Master the art of shipping goods from China to Colombia with our informative website. From logistics to customs, we’ve got you covered.
Over the years, China and Colombia have established strong trade relations. Colombia is known for its rich agricultural and natural resources and exports a variety of products to China. Colombia’s most important exports to China include crude oil, coal briquettes, coffee, bananas and cut flowers. Colombia’s high-quality coffee beans have found a popular market in China. Machinery, electronic products, textiles and manufactured goods are the main products China imports from Colombia.
Among some of the commercial products exported from China to Colombia, the main products are:
Vehicles (cars), large vehicles (buses, trucks), household appliances, beverages, pharmaceuticals, aluminum, electrical supplies, plastic gear products, advanced electronic components, epoxy chemical composites, adhesives, foam tapes, machinery, agriculture Equipment, medical facilities, heavy machinery, food processing facilities, solar symbols, LED products and more.
Since 2019, China has become Colombia’s second largest trading partner, and trade exchanges between the two sides have become increasingly frequent. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume of goods between Colombia and China will be US$22.642 billion, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. Colombia’s exports to China will increase by 25.3% year-on-year. The trade structure between the two countries continues to be optimized.
As international trade continues to boom, the need for efficient cargo transportation from China to Colombia has increased significantly. Goods can be shipped from China to Colombia by sea or air.
How to Shipping Goods from China to Colombia
Sea Freight From China To Colombia
Since China and Colombia are on different continents and separated by the Pacific Ocean, shipping has become the most important and common mode of transportation for trade between the two countries.
FCL ocean freight from China to Colombia is the most secure and cost-efficient method available. With FCL shipping, you have complete control over your container without sharing space. This ensures that your items are safe during transit from China to Colombia.
RJ Logistics offers a variety of container options, including 20 feet, 40 feet, reefer containers, and frame boxes, for shipping from China to Colombia.
Sea Freight LCL from China to Colombia
LCL service is ideal if you don’t have enough cargo to fill a full container when shipping from China to Colombia. By sharing container space with other customers heading to the same destination in Colombia, you can save money while still maintaining control over your shipment.
Breakbulk sea shipping from China to Colombia
Breakbulk shipping is the best choice when your cargo is too large or heavy for a standard container. Your breakbulk cargo will be shipped individually on sea vessels from China to Colombia, rather than in containers.
RJ Logistics provides door-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-port shipping services from China to Colombia.
Container Types For Shipping From China To Colombia
There are three main types of containers shipped from China to Colombia:
20’GP = 20’DV = 20FT = 20′ = 20 feet (generally used in Colombia).
This applies to bulky cargo. For example, rocks and minerals or heavy machinery.
40’GP = 40’DV = 40FT = 40′ = 40 feet (Universal in China)
This applies to large cargo, but not to overweight cargo. So this kind of container is suitable for goods such as furniture, tires, consumer goods, etc.
40’HC = 40’HQ = 40 foot high cube for shipping from China to Colombia
General containers usually refer to Dry Containers, also known as DCs.
Sometimes, fluid cargo can also be transported via DC as long as it is properly packaged.
For irregular cargo that cannot fit into regular containers, there are special options, such as open-top containers, refrigerated containers, flatbed containers, tank containers, etc.
We will be happy to negotiate with you about the container that best suits your needs.
Advantages Of Sea Freight From China To Colombia
Sea freight from China to Colombia is a cost-effective option for transporting goods. It is not only the oldest method of shipping, but also one of the most convenient. There are several advantages to choosing sea shipping:
- Sea freight from China to Colombia is a more budget-friendly option.
- It is highly efficient to utilize sea shipping services for transportation.
- Oversized, overweight, and bulky cargo can easily be transported from China to Colombia by sea.
- The safety of shipping services from China to Colombia is guaranteed.
- Sea shipping from China to Colombia is also environmentally friendly.
Air Freight From China To Colombia
When it comes to prioritizing speed over cost, air freight is the ideal shipping solution from China to Colombia. With air freight, you can expect swift delivery of your goods, typically taking only 3-8 days to reach Colombia from China.
