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Ship container to South America — Get Instant Quotes
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Why choose iContainers for shipping to South America?
- Mega-port coverage on both coasts.
- Atlantic hub Santos (Brazil) passed the 5.4 million TEU mark in 2024, its best year on record. DatamarNews
- Pacific gateway Callao (Peru) topped 3 million TEU after its South Pier expansion, while new flows through Chancay’s 1.5 million TEU “mega-port” will cut Asia transit times once fully online. DatamarNews, Reuters
- Trans-shipment heavyweight Cartagena (Colombia) handled about 7.2 million TEU, making it the region’s busiest private container complex. Colombia One
- Balanced network of secondary ports. From Buenos Aires (AR) and Paita (PE) to growing feeders such as Itajaí (BR), our carrier portfolio lets you bypass bottlenecks and route closer to final markets.
- Air-freight fallback when the clock is ticking. São Paulo (GRU) and Buenos Aires-Ezeiza (EZE) moved roughly 480 000 t and 229 000 t of cargo respectively in 2024, giving you same-week delivery options for samples or high-value parts. Air Cargo Week, Wikipedia
- Live disruption intel. We track labour actions—e.g., June 2025 zero-clearance days at Santos customs and April’s nationwide strike that shut Rosario grain docks—so you can add buffer time or reroute before delays bite. ICIS Explore, Reuters
Our Container Shipping Services to South America
| Mode | Best for | Typical lead times* | Key gateways served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Container Load (FCL) | High-volume cargo—agri-machinery, auto parts, electronics | • Shanghai → Santos: 48-50 days • Rotterdam → Santos: 18-26 days | Santos, Callao, Cartagena, Buenos Aires, Valparaíso |
| Less-than-Container Load (LCL) | ≤ 15 m³—SME spares, textiles, specialty foods | Weekly departures from Antwerp, Miami, Singapore; LCL imports into Latin America forecast 5 % CAGR to 2033 | Same ports as FCL plus Itajaí, Guayaquil |
| Air freight | Urgent samples, perishables, semicon tools | EU/US hubs → GRU/EZE 5-9 days | São Paulo GRU, Buenos Aires EZE, Bogotá BOG |
*Port-to-port for sea; door-to-door for air.
Regional nuances
- East-coast lanes heavily favor FCL 40 ft for commodities and consumer goods, while Pacific-side importers often split volumes between Callao and Valparaíso to hedge berth queues.
- Low-water season on the Paraguay-Paraná waterway (Aug–Oct) can slow barge transfers to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Add 3-5 days if routing via Buenos Aires or Montevideo.
Container shipping rates to South America
How much does it cost to ship a container to South America?
Estimated transit-time snapshots
| Origin | Destination port | Mode | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Santos | FCL | 48-50 | Direct loops via Cape or Panama (capacity-dependent) |
| Rotterdam | Santos | FCL | 18-26 | Weekly ESE2 service, 1-2 sailings / wk |
| Antwerp | Callao | LCL | 28-35 | Weekly consol boxes |
| Miami | Cartagena | FCL | 8-10 | Fast Gulf feeder |
| Frankfurt | GRU (air) | Air | 5-9 | Includes clearance & inland dray |
Major South-American ports & 2024 throughput
| Port | 2024 TEU | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Santos (BR) | 5.4 m | 14.7 % YoY growth, record year |
| Cartagena (CO) | 7.2 m | UN-ranked top regional performer |
| Callao (PE) | 3.0 m | South Pier reconstruction complete |
| Buenos Aires (AR) | 0.68 m (Jan-Nov) | Dock Sud & Zárate add capacity |
What South America typically imports
- Industrial machinery & mining equipment powering copper, lithium and iron-ore projects.
- Consumer electronics and components for Brazil, Chile and Argentina’s retail sectors.
- Agricultural inputs & fertilisers ahead of soybean and coffee harvests.
- Pharma & healthcare products moving in reefers to markets like Colombia and Peru.
Region-specific challenges & tips
- Labor actions & customs slowdowns. Build buffer time around announced strike windows—e.g., early-June Santos zero-inspection week.
- Weather-driven disruptions.
- Typhoon-season swell in the Pacific may close Callao/Valparaíso berths for 24-48 h.
- Drought-limited Panama Canal slots (as low as 24 transits / day in 2024) can cascade into East-coast sailing delays and higher surcharges.
- Peak-season crunch. Pre-Christmas electronics and Black-Friday retail peaks tighten FCL capacity from Asia—book 4 weeks ahead or split loads into LCL.
5-step iContainers booking flow
- Get an instant quote online—compare carriers in seconds.
- Secure your sailing or flight and lock the all-in rate.
- Upload paperwork (commercial invoice, packing list, licences).
- Arrange pickup—door, port or bonded warehouse.
- Track & manage—real-time milestones until POD delivery.
FAQs About Shipping Containers to South America
Is LCL really cheaper for <15 m³ loads?
Yes—shared-space pricing means you only pay for the cubic metres you use, not a whole 20 ft box.
How early should I book during strike or drought seasons?
4–6 weeks in advance for FCL to the Atlantic coast, and 2–3 weeks for Pacific ports prone to weather holds or Canal rerouting.
Do I need marine cargo insurance?
Not compulsory, but strongly recommended given weather risk and strike-related storage delays.
Which Incoterm is most common?
Importers often choose CIF Santos/Callao to roll freight and insurance into the landed cost, while exporters seeking rate control opt for FOB origin port.