How Long Does Sea Freight from China to Brazil Take in 2026? (Full Timeline Guide)

Por GWT / Updated: Feb 6, 2026 / 5 min read

Sea freight handles over 90% of the trade volume between China and Brazil. 

It is the most economical way to move goods, yet it is plagued by one persistent question: “How long will it actually take?”

While most guides quote “30–45 days,” the reality is far more complex. Port congestion, customs delays, and carrier rollovers turn predictable schedules into logistical nightmares.

A “smooth” shipment might take 43 days door-to-door, but one customs inspection or vessel rollover stretches it to 69+ days. Your Black Friday inventory arrives in December.

The result? You run out of stock, your Brazilian clients cancel orders, and you are left paying expensive demurrage fines while your cargo sits in a port terminal.

This guide breaks down the complete timeline, not just ocean transit, but factory pickup through final warehouse delivery. 

You’ll get port-to-port matrices, full workflow breakdowns, carrier comparisons, delay prevention strategies, and exact booking windows. 

Walk away equipped to forecast arrival dates accurately and choose routes that match your deadlines.

1. Port-to-Port Transit Time Matrix (Direct Service)

This table provides the specific transit times (in days) for Direct Services based on the 2024/2025 schedules from major carriers (MSC, COSCO, CMA CGM).

Find your Origin (Left Column) and intersect it with your Destination (Top Row).

Nota Importante: “-” indicates no regular direct service; transshipment is required. Times are estimated in days.

For most shippers from East/South China to Santos/Paranaguá, real sea time is around 30–40 days. Hubs and transshipment mainly matter for Manaus/North and some Northeast ports.

2. Transshipment Hubs: When Direct isn’t an Option

If your destination has no direct service (like Manaus) or if direct vessels are fully booked, your cargo will be routed through one of these three major hubs.

A. Southeast Asia Hub (via Singapore / Port Klang)

• Recomendado para: Cargo from smaller Chinese ports (e.g., Fuzhou, Shantou, Dalian) or when mainline vessels are full in Shanghai.
• Process: Feeder vessel from China → Singapore → Mother Vessel to Brazil.
• Time: Adds +5 to 10 Days (waiting for the connection).
• Typical Route: Dalian → (Feeder) → Singapore → Santos.

B. Caribbean Hub (via Kingston / Panama / Cartagena)

• Recomendado para: The Amazon Region (Manaus) or Northeast Brazil secondary ports (Vila do Conde).
• Process: Mother Vessel from China → Caribbean Hub → Feeder Barge/Vessel → Amazon River.
• Time: Adds +7 to 14 Days.

This is the lifeline for the Manaus Free Trade Zone.

C. Europe/Mediterranean Transshipment (via Algeciras / Tangier / Las Palmas)

• Recomendado para: Budget-sensitive cargo or specific shipments to Salvador (Bahia).
• Key Services: CMA CGM “Sirius” Service or Maersk “Bossanova” Service.
• Rota: Ships first sail to Europe/North Africa to discharge cargo, then head south to Brazil. 

Although this is a detour, it utilizes the backhaul capacity from Europe to South America (which is usually emptier). As a result, freight rates are sometimes more competitive.

• Time: Usually 7-10 days slower than direct service, but for specific ports (e.g., Salvador), it may be the only option.

3. Which Port Is Best for You?

Don’t just pick the closest port. Pick the right one for your specific cargo.

For exports from China, Shanghai and Ningbo are the volume kings for general cargo, Shenzhen (Yantian) is the undisputed “Speed King” for urgent shipments, while Tianjin and Nansha serve as the specialized hubs for heavy industry and vehicles.

On the Brazil side, Santos remains the default gateway for São Paulo, but smart shippers often use Navegantes for frozen meat and textiles, or Itaguaí for steel and automotive parts to bypass main-port congestion.

China Departure Ports (POL)

This table breaks down the specific roles and strengths of each major Chinese port for the Brazil trade lane.

Brazil Arrival Ports (POD)

But port‑to‑port is only part of the story. What you really care about is: from ‘cargo ready’ in China to ‘warehouse in Brazil’, how long does the whole journey take?

4. The Real Timeline: Step-by-Step

Port-to-port is only half the story. Here is the full lifecycle:

1. Cargo Ready & Pick up: 1-3 Days (Getting goods from factory to port warehouse).
2. Export Customs (China): 1-2 Days. usually fast, unless selected for random inspection.
3. Waiting for Vessel (Cut-off to ETD): 2-4 Days. Your goods must be at the port antes the ship leaves.
4. Ocean Transit: 30-45 Days (See table above).
5. Discharge at Brazil Port: 2-5 Days. Santos is the busiest port in Latin America; delays here are common.
6. Import Customs:
   • Green Channel (Canal Verde): 2-3 Days. Automatic clearance.
   • Red Channel (Canal Vermelho): 7-15+ Days. Physical inspection. This is where most delays happen in Brazil.
7. Final Delivery: 1-5 Days. Depends on how far your warehouse is from the port.