Perhaps your project has faced significant delays, and air freight can help you catch up on lost time and expedite your project schedule.
In cases where the goods being shipped are perishable, air freight is the only viable option as sea freight takes too long.
However, if you have the budget for your supply chain and simply require fast shipping, air freight not only offers the speed you need but also ensures a higher level of safety compared to other shipping methods.
Naturally, air freight is faster, safer, and more expensive than alternative shipping options.
It’s important to note that not all items can be transported on a cargo plane. Some may be classified as hazardous materials, while others may be too large to fit on board. We recommend consulting with us for information and advice before making any decisions.
If you’re in need of faster shipping from China to Colombia, please don’t hesitate to contact us for air freight solutions and shipping costs.
Advantages Of Air Freight From China To Colombia
There are multiple methods to transport goods from China to Colombia, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Air freight is commonly chosen for valuable and low-volume shipments due to its reliability. However, what are the other common factors that lead to the preference of air freight?
1. Air freight from China to Colombia is incredibly efficient.
When you need your goods to reach their destination quickly, air freight is the ideal choice compared to sea or road transport.
2. The arrival and departure times from China to Colombia are extremely reliable.
Flights strictly adhere to their schedules, ensuring that your goods arrive and depart on time. Even in the event of flight suspensions, there are usually frequent departures every hour.
3. Ship your goods from China to virtually anywhere in the world.
Most airlines have an extensive network of destinations, including Colombia, covering almost every corner of the globe. This means you can easily send your shipments to any desired location, such as Colombia.
4. Save significantly on shipping costs when sending goods from China to Colombia, as air cargo offers shorter transit times and lower insurance premiums. If air freight is expensive, insurance prices will be more affordable.
5. Cargo transported from China to Colombia by sea and air benefits from stringent security measures at airports, minimizing the risk of theft and damage. This level of protection gives the high security group a significant advantage.
6. When shipping by air from China to Colombia, there is a reduced need for warehousing and inventory management due to quicker transit times. Customs clearance and cargo handling processes are also more efficient in both countries.
7. Shipping from China to Colombia via air freight typically requires less packaging compared to sea freight, saving you time and money that can be used for other purposes.
8. Keep track of your shipment’s status when shipping from China to Colombia by utilizing online tracking services offered by many companies. Stay updated on your shipment’s progress from departure to arrival.
China Main Loading Ports (POL) And Colombia Main Ports Of Discharge (POD) For Sea Freight & Air Freight
| SEAFREIGHT | AIRFREIGHT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main POL | Main POD | Main POL | Main POD |
| Shanghai | Cartagena | Shenzhen (SZX) | Bogota (BOG) |
| Shenzhen | Barranaquilla | Shanghai (PVG) | Medellin (MDE) |
| Ningbo | Buenaventura | Beijing (PEK) | Barranquilla (BAQ) |
| Qingdao | Santa Marta | Qingdao (TAO) | |
| Guangzhou | Bogota | Ningbo (NBG) | |
| Tianjin | Medellin | Xiamen (XMN) | |
| Dalian | Guangzhou (CAN) | ||
| Xiamen | Hong-Kong (HKG) | ||
| Hong-Kong | Zhengzhou (CGO) | ||
| Macao | Xi’An (XIY) |
How Much Does It Cost To Ship From China To Colombia?
Shipping costs from China to Colombia depend on various factors, including the shipping method, the size and weight of the cargo, and the specific route taken. Below are some general shipping cost estimates for different shipping methods:
Cost Of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container From China To Colombia
The average price to ship a container from China to Colombia is $3,550 to $7,550.
Shipping costs for shipping a full container from China to Colombia depend on the size of the container (20ft or 40ft) and the timetable route, please contact the RJ Freight Forwarder Quotation Team for detailed rates for shipping containers from China to major container ports in Colombia .
How much does it cost to ship a 20-foot container from China to Colombia?
