--- title: "Door-to-Door to Guatemala City Ocean Freight Cost from" canonical: "https://freightquotechina.com/ddp-route/gt_sea_ddp/" description: "Sea Freight from China to Door-to-Door to Guatemala City, 25-45 calendar days door to door. Duty Paid service. Cleared by the national customs authority." retrieved: "2026-11-05" source: "https://freightquotechina.com/" --- Sea Freight from China to Door-to-Door to Guatemala City runs 25-45 calendar days door to door, clearing through the destination customs authority. Rates shown are indicative freight estimates; duty, tax and customs handling depend on the commodity and are quoted separately. Send weight, dimensions and product details for a firm figure. Indicative published channel rate for planning, not a quotation. What you actually pay depends on the product and its HS code, chargeable weight, declared value, duty and tax at destination and the exchange rate on the day — it can come in above or below this. Price data updating. Contact us for current rates. Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you 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 | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | FCA Free Carrier | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | FOB Free On Board | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | CFR Cost and Freight | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Negotiable | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | | CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | | DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Negotiable | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | | DAP Delivered At Place | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Negotiable | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | | DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Negotiable | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | #### 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 ### What to expect on the China–Guatemala Sea Freight lane We move door-to-door sea freight from South China into Guatemala. Cargo enters through Puerto Quetzal (Pacific), Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic) and clears with SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala, which takes 4–10 days on average. 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. ![Sea Freight from China to Guatemala — cargo handling at the departure terminal](https://freightquotechina.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ocean-freight-port.webp)Handling on the China–Guatemala sea freight routing. #### Route facts | Destination country | Guatemala | | --- | --- | | Region | Americas | | Mode | Sea Freight | | Gateways used | Puerto Quetzal (Pacific), Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic) | | Transit, China to gateway | 22–30 calendar days to Puerto Quetzal | | 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**](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/guatemala-city/) — capital and the largest Central American market. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +1 day. [Sea Freight guide →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/guatemala-city/sea-freight/) - [**China to Mixco**](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/mixco/) — metropolitan industrial and retail district. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +1 day. [Sea Freight guide →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/mixco/sea-freight/) - [**China to Villa Nueva**](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/villa-nueva/) — southern manufacturing suburb. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +1 day. [Sea Freight guide →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/villa-nueva/sea-freight/) - [**China to Quetzaltenango**](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/quetzaltenango/) — western highlands commercial centre. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg +2 days. [Sea Freight guide →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/quetzaltenango/sea-freight/) - [**China to Escuintla**](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/escuintla/) — the province containing the main Pacific port. Via GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea; inland leg same day. [Sea Freight guide →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/escuintla/sea-freight/) [All Guatemala freight information →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/) Every consignment on this service is measured as well as weighed. Volumetric weight is L×W×H in centimetres divided by 6000 — one cubic metre counted as roughly 166.7 kg — and whichever figure is higher is the one charged. Dense cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on its volume, and repacking to raise density is often the cheapest saving available on a Guatemala shipment. Typical cargo on this route: [laboratory furniture](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/laboratory-furniture-logistics/) (HS 94), where clearance turns on timber due diligence (EUTR / EUDR) and UK upholstery fire regulations, [paper packaging](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/paper-packaging-logistics/) (HS 44 / 48) and [fasteners](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/fasteners-logistics/) (HS 73 / 82 / 83). If yours is on that list the commodity page is worth two minutes — it covers how the goods should leave the factory, how they should sit in the container, and the failure mode we see most often on this kind of freight. We move sea freight cargo for Guatemala through [Puerto Quetzal (Pacific)](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/puerto-quetzal/sea-freight/) and Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic). The quoted rate covers the ocean leg to whichever of those the vessel calls at; the difference between them shows up in the trucking cost beyond the quay, which is why it pays to name the delivery city when you ask for a quote rather than just the country. Inland coverage matters more than the port rate for most consignees. We deliver to [Guatemala City](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/guatemala-city/sea-freight/), [Villa Nueva](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/villa-nueva/sea-freight/), [Escuintla](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/escuintla/sea-freight/), [Quetzaltenango](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/quetzaltenango/sea-freight/) and [Mixco](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/mixco/sea-freight/) and beyond, and the guide for each sets out its arrival gateway, the inland days to add to the transit quoted here, and the documentation the local office actually asks for. You can browse [all Guatemala destinations we cover](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/), 6 destinations in total. [![Freight Quote China Shipping Cost Inquiry Tool](https://freightquotechina.