⚠️ Variations for Other Destinations

• To Manaus (Amazon): Add +15 Days to the timelines above. Cargo must transfer to a barge and travel up the river. Customs in Manaus can also be slower.
• To Inland Cities (e.g., Goiânia / Brasília): Add +3-5 Days for inland trucking from Santos or Paranaguá.

The difference between a good shipment and a bad one is nearly One Month. This is why choosing the right route and preparing accurate documents (to avoid the Red Channel) is critical.

5. Carrier Showdown: Who Should You Book?

On the China-Brazil route, different carriers have very specific roles. 

Here is a breakdown of the most common options, why people use them, and what you need to watch out for.

A. MSC (Best for Speed and Direct Access)

MSC is usually the first choice for shippers who need fast transit and direct port coverage, especially for e-commerce, seasonal goods, and cold chain cargo.

Its Santana and Ipanema services offer some of the shortest transit times to Northeast and Southern Brazil.

Due to strong demand, space on MSC’s main services often sells out quickly, and late bookings face higher rates or rollovers. Early booking is recommended.

B. COSCO (Best for Stability and Special Cargo)

COSCO is widely used for standard container cargo as well as oversized and project shipments.

Its liner services provide stable schedules to Brazil’s main ports, while the BRICS Express multipurpose vessels are a key solution for heavy machinery, vehicles, and energy equipment.

Transit times are usually longer than MSC’s fastest services, but reliability is strong.

C. CMA CGM (CMA CGM Group)

CMA CGM excels at serving non-mainstream ports and hard-to-reach regions through transshipment and feeder networks.

It is often chosen for refrigerated exports, Amazon region cargo, and ports not directly served by most carriers.

The trade-off is greater routing complexity and higher exposure to delay risks during peak seasons.

D. Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, PIL (Best for Schedule Discipline and Flexible Routing)

These carriers mainly operate through alliance loops and hub transshipment networks.

They are commonly selected by shippers who value consistent weekly sailings, long-term contracts, and stable performance, especially into Santos and Paranaguá.

PIL is particularly strong for South China and Southeast Asia–Brazil cargo flows via Singapore.

6. What Slows Things Down?

Knowing why delays happen helps you stop them before they start. Here are the top 5 causes of delays on the China-Brazil route and exactly how to fix them.

• Documentation Errors

Brazil Customs is extremely strict. A typo in the NCM Code, a weight discrepancy between PL and BL, or a missing description can trigger the “Red Channel”, causing 1-3 weeks of delay and heavy fines.

Solution: “Pre-Alert” Audit. Never ship until your Brazilian broker has approved the draft BL and Commercial Invoice. We double-check all NCM codes before the vessel departs China.

• Container Rollovers (Overbooking)

During Peak Season (Sept-Jan), carriers overbook vessels. If your rate is too low or you booked late, your container gets “rolled” to the next week’s ship.

Solution: Book Early & Pay for Priority. Book at least 3 weeks in advance. If urgent, ask for “Diamond/Priority Tier” slots (costs ~$200 more but guarantees loading).

• Peak Season

From September to January, ships are overbooked (120% capacity). If your freight rate is too low or you booked late, the carrier will “roll” (bump) your container to next week’s ship.

Solution: Book 3 Weeks Early. Do not wait until goods are ready. Book based on your production schedule. If urgent, pay for “Diamond/Priority Tier” slots to guarantee loading. 

• Wood Packaging Issues

Brazil strictly enforces ISPM 15 regulations. If your wooden pallets do not have a clear, visible IPPC fumigation stamp, or if the wood has bark on it, customs will reject the entry.

Solution: Use Plywood or Plastic. We recommend using Plywood pallets (no fumigation needed). If you must use solid wood, ensure the IPPC stamp is visible on two sides of every pallet.

• Strikes 

Brazilian customs auditors occasionally launch “Work-to-Rule” strikes (Operação Padrão), inspecting cargo extremely slowly as a negotiation tactic for higher wages. Clearance time jumps from 3 days to 15+ days. Port terminals become clogged.

Solution: Have Plan B. Santos suffers the most during strikes. During sensitive times, routing cargo to private terminals like Itapoá or Navegantes can sometimes bypass the worst bottlenecks.