How the calculator works out what it all costs you, delivered to your warehouse
This is everything you pay until the goods are in your warehouse in Chile. The calculator builds it in four steps.
- What your cargo is worth when it reaches Chile (Customs calls it CIF). You add the price of your purchase, the freight to Chile and the insurance. That price assumes the supplier hands you the cargo on the ship (FOB). Customs works out the taxes on this total.
- Customs duty: 6%. It is charged on what your cargo is worth when it reaches Chile. Some countries have a trade agreement in force with Chile. If your goods were made there, it drops to 0%. For that, you show the paper that proves where it was made (certificate of origin).
- Import VAT: 19%. It is charged on what your cargo is worth on arrival, plus the customs duty. If your company files VAT, it gets it back in its monthly return (VAT credit).
- Costs in Chile. The shipping line, port, customs broker and truck to your warehouse all charge.
There is a full example with a 20-foot container from China. A 20-foot container is like a big truck. See it in how much it costs to import to Chile, line by line.
The amounts the calculator uses
| What you pay | Amount | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Unloading at the port (THC) | US$ 175 per standard container, not refrigerated | Rate published by Maersk from October 15, 2026 |
| Shipping paper (BL issuance) | US$ 70 | Rate published by Maersk and MSC |
| Container administration | US$ 75 for 20 feet and US$ 105 for 40 feet | Rate published by Maersk and MSC |
| Returning the empty container to the depot (gate in) | US$ 78 | 76,000 Chilean pesos published by Maersk |
| Work of the freight agent (handling) | US$ 100 | Market reference: US$ 80 to 120 |
| What the customs broker charges | 0.5% of what your cargo is worth on arrival, minimum US$ 150 | Assumption. Published fees range from 80,000 to 200,000 Chilean pesos per clearance. |
| Truck from San Antonio to Santiago | US$ 450 | Assumption. It includes returning the empty container. |
| You share a container with other cargo | US$ 345 per BL, US$ 44.20 per m³ and US$ 11 per m³ per day | Reference the calculator uses. Current published tariffs in San Antonio range from US$ 360 to 390 per BL. Per ton or m³, they range from US$ 45 to 46.40. The US$ 11 for storage is the midpoint of the 2026 tariffs. |
| Insurance, if you have no policy | 2% of the price on the ship | Compendium of Customs Regulations (Compendio de Normas Aduaneras), chapter 2 |
| The dollar rate Customs uses (customs dollar) | 969.70 Chilean pesos | Customs, October 2026 |
Shipping lines change their rates several times a year. The Customs dollar rate changes every month. That is why you can edit every amount in the calculator.
What the calculator does not include
The calculator does not add special taxes, like those on alcoholic drinks or luxury goods. It does not add permits from agencies like SEC, ISP or SAG either. Check which permits each agency asks for before you buy. It does not add VAT on local services, because your company gets it back. It also leaves out delay charges you did not tick. We explain them in hidden costs of importing. The fine for returning the container late (demurrage) and free days have their own guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out what my cargo is worth when it reaches Chile?
Add the price on the ship, the freight to Chile and the insurance. If you buy at the factory (EXW), first add the cost to reach the ship.
What happens if I do not insure my cargo?
Customs still adds 2% of the price on the ship, as if it were insurance. So you pay more customs duty and VAT. Your cargo also travels with no cover.
Is import VAT a cost?
Not if your company files VAT. It gets it back on its monthly tax return, Formulario 29. You still need the cash ready on the day of customs clearance.
Which dollar rate does Customs use?
It uses one fixed rate for the whole month. It comes from the rate the Central Bank publishes the month before. Customs uses the one from that month's second to last business day. In October 2026 it is 969.70 Chilean pesos.
Why can my real quote be different?
Freight changes from one month to the next. Each shipping line and each broker has its own rates. There are extra charges if Customs opens and checks your cargo (physical inspection). And if you return the container late, you pay a fine. A full quote gives every amount as a firm price.
What SICE does
SICE coordinates your import with its network of freight forwarders, customs brokers, transport companies and insurers. SICE is not a customs agency: a licensed customs broker files your clearance.
Official sources (in Spanish)
- Customs: How much tax is paid when importing? 6% customs duty and 19% VAT.
- Customs: Equivalencies October 2026 The Customs dollar rate for the month.
- Customs: Compendium of Customs Regulations, Chapter 2 2% insurance when there is no policy.
- SII: using the VAT credit on imports How you get back the VAT you paid on imports.
- Maersk: local import information for Chile Shipping paper, empty container return and container administration.
Sources for the reference rates
- Seimex: China to Chile freight today 20 and 40 foot containers, October 2026.
- Tonlexing: sea freight from China to Chile Shared container, US$ 220 per m³, August 2026.
- Sino-Shipping: China to Chile freight Air, US$ 11.30 per kilo, October 2026. One forwarder only.
- IATA: Latin American Air Cargo Program handbook, ed. 5 Air freight charges 1 kg per 6,000 cm³.
- Depocargo: rates Santiago airport warehouse.
- AEXSA: 2026 rates Inspection of a 20 foot container, US$ 290. BL and handling for shared cargo.
- MSC: Chile local information Extra container days.
- Hapag-Lloyd: import detention and demurrage in Chile Daily container rate.
- Maersk: inland transport in Chile Maximum weight per truck: 23,000 kg for 20 feet and 25,000 kg for 40 feet.
- Chilat: real container volume Usable space, for reference: 28 m³ in 20 feet.
- ShipmentLink: WSA3 schedule Sailing days from China to San Antonio.
- Hong Kong Observatory: 2027 calendar Chinese New Year: February 6, 2027.
To get this estimate with firm rates, ask for the free complete quote. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +56 9 9872 6863. We reply the same day.