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/freightquotechina-logo.webp)](https://freightquotechina.com/) ## Track your shipment Enter your tracking number below Powered by [17TRACK](https://www.17track.net) — supports 2,000+ carriers worldwide '; return; } var pretty = res.num.substring(0,4) + ' ' + res.num.substring(4,10) + ' ' + res.num.substring(10); var who, target; if (res.carrier) { who = 'The **' + esc(res.prefix) + '** prefix belongs to **' + esc(res.carrier.name) + '**, so this box is theirs. Their tracking page is the authoritative source for it.'; target = res.carrier; } else if (res.lessor) { who = 'The **' + esc(res.prefix) + '** prefix belongs to **' + esc(res.lessor) + '**, a container leasing company rather than a shipping line. A leased box can sail with any carrier, ' + 'so the number alone does not say who is moving it — use the universal lookup below, or check your bill of lading for the line.'; target = FALLBACK; } else { who = 'We do not have **' + esc(res.prefix) + '** in our prefix list. The number itself is valid, ' + 'so the universal lookup below will route it to the right line.'; target = FALLBACK; } /* Always offer the universal lookups as well as the carrier. A carrier site can be down, or simply not show a box that has not reached its network yet, and a dead end at that point is what generates a support email. */ var alts = ''; for (var i = 0; i < FALLBACKS.length; i++) { var f = FALLBACKS[i]; if (target !== FALLBACK && i === 0) { /* keep order, still show */ } if (f.url === target.url) { continue; } alts += '[' + esc(f.name) + '](' + esc(f.url) + ') — ' + esc(f.note) + ''; } box.innerHTML = '' + '' + esc(pretty) + '' + ' Check digit valid. ' + who + ' ' + '' + '[Track on ' + esc(target.name) + '](' + esc(target.url) + ')' + '' + '' + (alts ? ' No result there? These free lookups cover the same box from different data sources: ' : '') + ''; /* Copy the number so the carrier's own search box is one paste away. Deliberately not a deep link: these carrier sites are SPAs whose query parameters change without notice, and a link that quietly stops prefilling looks like a broken tracker. */ var note = box.querySelector('[data-copy]'); if (navigator.clipboard && navigator.clipboard.writeText) { navigator.clipboard.writeText(res.num).then(function () { note.textContent = res.num + ' copied — paste it into the tracking box that opens.'; }, function () { note.textContent = 'Copy ' + res.num + ' and paste it into the tracking box that opens.'; }); } else { note.textContent = 'Copy ' + res.num + ' and paste it into the tracking box that opens.'; } } function wire(root) { var input = root.querySelector('.cof-ot-input'); var btn = root.querySelector('.cof-ot-btn'); var box = root.querySelector('.cof-ot-out'); if (!input || !btn || !box) return; function go() { var num = normalize(input.value); if (!num) { input.focus(); return; } render(box, analyze(num)); } btn.addEventListener('click', go); input.addEventListener('keydown', function (e) { if (e.key === 'Enter') { e.preventDefault(); go(); } }); } function init() { var nodes = document.querySelectorAll('.cof-ot'); for (var i = 0; i < nodes.length; i++) { wire(nodes[i]); } } if (document.readyState === 'loading') { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', init); } else { init(); } })(); ## Track your container to Guatemala Ocean cargo is tracked by container number, not by a parcel barcode. Enter yours below: we check it is a valid number, identify the line that owns it, and take you straight to that line's tracking page for this ocean service. Container number A container number is four letters and seven digits, for example MSKU6090510. The last digit is a check digit, so a typo can be caught here rather than by an empty result on the carrier's site. We validate it in your browser — the number is not sent to us or to anyone else. ## Additional Information ### Duty, tax and documents for 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 - Bill of lading - Certificate of origin where it reduces the duty rate - Product certification or conformity documents where the commodity requires them ![Export packing and consolidation for Guatemala-bound cargo](https://freightquotechina.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Freight-Images-3.webp)Consolidation and carton marking before departure. #### Packing notes - Chargeable weight is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 1000 for LCL chargeable volume) - 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 - [Air Freight from China to Guatemala](https://freightquotechina.com/ddp-route/gt-air-ddp/) 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. ### Where these numbers come from Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through [ITC Market Access Map](https://www.macmap.org/) before committing to an order. If you want to sanity-check a duty figure yourself, start from the heading rather than the product name — [the WCO Harmonized System](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview.aspx) is the underlying nomenclature, and [the WTO Tariff & Trade Data portal](https://ttd.wto.org/) holds the applied rates by country pair. For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under [the IMO's IMDG Code](https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/DangerousGoodsDefault.aspx), 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. On the origin side, export declaration and any commodity inspection requirement fall under [China Customs (GACC)](http://english.customs.gov.cn/); we handle that filing as part of the service, but the requirement is theirs, not ours. For a wider view of how importing into Guatemala actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the [U.S. ITA guide to Guatemala customs regulations](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/guatemala-customs-regulations) is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes. ## China to Guatemala — Shipping Reference Data | Main sea gateways | Puerto Quetzal (Pacific), Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic) | | --- | --- | | 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 Sea Route This page covers a Sea freight service from China to Guatemala. