How Much Does It Cost to Ship from China to Brazil? What Sets the Price
Summary: Shipping from China to Brazil costs about US$1,800–3,000 for a 20ft container and US$3,000–5,500 for a 40ft. LCL runs about US$70–150 per CBM, and air freight about US$5.00–7.50 per kg. In Brazil, add the AFRMM of 8% on ocean freight and the import taxes, which follow the NCM code and the state.
Price references: September 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Ship from China to Brazil?
The total has four parts. You pay the freight from China to Brazil, the charges in China, the charges in Brazil and the Brazilian taxes. Each part has its own unit and its own source.
For the freight, a 20ft container from China to Brazil runs about US$1,800–3,000, and a 40ft about US$3,000–5,500. LCL runs about US$70–150 per CBM, and air freight about US$5.00–7.50 per kg. For a weekly market view, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) lists a South America route based on Santos. The ocean freight price guide shows prices on other routes.
The Brazilian end is easier to pin down. The AFRMM rate is set by law, and the import taxes follow the NCM code. The table below lists what a complete quote for this lane should include.
| Cost line | Who publishes it | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean or air freight, China to Brazil | The carrier or forwarder, in the quote | Currency, unit, minimum, validity and the surcharges included |
| Charges in China | The origin agent or terminal, in the quote | Pickup, export clearance, terminal handling and documents |
| AFRMM on ocean freight | Brazilian law (section 5) | The freight amount on the bill of lading |
| Terminal, storage and broker fees in Brazil | The terminal and the customs broker, in the quote | Which lines are included and how storage days are counted |
| Import taxes | The tariff and Brazilian tax rules (section 6) | NCM code, customs value and the destination state |
| Delivery in Brazil | The trucking provider, in the quote | Address, waiting time and any unloading needs |
Ocean Freight: Price per Container
A full container (FCL) is priced per box. Our FCL container guide explains sizes and the charges outside the ocean rate.
The table shows typical prices per container for common port pairs. Santos, Paranaguá and Itajaí serve different parts of Brazil, and the truck leg to your address also counts.
| Origin | Destination | 20ft container | 40ft container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai, ChinaQuote this route | Santos, Brazil | US$1,800–3,000 | US$3,000–5,500 |
| Ningbo, ChinaQuote this route | Paranaguá, Brazil | US$1,800–3,000 | US$3,000–5,500 |
| Shenzhen, ChinaQuote this route | Itajaí, Brazil | US$1,800–3,000 | US$3,000–5,500 |
Ask each quote to show the base rate, the fuel and other surcharges, and the charges in China. Then check which charges at the Brazilian port are included. The AFRMM is worked out in Brazil from the freight shown on the bill of lading.
LCL: Price per CBM and the W/M Rule
LCL means your cargo shares a container with other shipments. It is priced per unit of weight or measure, called W/M. Under a common rule, 1 CBM counts the same as 1,000 kg. The rate applies to whichever is greater, subject to a minimum and rounding.
Take a typical request on this lane: 4.8 CBM that weighs 590 kg. The weight gives 0.59 units and the volume gives 4.8 units. So the shipment bills as 4.8 units, unless the minimum is higher. The ocean freight is 4.8 times the quoted rate.
LCL from China to Brazil runs about US$70–150 per CBM, so the 4.8 CBM example comes to about US$336–720 of ocean freight. LCL also adds charges at the CFS, the warehouses that pack and unpack the shared container. Our LCL shipping rates guide compares other routes.
Measure the packed cargo before you ask for a price. The CBM calculator turns carton sizes into cubic metres. Include pallets and packing in the dimensions.
Air Freight: Price per Chargeable Kg
Air freight is billed per chargeable kilogram. IATA describes a common rule: multiply length, width and height in centimetres, then divide by 6,000. The result is the volume weight. The chargeable weight is the greater of the volume weight and the gross weight.
This divisor is not universal, and some express services use 5,000. Confirm the divisor, minimum charge and rounding in the quote. Our air freight cost guide explains these rules in detail.
