You asked for two quotes for the same import. One comes from a freight forwarder, the other from a customs brokerage, and neither covers the full route from the factory to your warehouse.
In short: the difference between a freight forwarder and a customs broker (agente de aduana) is that the first contracts and organizes international transport, and the second files the declaration with Chilean Customs (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas) under a license that the law reserves for it. Neither replaces the other. A foreign trade coordinating agency is not a regulated role: it answers for what it signs with you, and its job is to have a single person watch the operation from end to end.
What does a freight forwarder do, and what does it not do?
The freight forwarder, which Customs regulations call a transitario, is the one who sells you the transport. It signs a contract of carriage with you for a freight charge, subcontracts the shipping line, the airline or the truck, and issues the transport document for your cargo in its own name. It also consolidates cargo from several clients in one container.
It does not own the ship or the plane. Even so, in a sea shipment where it acts as the contractual carrier, it is liable to you for that transport: having subcontracted the shipping line does not, by itself, release it. The Customs Ordinance (Ordenanza de Aduanas) places it under that agency's authority, but does not authorize it to file a third party's import declaration. And a "door to door" quote does not mean that clearance, permits or insurance are included: check that in the written scope of the quote.
What does a customs broker do, and when is one mandatory?
The customs broker is a professional licensed by Chilean Customs to clear goods on behalf of third parties. The broker prepares and processes the Import Declaration (Declaración de Ingreso, DIN), checks that it matches the invoice, the transport document and the other papers, and answers for the clearance meeting the controls and approvals that apply.
The broker works under a mandate from you, which in an import can be granted by endorsing to them the bill of lading, the air waybill or the road consignment note (carta de porte), or through a special power of attorney. They must give you a documented account of what they spent without you having to ask for it.
Their liability is set by law: they are civilly and administratively liable for their own errors and those of their employees, and they are jointly liable with you before the Treasury (Fisco) for duties and taxes, up to the amount of their guarantee plus the funds you gave them. That does not make them responsible for the freight, the insurance or the truck.
A customs broker is mandatory for ordinary imports of general cargo above US$1,000 FOB. Below that amount there is a simplified clearance, and courier shipments have their own regime. The details are in the guide on when you need a customs broker.
What is a foreign trade coordinating agency?
It is a company that takes on the whole assignment and coordinates the others: forwarder, customs broker, insurer, warehouse and local transport. The Customs Ordinance has no license for a "coordinator" or for "foreign trade outsourcing", so what it is liable for is set out in the contract or the quote it gives you.
A coordinator does not replace the customs broker, so the clearance is still signed by a broker under your mandate. And hiring a third party does not take you out of the operation, because the importer remains liable to Customs for its obligations.
Watch the names: a "customs brokerage" (agencia de aduana) is made up of licensed customs brokers, while a "foreign trade agency" (agencia de comercio exterior) may be a coordinator without that license.
Difference between freight forwarder, customs broker and coordinating agency
| Freight forwarder | Customs broker | Coordinating agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Contracts and organizes international transport; consolidates cargo | Files the declaration with Customs and handles the clearance | Coordinates all providers and follows the whole operation |
| Legal basis | Defined by Customs (Resolution 2750 of 2008); subject to its authority (Ordinance, Article 24) | Customs license (Ordinance, Articles 191 and 195) | No license of its own; commercial contract |
| Who it answers to | To you, under the contract of carriage | To you under the mandate, and to the Treasury for taxes | To you, for what its contract says |
| What it does not do | Does not clear imports for third parties | Does not transport or insure the cargo | Does not sign the declaration or replace the broker |
| Is it mandatory | No, but someone must contract the freight | Yes, above US$1,000 FOB for general cargo | No |
What is left without an owner when you hire separately?