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote. 🚢 ### 3D Container Loading Planner Wondering whether your cargo fills a 20GP or needs a 40HQ for this Guatemala route? The 3D container planner simulates cartons, crates, pallets, and even mixed box sizes in one container. [Open Container Planner →](https://freightquotechina.com/3d-container-loading-planner/) ## Guatemala Sea Freight Checklist - Verify the receiver's customs import capability in Guatemala for DDP terms before booking. - Check pallet vs floor-loading: floor loading typically fits 8-12% more cartons per container. - Confirm whether your Guatemala rate is per CBM or per container before comparing quotes. - Ask whether the quote includes destination port charges in Guatemala or only ocean freight. ## Frequently Asked Questions How long does Sea DDP Door-to-Door from China to Guatemala take? Sea freight on this route runs about 25–45 calendar 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. Can you ship special cargo (batteries, branded goods) to Guatemala? Yes — battery goods by sea follow UN3480/UN3481 rules with an MSDS; we prepare the dangerous-goods paperwork as part of DDP into Puerto Quetzal (Pacific), Santo Tomás de Castilla (Atlantic). Surcharges apply. When does capacity tighten on the China–Guatemala lane? Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Book 1–2 weeks earlier in these periods. 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. What documents are required for customs clearance in Guatemala? SAT — Intendencia de Aduanas de Guatemala typically requires a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading/air waybill, a certificate of origin (may lower duty), and any product certification (Health registration for food and cosmetics; conformity for regulated goods). We file these under DDP. ## 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. - [Puerto Quetzal GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/puerto-quetzal/sea-freight/) Guide only — no rates - [Guatemala City GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/guatemala-city/sea-freight/) Guide only — no rates - [Mixco GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/mixco/sea-freight/) Guide only — no rates - [Villa Nueva GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +1 day](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/villa-nueva/sea-freight/) Guide only — no rates - [Quetzaltenango GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland +2 days](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/quetzaltenango/sea-freight/) Guide only — no rates - [Escuintla GUA air / Puerto Quetzal sea inland same day](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/escuintla/sea-freight/) Guide only — no rates [All Guatemala destination guides →](https://freightquotechina.com/china-freight-to-guatemala/) ## 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. - [Generators New Energy, Power & Electrical](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/generators-logistics/) - [Automotive Parts Automotive & Vehicles](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/automotive-parts-logistics/) - [Prefabricated Building Building Materials & Construction Products](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/prefabricated-building-logistics/) - [Plumbing Products Building Materials & Construction Products](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/plumbing-products-logistics/) - [Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/injection-molded-parts-logistics/) - [Art Ceramics Glass & Ceramic Products](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/art-ceramics-logistics/) - [Base Station Equipment Telecom, Computing & Data Centre](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/base-station-equipment-logistics/) - [Electronic Accessories Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/electronic-accessories-logistics/) - [Hotel Furniture Furniture & Home Products](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/hotel-furniture-logistics/) - [Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/textiles-logistics/) - [Bags Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/bags-logistics/) - [Medical Consumables Medical, Laboratory & Precision Instruments](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/medical-consumables-logistics/) [All 139 industry guides →](https://freightquotechina.com/industries/) Guatemala Sea Freight DDP from China — Door-to-Door to Guatemala City [View PDF](https://freightquotechina.com/ddp-route/gt_sea_ddp/download-pdf/) [Download](https://freightquotechina.com/ddp-route/gt_sea_ddp/download-pdf/?dl=1) ⚡ **Answer these and you get a real price, not a range.** These are the exact figures a carrier needs before it will quote. Fill them in once and we can price your cargo the same day — leave them out and we have to come back and ask, which is what turns an hour into a week. ✓ ### Got it — your enquiry is in. A freight specialist is looking at it now. You will have a price by email within one working day. **Want it in minutes instead?** Your details are already written into the message — just press send. Send it on WhatsApp or email it to us instead --- *Indicative published rates, not a binding offer. Freight charges depend on chargeable weight, destination and current capacity; duty, tax and clearance are quoted separately.* *Source: https://freightquotechina.com/ddp-route/gt_sea_ddp/ — retrieved 2026-11-05. Rates change weekly; please cite the retrieval date alongside any figure.*