Here is an example. A shipment weighs 300 kg and fills 2.1 m³. That is 2,100,000 cm³, and 2,100,000 ÷ 6,000 gives 350 kg. The chargeable weight is 350 kg, because it is greater than 300 kg.
Air freight from China to Brazil runs about US$5.00–7.50 per kg. For the 350 kg example, that is about US$1,750–2,625 before fuel and security charges. The AFRMM does not apply here, because it is charged on waterborne freight.
Costs at Destination
Brazil adds one charge that most routes do not have: the AFRMM. It is a federal surcharge on waterborne freight that funds the merchant marine. The law sets it at 8% of the freight in long-haul navigation, which covers voyages between Brazil and foreign ports.
Freight in a foreign currency is converted into reais at the exchange rate on the payment date. The other lines below are set by law or come from the terminal, the broker and the trucker. Confirm each quoted line in writing.
| Charge | Published amount or rule | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| AFRMM on ocean freight, long-haul navigation | 8% of the freight | Law 10,893/2004, Art. 6, I, as worded by Law 14,301/2022; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| AFRMM base | Port-to-port freight, including the port cargo-handling charges shown on the bill of lading | Law 10,893/2004, Art. 5, § 1; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| AFRMM payment | Paid with the Mercante system fee before Receita Federal authorizes delivery | Law 10,893/2004, Art. 11; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| Import duty (II) | Rate set by NCM code in the Common External Tariff (TEC) | MDIC TEC page, updated July 31, 2024; checked September 23, 2026 |
| IPI, PIS/COFINS and ICMS | Rates depend on the NCM code and the state; confirm with a licensed customs broker in Brazil. | Invest & Export Brasil (gov.br) list of import taxes, published July 11, 2022; checked September 23, 2026 |
| Siscomex usage fee | Charged for each import declaration; confirm the current amount | Law 9,716/1998, Art. 3; Receita Federal, checked September 23, 2026 |
| CBS and IBS (tax reform) | In transition since 2026; ask how they apply on your registration date | Complementary Law 214/2025; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| Terminal handling, storage, broker fee and delivery | Confirm in the quote | The terminal, your broker and the written quote |
These are rules, not a Suaid Global tariff. Suaid Global coordinates the shipment through partner carriers and licensed customs brokers selected for the request. A licensed customs broker in Brazil confirms how each item applies to your shipment.
Duties and Taxes
Brazilian import taxes follow the NCM code, the 8-digit Mercosur code for goods. The import duty (II) rate for each code is set in the Common External Tariff (TEC). This guide gives no product rate.
The official list of taxes on imports names II, IPI, PIS/PASEP and COFINS, and the state tax ICMS. It also lists the AFRMM, the Siscomex fee and CIDE-Combustíveis, which concerns fuels. Rates depend on the NCM code and the state; confirm with a licensed customs broker in Brazil.
Brazil's tax reform is also under way. Complementary Law 214/2025 creates the CBS and IBS, with test rates in 2026. Ask your broker how they apply on your registration date.
The taxes use the customs value, not the invoice total alone. Under Brazil's Customs Regulation, that value includes the transport to the port of entry and the insurance. So the freight quote also moves the tax bill. Ask the broker for a landed-cost estimate before you ship.
Transit Time: What the Schedule Covers
Sailing time is only one part of the trip. A carrier schedule shows port-to-port days for a named service. It does not cover pickup, export steps, customs release in Brazil or delivery.
This page gives no fixed transit time, because schedules change by service and by week. Ask the quote to name the service, its port-to-port days, any transshipment port and the date of the schedule. Price and timing are confirmed in the written quote.
| Stage | Included in the sailing time? |
|---|---|
| Pickup from the supplier in China | No |
| Export clearance and the terminal cutoff | No |
| LCL packing at the origin CFS | No |
| Sea or air leg, port to port | Yes |
| Transshipment at a hub port, if the service uses one | Yes, when the schedule shows the full routing |
| Customs release in Brazil and any inspection | No |
| LCL unpacking at the Brazilian CFS | No |
| Delivery to your address | No |
What Changes the Price
- Season and carrier notices — Carriers announce rate changes and surcharges by notice. Ask for the quote's validity date and which notices it already includes.