The average price to ship a 20-foot container from China to Colombia is $3550 to $4550. Shipping schedules for shipping 20-foot containers from China to Colombia vary by route.
How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to Colombia? The average price of shipping a 40-foot container from China to Colombia is from $4,050 to $5,550. Shipping schedules for shipping 40-foot containers from China to Colombia vary by route.
Generally speaking, the cost of shipping a standard 40-foot container from the Shanghai port in China to the Buenaventura port in Colombia is about US$5,800 to US$8,100. If you need the option to freeze perishable items, the price will be higher.
Container Shipping Rates From China To Colombia
These are the average prices to ship a container from China to Colombia with the cheapest rates for loading and shipping containers from the major ports in China to Colombia for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) with all types of cargo such as: commercial cargo, vehicles, or personal effects for international shipments to Colombia.
| Container shipping service to Colombia | Type of container | Ocean freight rates to Colombia: |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $3550 20FT average prices from: $6850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $3550 20FT average prices from: $6850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $4050 20FT average prices from: $6250 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $4150 20FT average prices from: $7550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $4050 20FT average prices from: $6250 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $3850 20FT average prices from: $6050 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou to Colombia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average prices from: $3850 20FT average prices from: $6050 40FT |
Air Freight Cost From China To Colombia
Air freight costs depend on the departure city, destination airport, and the weight and volume of the cargo. The price per kilogram is usually USD 8-22 per kilogram, depending on the specific air cargo company and route.
For example, your package has a gross weight of 20kg and dimensions of 30cm long, 30cm wide and 20cm high.
If you use FedEx’s International Priority package, the cost is about $750 to $800.
Delivery time is approximately 9 to 10 days.
If you use FedEx Economy Parcel International, the cost is approximately $540 to $560 and the delivery time is 15 to 17 days.
How To Calculate The Billing Weight For Air Shipment From China To Colombia?
Everything about air freight is expensive, from crew wages to expensive premium fuel. Therefore, the cost of this service is very high, but it has the advantage of speed of delivery.
There are two measurement systems for air express delivery from China to Colombia and other countries, namely physical weight or gross weight and volumetric weight or volumetric weight.
All shipments from China to Colombia have gross and dimensional weight estimates.
Gross weight is simple, just like we deal with kilograms or pounds in our daily lives.
However, the dimensional weight is measured by multiplying the length, width, and height of the parcel box and dividing by 5,000.
Let’s say your package has a gross weight of 50kg. But its height is 100 cm, its width is 100 cm, and its height is 50 cm.
Then the volume is 500,000 cubic centimeters.
Divide by 5000 and you will get the volumetric weight of 100 kg.
If the cost per kilogram is $5, then you have to pay $500 for 100 kilograms, even though the actual weight is only 50 kilograms
What Is The Cheapest Way To Ship From China To Colombia?
- Naturally, the most economical way to ship from China to Colombia is by sea. Opting for sea shipping is ideal when importing bulk products or heavy industrial equipment. However, it’s important to note that sea shipping from China to Colombia is the slowest option available.
In a 40-foot container, you can transport roughly 29,000 kilograms of goods. With container freight costing approximately $9,000, the shipping cost per kilogram from China to Colombia is roughly 32 cents. On the other hand, air freight from China to Colombia is significantly more expensive per kilogram.
How To Reduce Shipping Costs From China To Colombia?
Calculating the cost-effectiveness of shipping from China to Colombia is crucial in the import business to stay competitive in the market. Your trusted freight forwarder will assist you in finding the most affordable shipping options. For instance, RJ freight forwarder offers the best prices.
To achieve a cost-effective shipping strategy, it is important to prioritize your products and time. If you can make an early decision, opting for sea shipping from China to Colombia would be the ideal choice. On the other hand, air shipping from China to Colombia would cost approximately five times more.
How Long Does It Take To Ship From China To Colombia
25-45 days is needed to ship cargo from China to Colombia by sea, and 4-8 days by air.
The actual transit time may varies depending on the terminal, service and route chosen, weather, congestion, seasonal change of market, etc.
