How long does shipping to Chile take?

How we work it out

1. We start from the day your cargo is ready. We add the wait until the ship sails. Chinese New Year and Golden Week days do not count.
2. We add the voyage from shipping line schedules: sailings from August 2026 to January 2027. For the latest date we use sailings from October 2026. If it sails in October or November, we add 7 days of margin.
3. Then we add port and customs, 2 to 5 days, and the truck, 1 to 3. These are market references, not official deadlines. If Customs opens and inspects your cargo (physical inspection, "aforo"), add 3 to 10 days.

Watch out for this

• Mixing up the supplier's lead time with the arrival date. Often they only mean the time on the ship.
• Ordering late before Chinese New Year. In 2027 it falls on February 6, and factories close days before and after.
• Promising your customers the earliest date. Use the latest one and leave room in case Customs inspects your cargo.

Questions

How long does a ship take from China to Chile?

It depends on the port and the ship. From Shanghai, published schedules give 29 to 51 days to San Antonio or Valparaíso. From Qingdao it is 27 to 48 days, and from Shenzhen, 37 to 55. These are not official deadlines.

How long does air freight take from China to Chile?

From Shanghai, the fastest published flight takes 1 day and 10 hours. It has one connection. From the factory to your warehouse, the market reference is 7 to 12 days.

How long does customs take in Chile?

There is no official deadline. As a market reference, clearance takes 1 to 3 days with papers in order. If Customs inspects the cargo, add 3 to 10 days. With unloading and container pickup, port and customs add up to 2 to 5 days.

When should I order to avoid Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year 2027 falls on February 6. China has not yet published its 2027 holidays. Ask the supplier in writing when the factory closes. Make sure your cargo sails before that.

Is a direct ship better than one with transshipment?

On a direct ship your cargo does not change ships. It can still stop at several ports before Chile, for example in Mexico or Peru. That is why a direct ship from Shanghai can take 29 to 51 days.

What SICE does

SICE coordinates your import with its network of freight forwarders, customs brokers, transport companies and insurers. It does not control shipping line schedules or Customs inspections.

See also:

• International freight forwarder in Santiago
• Importing from China to Chile

Sources

• ShipmentLink (Evergreen): WSA3 service schedule, Asia to San Antonio
• ShipmentLink (Evergreen): WSA6 service schedule, with a call at Busan
• ShipmentLink (Evergreen): WSA service schedule to Valparaíso
• ONE: October 2026 schedule from Shanghai
• ONE: November 2026 schedule from Shanghai
• ONE: schedules from Hong Kong and South China
• CWT Globelink: shared container schedule
• Fluent Cargo: fastest flight from Shanghai
• Fluent Cargo: fastest flight from Hong Kong (Shenzhen page)
• Fluent Cargo: fastest flight from Seoul (Busan page)
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Ho Chi Minh City
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Rotterdam
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Hamburg
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Genoa
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Miami
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Houston
• Fluent Cargo: fastest ship and flight from Los Angeles
• Tonlexing: air freight from China to Chile, 7 to 12 days door to door (June 2026)
• World Bank: Doing Business 2020, Chile profile
• Chilean Customs: what to do to import goods
• Hong Kong Observatory: 2027 lunar calendar
• Government of China: 2026 holidays
• Valparaíso Port Company (Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso): fruit season

Updated on October 22, 2026