China is one of the world’s largest exporters, catering to the world’s needs in different industrial sectors. In 2019, China’s exports to Costa Rica were US$1.5 billion.
Trade relations between China and Costa Rica have surged in recent years, requiring efficient transportation solutions. This guide provides a detailed overview of shipping options, including sea and air freight, container options, transit times, major ports, customs considerations, and factors that affect shipping costs.
Sea and container shipping from China to Costa Rica
Do you want to ship cargo containers from China to Costa Rica? Our shipping services from China to Costa Rica cover all major ports: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Dalian, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Macau. We provide door-to-door, door-to-port and port-to-port shipping services from China to Costa Rica based on your specific needs.
The estimated port-to-port transit time for shipping containers from China to Costa Rica is 30 to 40 days. Number of days will vary depending on desired service route and sailing schedule.
Full Container Load – Full Container Shipping from China to Costa Rica
We offer full container shipping services for 20-foot containers and 40-foot containers to Costa Rica. If the goods being transported require a different type of equipment, such as open-top containers, flat racks, reefers or other equipment, our specialist equipment department will provide you with the best alternative.
Less than a container load – LCL shipping from China to Costa Rica
If the goods cannot fill the entire container, we always offer sea freight LCL services from China to Costa Rica. When using this service, the applicable rates depend on the volume of the shipment. If the weight of the shipment exceeds the maximum allowed weight per cubic meter, the applicable rates are based on weight.
Air freight from China to Costa Rica
We have established an extensive network of carriers specializing in air cargo, offering daily and weekly flights from major airports in China to any air destination around the world.
Our air freight services from China to Costa Rica provide a safe and reliable solution for all your air transportation needs, including time-sensitive and high-value goods. Our shipping options include airport-to-airport, door-to-door, airport-to-door and door-to-airport services, etc.
When shipping by air, our team of experts provide the most cost-effective solutions and fastest routes. We take care of your shipment from start to finish, overseeing every stage of the logistics chain from the moment your shipment is picked up until it reaches its destination.
The average transit time for air cargo from China to Costa Rica is typically 3 to 8 days, depending on the route chosen. This situation may differ when large volumes of goods are transported due to increased market demand.
China main loading ports (POL) and Costa Rica main ports of discharge (POD) for sea freight & air freight
| SEAFREIGHT | AIRFREIGHT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main POL | Main POD | Main POL | Main POD |
| Shanghai | Puerto Limon | Shenzhen (SZX) | San Jose (SJO) |
| Shenzhen | Puerto Moin | Shanghai (PVG) | Liberia (LIR) |
| Ningbo | San Jose | Beijing (PEK) | Limon (LIO) |
| Qingdao | Caldera | Qingdao (TAO) | |
| Guangzhou | Ningbo (NBG) | ||
| Tianjin | Xiamen (XMN) | ||
| Dalian | Guangzhou (CAN) | ||
| Xiamen | Hong-Kong (HKG) | ||
| Hong-Kong | Zhengzhou (CGO) | ||
| Macao | Xi’An (XIY) |
POL: Loading Ports / POD: Ports of Discharge
Shipping costs for 20ft and 40ft containers from China to Costa Rica
The average price to ship a container from China to Costa Rica is US$2,850 to US$5,850.
The cost of shipping a full container from China to Costa Rica depends on the size of the container (20ft or 40ft) and the timetable route, please contact the Bassindon Quotation Team for detailed rates for shipping containers from China to the major ports of Costa Rica Container port.
- How much does it cost to ship a 20-foot container from China to Costa Rica? The average price for shipping a 20-foot container from China to Costa Rica is from US$2,850 to US$3,850. Shipping schedules for shipping 20-foot containers from China to Costa Rica vary by route.
- How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to Costa Rica? The average price of shipping a 40-foot container from China to Costa Rica is from US$4,050 to US$5,850. Shipping schedules for shipping 40-foot containers from China to Costa Rica vary by route.
Container shipping rates from China to Costa Rica:
These are the average prices to ship a container from China Costa Rica with the cheapest rates for loading and shipping containers from the major ports in China to Costa Rica for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) with all types of cargo such as: commercial cargo, vehicles, or personal effects for international shipments from China to Costa Rica.
| Container shipping service from China to Costa Rica | Type of container | Ocean freight rates from China to Costa Rica: |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai China to Costa Rica. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $2850 20FT average price from: $4550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen China to Costa Rica. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $2850 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo-Zhoushan China to Costa Rica. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $2850 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong China to Costa Rica. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou China to Costa Rica. | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao China to Costa Rica | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin China to Costa Rica | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $2850 20FT average price from: $4650 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Dalian China to Costa Rica | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $3050 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Xiamen China to Costa Rica | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $2850 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Yingkou China to Costa Rica | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL | average price from: $2850 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT |
How long does it take to ship from China to Costa Rica?
Shipping goods from China to Costa Rica takes 30 to 40 days, and air shipping takes 3 to 8 days.
Actual shipping times may vary depending on terminals, services and routes selected, weather, congestion, market seasonal changes and other factors.
| Continent of origin | Country of origin | Port of origin | Port of destination | Transit time (days) | 20DV FCL 40HQ FCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | China | Port of Shanghai | Caldera Port | 35 | $3150 |
| Asia | China | Port of Shenzhen | APM Terminals Moin | 40 | $3850 |
| Asia | China | Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan | Port of Puerto Limon | 38 | $3850 |
| Asia | China | Port of Hong Kong | Caldera Port | 39 | $3850 |
| Asia | China | Port of Guangzhou | APM Terminals Moin | 40 | $3850 |
| Asia | China | Port of Qingdao | Port of Puerto Limon | 42 | $3850 |
| Asia | China | Port of Tianjin | Caldera Port | 42 | $4850 |
| Asia | China | Port of Dalian | APM Terminals Moin | 32 | $3150 |
| Asia | China | Port of Xiamen | Port of Puerto Limon | 30 | $3150 |
| Asia | China | Port of Yingkou | Caldera Port | 30 | $3250 |
The average transit time, sailing, and vessel schedule to ship your container from China to Costa Rica from the major ports in China.
What documents are needed to import from China to Costa Rica?
The requirements for importing from China to Costa Rica are to present an English-translated commercial invoice and a detailed packing list, which must indicate details of quantity, product type and shipping location, and then provide the following documents to customs in Costa Rica:
Goods imported from China must have the following documents:
- Bill of Lading Manifest, used for import, release and tax purposes.
- Costa Rica tax identification number
- Tariff subheadings and location of goods
- Register as an importer in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica Customs Value Declaration
- Costa Rica is Debt Free
- Transfer inventory from China to Costa Rica (simple copy)
- To own a trade or company patent in Costa Rica, you must show that you are committed to importing from China.
- China Phytosanitary Export Certificate (Simplified Copy)
- Demonstrating Costa Rica’s economic solvency
- Develop the terms of an Incoterms import agreement.
- Find a good customs broker in Costa Rica
- Original bill of lading, sea waybill or air waybill from the shipping company
- packing list
- commercial invoice
- China Joint Certificate of Production Value and Origin (CCVO)
- A letter of authorization authorizing your customs broker to handle import customs clearance for you in Costa Rica.