China-Colombia Sea Freight Transit Time
Container shipping transit time by sea from China to Colombia
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | Transit time |
| Shanghai | Buenaventura | 30 days |
| Shanghai | Barranquilla | 35 days |
| Shenzhen | Buenaventura | 32 days |
| Shenzhen | Barranquilla | 34 days |
| Qingdao | Buenaventura | 30 days |
| Qingdao | Barranquilla | 38 days |
FYI: Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China, data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to Colombia.
The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.
China-Colombia Air Shipping Transit Time
Cargo air shipped from China takes 4-8 days to arrive in Bogota, Colombia.
Choosing different service and route would result in a slight difference of transit time. If you require the fastest way possible, please contact an experienced air freight forwarder for the best route with the least lead time for your China-Colombia air shipments.
Colombian Customs Regulations
When exporting from China to Colombia, please sign an agreement with Colombian Customs to receive the goods and clear them through Colombian Customs. Here are the main levels to follow:
Colombian customs inspects the goods when deemed necessary and then authorizes the pickup of the goods.
Please complete the Andean Customs Value Declaration when the import value from China to Colombia is equal to or exceeds FOB USD 5,000.00.
Fill out the import declaration form from China to Colombia. When the import value approaches or exceeds $1,000.00, a Colombian customs broker should handle all paperwork and clear the goods through Colombian Customs.
Go to a confirmed economic entity to pay import duties, value-added tax, surcharges and other fees for express shipments from China to Colombia.
Present all documents for shipment from China to Colombia to customs.
Importers from China to Colombia must keep import documents for no less than five years.
Colombian customs officials attempted to inspect the merchandise to confirm that its description and classification were consistent with the importer’s declaration. In Colombia, customs inspection teams usually conduct regular inspections after customs clearance to detect fraud, foreign exchange irregularities and tax evasion.
Documents Required For Colombian Customs Clearance
The customs clearance method is a process. In the process, you will definitely have a good experience. Of course, there may be some topics and matters regarding how to import from China to Colombia for customs clearance. Nonetheless, a specific customs broker in Colombia will be able to solve all these problems. Aside from receiving notifications and asking your broker questions, perhaps the most critical function in the customs clearance process is document preparation. Proper documentation arrangements will protect you and your customs broker from significant time and failure in Colombia. When importing goods from China to Colombia, you need four important import documents for quick and easy customs clearance.
Commercial invoice for export from China to Colombia
This article is for international business. The commercial invoice contains the details of your shipment from China to Colombia. Company, Origin, Destination and HS Code are crucial for clearing your shipment through customs. A person or company that manufactures goods is a company. Calculating customs duties is the main objective of commercial invoices. The commercial invoice must show the buyer and seller in China and Colombia. Other requirements for commercial invoices include:
- Packaging Types in China
- Product description in China
- China transportation information
- Sales date and terms in China
- In accordance with customs requirements, carefully read and fill in the English invoice. All information required for customs clearance at the U.S. port of entry must be included on the customs invoice.
Packing list for export from China to Colombia
The packing list is presented by the shipper or freight forwarder in China and can be used by customs for freight inspection. The data from the invoice should also be on your packing slip. Therefore, the invoice and packing list work together to provide important data for the customs clearance process. The packing list should immediately correspond to the invoice. Remember, a packing slip is not a replacement for a commercial invoice. The packing slip only helps confirm shipping costs. The type of packaging must be indicated on the packing list. Goods can be shipped in a variety of ways, including boxes, crates, barrels or cartons from China to Colombia.
China Exports Colombia Bill of Lading (BOL)
A bill of lading (BOL) is a document issued by a carrier to a shipper of goods in China. This document is necessary for Chinese exporters to receive payment and for importers to obtain goods in Colombia. If something goes wrong with your shipment, a bill of lading will need to be considered to prevent any injury, hold, or loss. BOL provides tracking numbers to track your shipment and covers international shipping details from China to Colombia
If you still don’t understand anything about shipping from China to Colombia, please contact us for a quote.
