How Much Does It Cost to Ship from the USA to Brazil? What Sets the Price
Summary: By law, Brazil adds an AFRMM of 8% on ocean freight in long-haul navigation (Law 10,893/2004). Import taxes II, IPI, PIS/COFINS and the state ICMS follow the NCM code and the state. None of the freight indexes this site cites prices the USA to Brazil, as of September 23, 2026, so the freight comes from a quote.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship from the USA to Brazil?
The total has four parts. You pay US export costs, freight to Brazil, charges at the Brazilian port and Brazil's taxes and fees. Each part has its own unit and its own source.
None of the indexes this site cites prices this lane as of September 23, 2026. The Drewry, Freightos and FreightAmigo series on our price guides, such as the LCL price guide, cover routes from Asia and Europe. None of them lists a USA–Brazil route. So the freight line must come from a written quote.
Much of the Brazilian side is set by law. The AFRMM rate and the list of import taxes are public, and sections 5 and 6 show them with their sources. The table below lists what a complete quote for this lane should include.
| Cost line | Who publishes it | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean or air freight, USA to Brazil | The carrier or forwarder, in the quote | Currency, unit, minimum, validity and the surcharges included |
| US export steps | The exporter or its agent | EEI filing in AES when required, export documents and the terminal cutoff |
| Charges at the Brazilian port | The terminal and the destination agent, in the quote | Terminal handling, storage and release fees |
| AFRMM | Brazilian law (Law 10,893/2004) | 8% of the ocean freight in long-haul navigation |
| Import taxes in Brazil | Brazil's tariff (TEC) and tax laws | NCM code, customs value, state and the registration date |
| Customs broker and delivery in Brazil | The broker and the trucking provider, in the quote | Broker fee, Siscomex fee and the delivery address |
Ocean Freight: Price per Container
With FCL, you book a whole container and pay per container. Ask for each size on its own, such as 20ft, 40ft and 40ft High Cube. Do not scale one size's price to guess another.
None of the indexes this site cites gives a container price for this lane. The table lists port pairs you can quote. Use the button on a row to request a quote for that pair.
| Origin | Destination | Price basis |
|---|---|---|
| Miami, USAQuote this route | Santos, Brazil | Quote per container type |
| Houston, USAQuote this route | Santos, Brazil | Quote per container type |
| New York, USAQuote this route | Paranaguá, Brazil | Quote per container type |
| Savannah, USAQuote this route | Itajaí, Brazil | Quote per container type |
The container price is only the ocean line. Check whether terminal handling at each end is in the rate. Brazil charges the AFRMM on the freight, so keep the freight on the bill of lading clear. Our FCL price guide shows dated container prices for routes from Asia, not to Brazil.
LCL: Price per CBM and the W/M Rule
With LCL, your cargo shares a container with other shipments. You pay for the space and weight you use, not for the whole box. The rate follows a weight or measure rule, called W/M.
Under a common W/M rule, 1 CBM counts the same as 1,000 kg. The carrier compares your volume in CBM with your weight in tonnes. It bills the larger number, then applies the minimum and any rounding.
Take a shipment of 2.8 CBM that weighs 1,100 kg. The weight is 1.1 tonnes and the volume is 2.8 CBM. The volume is larger, so the freight bills 2.8 W/M units.
The freight is then 2.8 units times the quoted rate per unit. None of the indexes this site cites gives that rate for the USA to Brazil. Our LCL price guide shows dated ranges for other lanes, and they do not apply here.
| Example shipment | Volume | Weight in tonnes | W/M units billed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed spare parts | 2.8 CBM | 1.1 | 2.8 |
| Dense metal parts | 1.5 CBM | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Small lot | 0.5 CBM | 0.2 | 0.5, or the minimum if it is higher |
LCL also has station fees at both ends. The cargo is packed at a CFS in the USA and unpacked at the destination station in Brazil. Ask which of these fees the quote includes. Our USA to Brazil LCL page covers the service side.
Air Freight: Price per Chargeable Kg
Air freight is billed per chargeable kilogram. The chargeable weight is the higher of two numbers: the gross weight and the volume weight.
IATA explains a common way to find the volume weight. Multiply length, width and height in centimetres. Then divide the total by 6,000 to get kilograms.
This divisor is not universal. DHL Express, for example, publishes 5,000 for its express service. Confirm the divisor, the minimum charge and the rounding in your quote.
