Sea Freight from China to David, Panama — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → David · via PTY air / Balboa sea · clearance by Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá
Freight from China into David clears through PTY air / Balboa sea. David is western regional commercial centre, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
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.
What you will pay on arrival in Panama
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.
How this lane actually runs
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.
| Sea gateways used | Balboa (Pacific), Colón / Manzanillo (Atlantic) |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 22–30 calendar days |
| Gateway serving David | PTY air / Balboa sea |
| Inland leg to David | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Panama duty rate against it yourself.
- Budget for the inland leg: +1 day beyond gateway clearance to reach David.
- Confirm the consignee in David can act as importer of record — Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Put the David delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Conformity requirements for regulated goods; health registration for food and cosmetics.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to David take?
China to the Panama gateway is 22–30 calendar days. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá and a +1 day inland leg to David.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into David?
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 David.
Which port or airport does cargo for David clear through?
Cargo for David is routed via PTY air / Balboa 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.
What certification do I need for Panama?
For regulated goods, plan for: Conformity requirements for regulated goods; health registration for food and cosmetics. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
What documents does Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá 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 (Conformity requirements for regulated goods; health registration for food and cosmetics). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for David?
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 David
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.