- Port pair and routing — Santos, Paranaguá and Itajaí can price differently. A service with a transshipment stop can also price differently from a direct call.
- Density and W/M — Light, bulky LCL cargo bills by volume. Tighter packing can cut the CBM count, but keep the protection your goods need.
- Dangerous goods and batteries — Lithium batteries and other dangerous goods need approval and extra documents. They can add fees or limit which services accept the cargo.
- Minimum charges — Small LCL and air shipments often pay a minimum charge instead of the rate per unit. Ask for the minimum in writing.
- Incoterm and who pays what — Under FOB, the buyer books the ocean freight. Under CIF, the seller pays it to the Brazilian port. Check which costs are already in the goods price with our Incoterms guide.
- Exchange rate — The AFRMM and the import taxes are paid in reais. The exchange rate on the payment date changes the amount in your own currency.
- Free time and storage — Terminal storage and container time charges start after the free time in the terms. A slow customs release can add days of charges.
Worked Budget Example
Here is how the typical LCL request on this lane adds up, at about US$70–150 per CBM.
- Count the chargeable units: A shipment of 4.8 CBM and 590 kg bills as 4.8 W/M units under the rule of 1 CBM per 1,000 kg. Check the minimum and rounding in the quote.
- Price the ocean freight: At US$70–150 per CBM, 4.8 units come to about US$336–720 of ocean freight. Add the charges in China that the quote lists.
- Add the AFRMM: The AFRMM is 8% of the waterborne freight on the bill of lading. For every 100 of freight on the bill, it adds 8, paid in reais.
- Add the charges in Brazil: Add CFS unpacking, terminal storage, the Siscomex fee, the broker fee and delivery, as quoted. Mark each line as included or extra.
- Estimate the taxes: Ask a licensed customs broker in Brazil to estimate II, IPI, PIS/COFINS and ICMS for your NCM code and state. Keep the taxes on their own line.
- Compare full quotes: Compare totals with the same scope and the same dates. A lower freight rate can come with higher charges elsewhere.
What to Send for a Quote
A complete request gets a complete price. Use the CBM calculator for the volume. The China to Brazil shipping page covers the services on this lane.
- The city or port in China and the Brazilian port or delivery address
- The number of packages and how they are packed: cartons, pallets or crates
- The packed size of each piece, in centimetres
- The gross weight, including packaging
- A clear description of the goods and the NCM code, if you know it
- The date the cargo will be ready
- The Incoterm agreed with your supplier
- Port to port or door to door
- Any dangerous goods, batteries or temperature needs
Questions About Shipping Costs from China to Brazil
Sources and References
- Shanghai Shipping Exchange — SCFI, issue of September 18, 2026 — Lists a South America (Santos) route; the public page shows no value for it. Checked September 23, 2026.
- Planalto — Law 10,893/2004 (AFRMM), compiled text — Art. 5 (base), Art. 6, I (8% in long-haul navigation, as worded by Law 14,301/2022), Art. 9 (currency conversion) and Art. 11 (payment). Checked September 23, 2026.
- Planalto — Customs Regulation, Decree 6,759/2009 — Art. 77: transport, handling and insurance to the port of entry form part of the customs value. Checked September 23, 2026.
- gov.br Invest & Export Brasil — Tax treatment on imports — Official list of taxes and fees on imports. Published July 11, 2022; checked September 23, 2026.
- Receita Federal — Siscomex usage fee — Instituted by Law 9,716/1998, Art. 3. Page updated September 17, 2019; checked September 23, 2026.
- Planalto — Complementary Law 214/2025 (CBS and IBS) — Creates the CBS and IBS, with transition rules from 2026. Checked September 23, 2026.
- MDIC / Camex — Common External Tariff (TEC) — Import duty rates by NCM code. Page updated July 31, 2024; checked September 23, 2026. No product rate is quoted here.
- Receita Federal — NCM classification — The Mercosur code used for Brazilian imports. Checked September 23, 2026.
- IATA — Air Cargo Tariffs and Rules — Volume weight concept; confirm each service's divisor. Checked September 23, 2026.