None of the indexes this site cites gives an air price per kilogram from the USA to Brazil. The Freightos figures on our air freight price guide cover the Far East to the USA and Europe. The AFRMM is charged on waterborne freight, so it does not apply to air cargo.
| Step | Example value |
|---|---|
| Boxes | 6 boxes of 80 × 60 × 50 cm |
| Gross weight | 50 kg each, 300 kg in total |
| Volume | 240,000 cm³ each, 1,440,000 cm³ in total |
| Volume weight | 1,440,000 ÷ 6,000 = 240 kg |
| Chargeable weight | 300 kg, because the gross weight is higher than 240 kg |
Here the cargo is dense, so the gross weight sets the bill. The quote applies its rate per kilogram to 300 kg, or the minimum if it is higher. Ask whether fuel and security charges are separate lines.
Costs at Destination
At the Brazilian end, the law sets some items and the quote sets the rest. The table shows each item and where its rule comes from. It gives no terminal or broker price, because no official source publishes one.
| Charge | Published amount or rule | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| AFRMM on ocean freight, long-haul navigation | 8% of the freight | Law 10,893/2004, Art. 6, I, as worded by Law 14,301/2022; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| AFRMM base | Port-to-port freight, including the port cargo-handling charges shown on the bill of lading | Law 10,893/2004, Art. 5, § 1; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| AFRMM payment | Paid with the Mercante system fee before Receita Federal authorizes delivery | Law 10,893/2004, Art. 11; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| Import duty (II) | Rate set by NCM code in the Common External Tariff (TEC) | MDIC TEC page, updated July 31, 2024; checked September 23, 2026 |
| IPI, PIS/COFINS and ICMS | Rates depend on the NCM code and the state; confirm with a licensed customs broker in Brazil | Receita Federal import simulator; checked September 23, 2026 |
| Siscomex usage fee | Charged for each import declaration; confirm the current amount | Law 9,716/1998, Art. 3; Receita Federal, checked September 23, 2026 |
| CBS and IBS (tax reform) | In transition since 2026; ask how they apply on your registration date | Complementary Law 214/2025; Planalto, checked September 23, 2026 |
| Terminal handling, storage, broker fee and delivery | Confirm in the quote | The terminal, your broker and the written quote |
These are rules, not a Suaid Global tariff. Law text from the Planalto website, checked on September 23, 2026. A licensed customs broker in Brazil confirms how each item applies to your shipment.
Duties and Tariffs
Brazil taxes imports by product and by state. You need the NCM code, the customs value, the state of entry and the date the declaration is registered. The NCM code is Mercosur's eight-digit product code.
The main items are the import duty (II), IPI, PIS/COFINS and the state ICMS. Rates depend on the NCM code and the state; confirm with a licensed customs broker in Brazil.
The taxes use different bases, so do not add their rates together. II is charged on the customs value. IPI is charged on the customs value plus II. ICMS is calculated on a base that includes the other taxes and itself.
The import duty rate for each NCM code is in the Common External Tariff (TEC). Receita Federal also offers an import tax simulator by NCM code.
Brazil's tax reform is also under way. Complementary Law 214/2025 creates the CBS and IBS, with test rates in 2026. Ask your broker how they apply on your registration date.
The Brazilian importer also needs Receita Federal authorization to operate in Siscomex, often called RADAR. The Siscomex authorization manual explains the steps. Check the status before the goods ship.
Transit Time: What the Schedule Covers
Sailing time is only one part of the trip. A carrier schedule shows port-to-port days for a named service. It does not cover pickup, export steps, Brazilian clearance or delivery.
This page gives no fixed transit time. Ask the quote to name the service, its port-to-port days and the date of the schedule. Price and timing are confirmed in the written quote.
| Stage | Included in the sailing time? |
|---|---|
| Pickup from the US shipper | No |
| EEI filing, when required, and the terminal cutoff | No |
| LCL packing at the US CFS | No |
| Sea or air leg, port to port | Yes |
| Transshipment at a hub port, if the service uses one | Yes, when the schedule shows the full routing |
| Brazilian clearance, tax payment and any inspection | No |
| LCL unpacking at the destination station | No |
| Delivery to the importer's address | No |
What Changes the Price
- Season and carrier notices — Carriers announce surcharges and rate changes by notice. Ask which notices apply to your sailing date and whether the quote includes them.
