Brazil buys more from China than from any other country, yet it is one of the hardest markets to import into. Taxes are stacked one on top of the other, a company needs a RADAR authorisation to import, and many products need INMETRO or ANATEL certification. Small parcel rules for consumers have also changed several times since 2024.
This guide explains how commercial imports from China to Brazil work in 2026, when air or sea pays off, and how buying through soorce with delivery duties paid (DDP) gives you one delivered price with the taxes already included.
What you can import
Common imports from China include bags, fashion accessories, home and kitchen goods, packaging, phone accessories, tools, auto parts, lighting, beauty accessories and party supplies. Most are allowed, but Brazil regulates more product types than most markets.
Check these requirements before ordering:
- Toys, electrical appliances, plugs, lamps, helmets, some children's products and many other items must carry INMETRO certification.
- Phones, chargers, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices and other telecom products need ANATEL homologation.
- Cosmetics, food-contact items and health products fall under ANVISA, and some agricultural goods under the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA).
- Used goods are generally restricted, and counterfeits are seized by Receita Federal. Check with your customs authority for regulated goods.
Brazilian import taxes in 2026
Commercial imports are cleared through Siscomex, the foreign trade system run by Receita Federal, and the importing company must be authorised through RADAR. Goods are classified under the Mercosur Common Nomenclature (NCM), which sets the import duty (II) under the Mercosur Common External Tariff, typically from zero to 35%.
Several taxes are then added in cascade: IPI (the industrial products tax), PIS and COFINS on imports, and the state ICMS, commonly around 17% to 20% depending on the state and charged on a base that includes the other taxes. The combined burden on many consumer goods is well above the duty rate alone. Brazil's consumption tax reform also begins a gradual transition from 2026, replacing several of these taxes over the coming years.
The Remessa Conforme rules and the 2026 changes for purchases up to $50 apply to consumer purchases on enrolled platforms, not to business imports of wholesale stock.
- The recipient must provide a CNPJ (or a CPF) for customs clearance.
- A commercial invoice, packing list and the air waybill or bill of lading are required, and the NCM code must match the goods.
- Under-valuation and misclassification are penalised with fines and can lead to goods being forfeited.
How DDP delivery removes the hassle
DDP means delivered duty paid. With soorce, the price at checkout includes freight from China, Brazilian customs clearance and the import taxes. Our logistics partner clears the shipment and delivers to your door, so you do not need your own RADAR authorisation or customs broker for that delivery, and nothing more is collected when it arrives. You will be asked for your CNPJ or CPF so customs can identify the recipient.
We check the supplier and inspect the goods in China before they ship. DDP covers the import; products that need INMETRO, ANATEL or ANVISA approval still need it to be sold in Brazil, so ask us before ordering a regulated product.
Air or sea freight: which one pays off
Air is billed by actual or volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000), whichever is higher. Because Brazilian taxes are charged on a value that includes freight, a fast, compact air shipment makes sense for high-value, light goods such as accessories, jewellery and small electronics.
Sea is far cheaper per kilo and suits heavier or bulkier stock such as kitchenware, furniture, packaging and tools, though it takes several weeks and sea lines bill from a minimum weight. For bulky goods, a lower freight bill also lowers the taxes calculated on it.
The box below shows soorce's current door-to-door prices to Brazil, duties and taxes included, for a few sample weights.
Worked example: 1,000 tote bags to São Paulo
Say you order 1,000 canvas tote bags at $1.10 each, $1,100 of goods, weighing about 70 kg packed. The table prices this order at today's rates by air and by sea, with Brazilian import taxes already included in the shipping line.
Divide the delivered total by 1,000 for your landed cost per bag and compare it with local wholesale. Brazil's taxes make the shipping line larger than in most countries, so always compare delivered cost, not factory price.
1.000 canvas tote bags, heutiger Preis
| Position | Luftfracht | Seefracht |
|---|---|---|
| Ware | $1,100.00 | $1,100.00 |
| Lieferung, Zölle und Steuern (ca. 70 kg) | $713.32 | $296.10 |
| Gesamtpreis inkl. Lieferung | $1,813.32 | $1,396.10 |
| Pro Stück, geliefert | $1.81 | $1.40 |
Der Versand nutzt die heutigen Live-Tarife für dieses Gewicht. Der Warenwert ist ein Beispielpreis; Ihr tatsächlicher Gesamtbetrag wird an der Kasse angezeigt.
How to order on soorce, step by step
- Search or browse factory products. Each product page shows the price per piece, the minimum quantity and the delivered price to Brazil.
- Add quantities to your cart. Orders start from 100 pieces or $1,000; a smaller order can be sent as a request and our team will confirm if it can go ahead.
- At checkout choose air or sea, enter your Brazilian address and CNPJ or CPF, and pay securely online at checkout. Prices are in US dollars.
- We confirm with the factory, check the supplier and inspect the goods before they leave China, with photos if anything needs your decision.
- The shipment clears Brazilian customs with taxes paid and is delivered to your door. Track each stage from your account.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Estimating cost with the import duty alone and forgetting IPI, PIS/COFINS and ICMS.
- Assuming consumer parcel rules or the $50 exemption apply to a business order.
- Ordering electrical goods, toys or telecom devices without INMETRO or ANATEL certification.
- Leaving out the CNPJ or CPF, which holds the shipment at customs.
- Using the wrong NCM code, which changes the taxes and can bring fines.
Häufige Fragen
What taxes do I pay importing from China to Brazil?
Import duty (II) under the Mercosur tariff, then IPI, PIS and COFINS, and the state ICMS. Rates depend on the NCM code and the state. With soorce's DDP delivery they are included in your checkout price.
Do I need RADAR to import from China?
A company importing in its own name needs RADAR authorisation from Receita Federal. When you buy through soorce, our logistics partner clears the shipment, so you do not need your own RADAR for that delivery; you provide your CNPJ or CPF.
Does Remessa Conforme apply to my wholesale order?
No. Remessa Conforme and the 2026 changes for purchases up to $50 cover consumer purchases on enrolled platforms. Business imports follow the normal import regime.
How long does shipping from China to Brazil take?
Air usually takes one to two weeks or more from our warehouse in China, and sea several weeks door to door. The live transit window for each method is shown in the shipping box on this page and at checkout.
Which products need INMETRO or ANATEL certification?
INMETRO covers many toys, electrical products and safety items; ANATEL covers phones, chargers and wireless devices. Check with your customs authority for regulated goods before ordering.
What is the minimum order on soorce?
Orders start from 100 pieces or $1,000 of goods. Smaller orders can be sent as a request, and our team will confirm whether they can go ahead.
Quellen
- Receita Federal do Brasil
- Siscomex (Integrated Foreign Trade System)
- INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology)
- ANATEL (National Telecommunications Agency)
- ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency)
Dieser Ratgeber bietet allgemeine Informationen, im November 2026 mit den oben genannten Behörden abgeglichen. Vorschriften ändern sich und manche Produkte sind reguliert: Klären Sie regulierte Waren vor der Bestellung mit Ihrer Zollbehörde.