In the end the importer pays for everything, and each provider answers for its own part. "Without an owner" means that no one has agreed to follow up that task. This list is preventive and does not come from a regulation:
| Task or charge | What happens when no one owns it |
|---|---|
| Local charges at origin and destination | Each quote covers its own leg and no one adds up the total |
| Terminal, storage and inspection | No one checks when charges start or what is blocking the pickup |
| Free days and container overstay (demurrage) | No one controls both the pickup and the empty return |
| Release of the transport document | Clearance moves forward, but the shipping line's authorization is missing |
| Permits and approvals | Each provider expects another one to handle them |
| Transport to the warehouse | The contracted service ends before physical delivery |
| Insurance and damage claims | Coverage is taken for granted and no one handles the claim |
| Final accounting | Each provider bills its part and no one compares it with the budget |
For each line, put in writing who monitors it, who pays and who gives notice. An example: the broker finishes its work, but the release of the transport document is missing and no one has booked the truck. No provider failed at its own job, and the cargo is still sitting in the port. Several of these lines are explained in hidden costs of importing and in the guide on demurrage and storage.
When does each model make sense?
There is no official guide saying that a coordinator is always the best option. It depends on how much capacity you have inside the company.
Forwarder and broker separately works when your operations are repetitive, the product is well known and you have someone who manages suppliers and dates. In that case a coordinator is unnecessary, and what matters is that this person controls the handoffs between the two, the payments and the pickup.
A coordinator makes sense for your first imports, with complex cargo, with several permits, or when no one in the company can give it time. The condition is that the scope is in writing, with verifiable deliverables: pre-shipment review, schedule, complete budget, alerts and closing of accounts. A "we take care of everything" is not enough.
How do you choose a provider without getting it wrong?
Ask everyone who quotes for the same things:
- The name of the customs broker who will sign the clearance, so you can look them up in the Customs register.
- Comparable operations by product, route and permits.
- A review of the documents before shipment.
- A quote that separates its own fees, third-party charges and taxes.
- An expense report with receipts and a named person in charge.
And avoid two mistakes: choosing the lowest freight or fee without comparing the scope, and believing that "full service" means a fixed price.
What SICE does in this case and where its responsibility ends
SICE is a coordinating agency: it is not a customs agency, a shipping line or an insurer. It evaluates and coordinates a network of freight forwarders, 3 to 4 trusted customs brokers, transport, warehouses and insurers, and you always deal with the same partner. Before shipment it contacts your supplier and reviews the invoice, the packing list, the certificate of origin and the transport document. The declaration to Customs is signed by the customs broker under your mandate, transport is carried out by the forwarder or the shipping line, and insurance is issued by the insurer. The quote comes in writing with the total landed cost delivered to your warehouse: freight, insurance, transport and fees as firm figures, and duties and VAT as estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Can the freight forwarder handle the customs procedure?
Only if it works with a licensed customs broker, who is the one who signs the declaration under your mandate.
If I hire an agency that coordinates everything, am I no longer liable to Customs?
No. The importer remains liable for its customs obligations even if it hires third parties. What changes is who does the follow-up.
How do I check that a customs broker is authorized?
In the register of customs brokers published by Chilean Customs, updated to October 2, 2026. Look up the professional who will clear your goods, as well as the agency's brand.
Official sources (in Spanish)
- Customs Ordinance, DFL 30 of 2004 (BCN): who can clear goods, the mandate and the broker's liability (Articles 24, 78 and 191 to 202).
- Customs, Exempt Resolution No. 2750 of 2008: definition and responsibilities of cargo agents and transitarios (forwarders).
- Customs, Compendium of Rules, Chapter 3: simplified clearance up to US$1,000 FOB and ways to grant the mandate.
- Customs, Compendium of Rules, Chapter 7: the regime for courier shipments.
- Customs, Register of Customs Brokers: brokers with a current license and their duties.
If you want to see the total cost of your import with all providers already coordinated, ask for the free complete quote or message us on WhatsApp at +56 9 9872 6863. You can start with part of your shipments as a trial.
