Shipping from China to Asuncion
China → Asuncion · via ASU air / Montevideo transit · clearance by Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay
Asuncion is capital and the main clearance point, and it is served through ASU air / Montevideo transit. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — allow +2 days for the inland leg on top of clearance.
On the destination side, Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay handles clearance; budget 5–12 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What you will pay on arrival in Paraguay
Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Asuncion consignees. Current regime: IVA 10%; Mercosur common external tariff 0–35%, with a reduced regime for goods re-exported through Ciudad del Este, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: INTN conformity for regulated goods; import registration required. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Paraguay: River barge schedules are seasonal and low water can suspend service. The Ciudad del Este re-export regime has its own tax treatment — confirm which regime applies before quoting.
How this lane actually runs
Paraguay is served by the Paraná–Paraguay river barge system from Montevideo or Buenos Aires, one of the longest inland waterway movements used in regular commerce. Ciudad del Este on the Brazilian border operates a re-export regime that has made Paraguay a redistribution point for Chinese consumer electronics into Brazil and Argentina — a genuinely distinctive feature of this lane.
| Air gateways used | ASU (Asunción) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 5–8 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Landlocked — via Montevideo or Buenos Aires, then Paraná river barge to Asunción |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 35–48 calendar days including the river leg |
| Gateway serving Asuncion | ASU air / Montevideo transit |
| Inland leg to Asuncion | +2 days from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 5–12 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Pre-shipment checklist for Asuncion
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: INTN conformity for regulated goods; import registration required.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Paraguay duty rate against it yourself.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Air, sea or overland into Asuncion?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 5–8 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 35–48 calendar days including the river leg | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Paraguay gateway and excludes the +2 days inland leg to Asuncion and 5–12 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Asuncion
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Asuncion take?
China to the Paraguay gateway is 5–8 business days by air, 35–48 calendar days including the river leg by sea. On top of that, allow 5–12 days of clearance with Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay and a +2 days inland leg to Asuncion.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Asuncion?
Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay applies: IVA 10%; Mercosur common external tariff 0–35%, with a reduced regime for goods re-exported through Ciudad del Este. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Asuncion.
What documents does Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay 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 (INTN conformity for regulated goods; import registration required). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
When is the busiest time on the China–Paraguay 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 Asuncion clear through?
Cargo for Asuncion is routed via ASU air / Montevideo transit. Sea gateways for Paraguay are Landlocked — via Montevideo or Buenos Aires, then Paraná river barge to Asunción; air gateways are ASU (Asunción). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Asuncion?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via ASU (Asunción). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
Other delivery cities in Paraguay
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Paraguay 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 Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay or your broker before you ship.
- Dirección Nacional de Aduanas
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
Page data last reviewed: November 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Personal Protective Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Beauty Equipment Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Inflatable Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Artificial Flowers Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Retail Products E-commerce & Retail Channels
- Sheet Metal Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Storage Tanks Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Electric Motors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Agricultural Drones Agriculture & Livestock Equipment
- Wire & Cable New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Automotive Lighting Automotive & Vehicles
- Flooring Building Materials & Construction Products
Checking the Paraguay duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Dirección Nacional de Aduanas de Paraguay against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Asuncion. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
FCL vs LCL Shipping: When to Switch (Break-Even Point Explained) — Max Antonov. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.