Shipping from China to San Fernando
China → San Fernando · via POS air / Point Lisas sea · clearance by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago
San Fernando is southern industrial city, and it is served through POS air / Point Lisas sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
The clearing authority is Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 4–10 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
What the routing looks like in practice
Trinidad is the industrial anchor of the southern Caribbean and a distribution point for the eastern islands. Asian cargo generally transships at Kingston, Caucedo or Cartagena. Foreign-exchange availability has been a recurring constraint for importers, which affects how quickly duty and supplier payments settle.
| Air gateways used | POS (Port of Spain) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 5–8 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Port of Spain, Point Lisas |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 28–36 calendar days |
| Gateway serving San Fernando | POS air / Point Lisas sea |
| Inland leg to San Fernando | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for San Fernando
Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for San Fernando consignees. Current regime: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0–20%, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Trinidad and Tobago: Foreign-exchange access can delay settlement. CARICOM tariff treatment differs from the rates applied in Latin American neighbors. Import licenses apply to controlled goods.
Air, sea or overland into San Fernando?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 5–8 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 28–36 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to San Fernando and 4–10 days of clearance.
Before you book: San Fernando checklist
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Confirm the consignee in San Fernando can act as importer of record — Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- 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.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Mode guides for San Fernando
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to San Fernando take?
China to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway is 5–8 business days by air, 28–36 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 4–10 days of clearance with Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago and a same-day inland leg to San Fernando.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into San Fernando?
Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago applies: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0–20%. 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 San Fernando.
Can you deliver door-to-door in San Fernando?
Yes. Delivery to a San Fernando address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for San Fernando?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters 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.
When is the busiest time on the China–Trinidad and Tobago 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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into San Fernando?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 28–36 calendar days by sea versus 5–8 business days by air to the Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Trinidad and Tobago 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 Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago or your broker before you ship.
- Customs and Excise Division
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
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.
- Bicycle Parts Automotive & Vehicles
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Corrugated Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Glass Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Electronic Switches Electronic Components & Semiconductors
- IoT Devices Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices
- Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Home Storage Products Furniture & Home Products
- Fashion Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Laboratory Equipment Medical, Laboratory & Precision Instruments
- Locks & Safes Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Salon Furniture Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
Checking the Trinidad and Tobago duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago 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.
If this is your first shipment into Trinidad and Tobago, the Trinidad and Tobago Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for San Fernando. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
How to Calculate CBM in Shipping | Volume vs Weight Explained | CBM Formula & Freight Cost Guide — 10 Min For Supply Chain. 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.