Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Customs clearance in Belo Horizonte
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Belo Horizonte. Customs clearance in Brazil is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Industries in Belo Horizonte and how we support them
Belo Horizonte is the hub of Minas Gerais' mining, steel and automotive industries. Iron ore is mined in the Iron Quadrangle south of the city, steel is produced at several large mills in the state, and Stellantis builds Fiat cars in Betim, surrounded by suppliers in Betim and Contagem. Mining and steel companies need imported machinery, wear parts and spares for equipment that cannot stop. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight on our own air waybills via CNF and São Paulo, Next Flight Out for urgent spares, On-Board Courier for critical components and sea freight via Vitória or Rio. Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Operational logistics facts for Belo Horizonte
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Belo Horizonte/Confins International Airport (CNF) | Mining spares, automotive parts, general cargo | International air gateway for Minas Gerais |
| Betim and Contagem industrial areas | Car production and automotive suppliers | Inbound parts and tooling cleared in one shipment file |
| Vitória–Minas railway and Port of Vitória | Bulk and container connections to the coast | Sea access for a landlocked state |
Airports, seaports and connections in Belo Horizonte
- AirportConfins
CNF - SeaportRio de Janeiro and Vitória
Belo Horizonte/Confins International Airport (CNF), officially Tancredo Neves, lies north of the city in Confins and is the international airport and air cargo gateway for Minas Gerais. Pampulha Airport (PLU) inside the city handles regional flights. Many international air freight lanes connect via São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) or Viracopos (VCP). Minas Gerais has no coastline, so sea freight runs through the ports of Vitória in Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, both reached by road and rail.
The BR-381 (Fernão Dias) links Belo Horizonte with São Paulo, the BR-040 runs to Rio de Janeiro and north-west to Brasília, and the BR-262 heads east to Vitória. The Vitória–Minas railway connects the mining region of Minas Gerais with the port of Tubarão near Vitória. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Greater Belo Horizonte, including Betim, Contagem and the Confins area.
One contact, local customs expertise
Our partner team in Brazil files the declarations locally, under the Ziem Logistics brand. You send documents and questions to our operations desk, which coordinates with the team and keeps you informed.
Customs clearance in Brazil
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Brazil is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Brazil we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Brazil need a CNPJ company registration and RADAR authorisation in Siscomex.
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in Brazil can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
Who clears imports arriving at Confins?
Clearance with Receita Federal do Brasil is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. We prepare the shipment data, the declaration is filed in Siscomex on that basis, and you deal only with Ziem Logistics.
Can sea freight for Belo Horizonte be cleared inland?
Depending on the routing, containers can be cleared at the port of entry or moved under customs control to an inland bonded facility. We plan the clearance point with you when the shipment is booked.
How is tariff classification handled for mining and steel equipment?
Machinery and spare parts often have several possible tariff headings. We classify them from technical data before shipment, so duties and any duty-reduction options for equipment not produced in Brazil are clear in advance.