Colon
Imports into Panama are cleared by Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá. The headline position is: ITBMS 7%; duty 0–15%, with 0% inside the Colón Free Zone. The de-minimis threshold is USD 100 for courier consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Conformity requirements for regulated goods; health registration for food and cosmetics. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Panama: Free Zone re-export and Panamanian domestic import are different regimes — clarify which applies. Canal transit conditions can affect Atlantic-side schedules during low-water periods.
Air, sea or overland into Colon?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 4–6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 22–30 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Panama gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Colon and 2–5 days of clearance.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Colon.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Put the Colon delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
Mode guides for Colon
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Colon take?
China to the Panama gateway is 4–6 business days by air, 22–30 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá and a same-day inland leg to Colon.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Colon?
Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá applies: ITBMS 7%; duty 0–15%, with 0% inside the Colón Free Zone. 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 Colon.
When is the busiest time on the China–Panama 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 Colon clear through?
Cargo for Colon is routed via PTY air / Manzanillo sea. Sea gateways for Panama are Balboa (Pacific), Colón / Manzanillo (Atlantic); air gateways are PTY (Panama City Tocumen). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Colon?
Yes. Delivery to a Colon address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá, 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Colon?
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.
Other delivery cities in Panama
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Panama 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 Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá or your broker before you ship.
- Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas
- 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 Colon
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.