💰 Current Freight Rates
Price data updating. Contact us for current rates.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to Guatemala is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
📋 Service Details
Guatemala Air Freight from China: routing and transit
This is our air freight service from China to Guatemala. Departure is from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Yiwu or Shanghai; entry is through GUA (Guatemala City), with clearance handled by SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala.
Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific coast is the shorter routing from China and avoids the Panama Canal, so it is usually both cheaper and faster than the Atlantic side. Guatemala is also the largest Central American consumer market, which makes it a sensible regional entry point when serving several neighbouring countries by road.
Route facts
| Destination country | Guatemala |
|---|---|
| Region | Americas |
| Mode | Air Freight |
| Gateways used | GUA (Guatemala City) |
| Transit, China to gateway | 4–7 business days |
| Clearance / dwell | 4–10 days |
| Peak season | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities on this lane
Each city below has its own guide covering the gateway that serves it, the inland leg after clearance and the local delivery requirements.
- China to Guatemala City — capital and the largest Central American market. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +1 day. Air Freight guide →
- China to Mixco — metropolitan industrial and retail district. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +1 day. Air Freight guide →
- China to Villa Nueva — southern manufacturing suburb. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +1 day. Air Freight guide →
- China to Quetzaltenango — western highlands commercial centre. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +2 days. Air Freight guide →
- China to Escuintla — the province containing the main Pacific port. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg same day. Air Freight guide →
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ℹ️ Additional Information
Clearance requirements into Guatemala
IVA 12%; Central American common tariff 0–15%. The de-minimis position is USD 100 for courier consignments.
Conformity: Health registration for food and cosmetics; conformity for regulated goods.
Known friction points: Road onward delivery into El Salvador and Honduras is straightforward but constitutes a separate customs event. Valuation reviews on consumer goods are common.
Documents we file under DDP
- Commercial invoice showing HS codes and the true transaction value
- Packing list with carton count, gross and net weight, and dimensions
- Air waybill
- Certificate of origin where it reduces the duty rate
- Product certification or conformity documents where the commodity requires them
Packing notes
- Chargeable weight is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000)
- Use ISPM-15 treated wood for any pallet or crate — untreated timber is a common hold
- Mark every carton with the consignee name, city and carton number of total
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders before booking, not after
Other modes into Guatemala
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity rules change by ministerial decision. The figures here are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your HS code with SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala or your broker before shipping.
📊 China to Guatemala — Shipping Reference Data
| Main air gateways | GUA (Guatemala City) |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | USD 100 for courier consignments |
| Import tax & duty regime | IVA 12%; Central American common tariff 0–15% |
| Local currency | GTQ |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 4–10 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | Health registration for food and cosmetics; conformity for regulated goods |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for This Air Route
This page covers a Air freight service from China to Guatemala. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Before tendering this Air DDP Door-to-Door shipment, check how many units really fit per carton — the 3D packing tool computes layers, rotation, and protective gaps for your exact product dimensions.
Open Packing Tool →✅ Guatemala Air Freight Checklist
- Compare volumetric weight (L×W×H÷6000) with actual weight — the higher one is billed.
- Shrink-wrap and corner-protect cartons — air cargo is transloaded multiple times.
- Confirm whether the Guatemala rate includes fuel and security surcharges or lists them separately.
- Book 2-3 days before your target ETD; same-day air bookings usually carry premium rates.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Air DDP Door-to-Door from China to Guatemala take?
Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 4–10 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into Guatemala?
Clearance is handled by SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala. The regime is: IVA 12%; Central American common tariff 0–15%, with a de-minimis position of USD 100 for courier consignments. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
In what currency is this route priced and paid?
Freight is quoted and invoiced in USD; the destination-side currency is GTQ. Payment is typically due before departure, and DDP means you settle the full landed cost once.
Which ports or airports does this route use into Guatemala?
Sea cargo to Guatemala clears through Puerto Quetzal (Pacific), Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic); air freight clears via GUA (Guatemala City). We route through whichever gateway gives the fastest onward delivery to your address and build it into the DDP price.
What does DDP shipping to Guatemala include on this route?
DDP means one price covering freight, the duty/tax owed to SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala, and last-mile delivery to your door in Guatemala. There are no surprise charges at destination.
How is the shipping cost on this route calculated?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) and charge the greater, rounded up to the next kilogram, then apply the per-KG rate shown in the table above.
Inland Delivery Coverage — Guatemala
We deliver beyond the arrival gateway. Each city below has its own destination guide covering the gateway it clears through, typical inland transit time and the local customs picture.
Note — these are reference guides, not quotes. The city pages describe routing, gateways and clearance for each destination. They do not carry rate tables. For pricing to any city listed here, use the rate table on this page or ask us for a quote.
- Guatemala City GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Mixco GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Villa Nueva GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day Guide only — no rates
- Quetzaltenango GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +2 days Guide only — no rates
- Escuintla GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland same day Guide only — no rates
Shipping Guatemala cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Ceramic Components Glass & Ceramic Products
- Data Center Equipment Telecom, Computing & Data Centre
- Home Appliances Home Appliances, HVAC & Commercial
- Laboratory Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Fabric Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Luggage Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Fire Protection Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products
- Illuminated Signs Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Office Supplies Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Cross-border E-commerce E-commerce & Retail Channels
- Metal Products Metal Products & Industrial Components
📞 Contact Us
Ready to ship? Our team responds within one business day. We also handle sourcing and purchasing.