Sea Freight from China to Arequipa, Peru — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Arequipa · via AQP air / Matarani sea · clearance by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Arequipa through AQP air / Matarani sea. Arequipa is southern commercial and mining centre, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 3–8 days.
What you will pay on arrival in Peru
Imports into Peru are cleared by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas. The headline position is: IGV 18%; duty 0–11%, with 0% on most goods under the China–Peru free trade agreement. The de-minimis threshold is USD 200 for courier consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Peru: FTA preference requires a valid certificate of origin. Health, food and cosmetic products need consignee-side registration before arrival. Chancay's inland connections are still maturing — confirm the final trucking arrangement.
How this lane actually runs
The Chancay megaport opened in late 2024 and created the first direct Shanghai–South America service, cutting roughly a week off the traditional Callao routing that transships in Mexico or Panama. For cargo destined to Lima it is now worth quoting Chancay and Callao separately — the difference in transit is material, and Chancay is positioning itself as a redistribution hub for the whole west coast.
| Sea gateways used | Callao, Chancay, Paita |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao |
| Gateway serving Arequipa | AQP air / Matarani sea |
| Inland leg to Arequipa | +2 days from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Put the Arequipa delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Peru duty rate against it yourself.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- 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 Arequipa take?
China to the Peru gateway is 22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas and a +2 days inland leg to Arequipa.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Arequipa?
SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas applies: IGV 18%; duty 0–11%, with 0% on most goods under the China–Peru free trade agreement. The de-minimis position is USD 200 for courier consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Arequipa.
Which port or airport does cargo for Arequipa clear through?
Cargo for Arequipa is routed via AQP air / Matarani sea. Sea gateways for Peru are Callao, Chancay, Paita; air gateways are LIM (Lima Jorge Chávez). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Arequipa?
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 Callao, Chancay, Paita. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
What certification do I need for Peru?
For regulated goods, plan for: Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products. 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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Arequipa?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 22–30 calendar days to Chancay, 26–34 to Callao by sea versus 4–6 business days by air to the Peru gateway, before clearance and the +2 days inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Peru
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Peru 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 SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas or your broker before you ship.
- SUNAT — Aduanas
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Arequipa
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.