Sea Freight from China to Callao, Peru — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Callao · via LIM air / Callao sea · clearance by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas
For buyers shipping into Callao, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Callao is the port district adjoining Lima; cargo enters through LIM air / Callao sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 3–8 days.
Duty, tax and clearance into Callao
SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Callao consignees. Current regime: IGV 18%; duty 0–11%, with 0% on most goods under the China–Peru free trade agreement, with a de-minimis position of 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.
What the routing looks like in practice
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 Callao | LIM air / Callao sea |
| Inland leg to Callao | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Callao checklist
- Confirm the consignee in Callao can act as importer of record — SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Put the Callao delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products.
- 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 Callao 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 same-day inland leg to Callao.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Callao?
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 Callao.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Callao?
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.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Callao?
Yes. Delivery to a Callao address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas, 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.
What documents does SUNAT — Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas 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 (Certificate of origin for FTA preference; DIGEMID or DIGESA registration for health and food products). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Callao?
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 same-day 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 Callao
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.