Sea Freight from China to San Fernando
China → San Fernando · via POS air / Point Lisas sea · clearance by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago
We move sea freight cargo from South China into San Fernando through POS air / Point Lisas sea. San Fernando is southern industrial city, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 4–10 days.
Routing and transit on this lane
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.
| 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
Imports into Trinidad and Tobago are cleared by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago. The headline position is: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0–20%. The de-minimis threshold is 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.
Before you book: San Fernando checklist
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach San Fernando.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- 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.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Trinidad and Tobago lane.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to San Fernando take?
China to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway is 28–36 calendar days. 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.
What certification do I need for Trinidad and Tobago?
For regulated goods, plan for: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories. 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 Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago 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 (TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
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.
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.
- Bearings Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Automation Equipment General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Electronics Manufacturing Equipment Specialised Production Machinery
- Generators New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Automotive Parts Automotive & Vehicles
- Prefabricated Building Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plumbing Products Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Art Ceramics Glass & Ceramic Products
- Base Station Equipment Telecom, Computing & Data Centre
- Electronic Accessories Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices
- Hotel Furniture Furniture & Home Products
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.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
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.
Ocean Freight 101 - What Is LCL Ocean Freight — Flexport. 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.