- Port pair and routing — Miami, Houston and New York can price differently to the same Brazilian port. A direct call and a transshipment can differ too.
- The AFRMM follows the freight — The AFRMM is 8% of the ocean freight. A higher freight line also raises the AFRMM, so compare quotes on the same basis.
- Density and the W/M rule — Light, bulky cargo bills by volume in LCL and by volume weight in air. Heavy, compact cargo bills by weight.
- Dangerous goods and batteries — Declared dangerous goods need special handling and carrier acceptance. Declare them before you ask for a price.
- Minimum charges — A small LCL or air shipment may pay the minimum charge instead of the rate. Check the minimum before you split or combine orders.
- Incoterm and who pays what — Agree who pays freight, Brazilian taxes and delivery. Our Incoterms guide explains each term.
- Exchange rate and free time — Brazilian taxes are paid in reais, and local charges may be billed in reais too. Record the exchange rate and its date. Check the free days before storage starts at the terminal.
Worked Budget Example
This example follows an LCL shipment from Miami to Santos. It leaves the freight rate and the tax rates as variables. It is an illustration, not a quote.
- Measure the cargo: Take packed boxes of 2.8 CBM that weigh 1,100 kg in total. Use outer dimensions, including pallets. Our CBM calculator adds up the volume.
- Find the W/M units: Under a rule of 1 CBM per 1,000 kg, 1,100 kg equals 1.1 tonnes. The volume of 2.8 CBM is higher, so the freight bills 2.8 W/M units.
- Apply the quoted rate: Ocean freight equals 2.8 W/M units times your quoted rate per unit, or the minimum if it is higher. None of the indexes this site cites sets this rate for the USA to Brazil.
- Add the AFRMM: Take 8% of the freight on the bill of lading, including the port cargo-handling charges shown on it. For every USD 100 of that freight, the AFRMM is USD 8.
- Add the import taxes: Your broker applies II, IPI, PIS/COFINS and ICMS for the NCM code and the state. Add the Siscomex fee, terminal charges and the broker's fee from the quote.
- Add delivery and check the total: Add trucking to the importer's address if you need it. Keep each line with its source, unit and date.
What to Send for a Quote
A complete request gets a complete price. Send these details, and use our CBM calculator for the volume. The USA to Brazil shipping page covers the service side of this lane.
- Origin city or port in the USA, and the Brazilian city or port
- Number of packages, with the length, width and height of each
- Gross weight, including pallets and packing
- What the goods are, with the HS or NCM code if you have it
- The date the cargo will be ready
- The Incoterm agreed with the buyer or seller
- Door-to-door or port-to-port
- Whether the cargo is dangerous, needs a set temperature or is food
- Whether the Brazilian importer has Siscomex authorization
Questions About Shipping Costs from the USA to Brazil
Sources and References
- Planalto — Law 10,893/2004, compiled text (AFRMM) — Art. 5 (base), Art. 6, I (8% in long-haul navigation, as worded by Law 14,301/2022) and Art. 11 (payment). Checked September 23, 2026.
- Planalto — Complementary Law 214/2025 (CBS and IBS) — Creates the CBS and IBS, with transition rules from 2026. Checked September 23, 2026.
- MDIC — Mercosur Common External Tariff (TEC) — Where Brazil publishes import duty rates by NCM code. Page updated July 31, 2024; checked September 23, 2026.
- Receita Federal — import tax simulator and glossary — Simulation by NCM code; the glossary describes the II, IPI and ICMS bases. Checked September 23, 2026.
- Receita Federal — Siscomex usage fee — Instituted by Law 9,716/1998, Art. 3, and charged on the import declaration. Confirm the current amount with your broker. Checked September 23, 2026.
- Receita Federal — Siscomex authorization manual — Authorization to operate in Siscomex. Page updated May 16, 2024; checked September 23, 2026.
- eCFR — 15 CFR 30.37, EEI exemptions — Exemption for items of $2,500 or less per Schedule B or HTS number. Checked September 23, 2026.
- eCFR — 15 CFR 30.2, EEI filing requirements — Shipments that need EEI regardless of value, such as licensed exports. Checked September 23, 2026.
- IATA — Air Cargo Tariffs and Rules — Common volume-weight method with a 6,000 divisor. Not a Suaid Global tariff. Checked September 23, 2026.
- DHL Express UK — Weight and Dimensions — Service-specific divisor of 5,000; not a universal air cargo rule.
