Porto Alegre, Brazil
Customs clearance in Porto Alegre
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Porto Alegre. 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 Porto Alegre and how we support them
Rio Grande do Sul combines agribusiness with manufacturing. Caxias do Sul is known for buses, trailers and auto parts, the Sinos Valley around Novo Hamburgo for leather and footwear, and General Motors builds cars in Gravataí. The Triunfo petrochemical complex and agricultural machinery producers add industrial demand, while soy, rice, tobacco and meat are major exports. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight on our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for line-down parts, On-Board Courier for critical items and FCL or LCL via Rio Grande. 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 Porto Alegre
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | General cargo, automotive and machinery parts | Air gateway for Rio Grande do Sul |
| Port of Rio Grande | FCL and LCL, agricultural exports | Southern Brazil's main container port |
| Uruguaiana border crossing | Road freight to and from Argentina | Direct road link to Mercosur partners |
| Caxias do Sul and Sinos Valley | Buses, trailers, auto parts, leather and footwear | Inputs and finished goods handled in one shipment file |
Airports, seaports and connections in Porto Alegre
- AirportPorto Alegre Salgado Filho
POA - SeaportRio Grande
Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) is Porto Alegre's airport and the main air gateway for Rio Grande do Sul. During the severe floods of 2024 the airport was closed for several months, which showed how important alternative routings via São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU), Viracopos (VCP) or Florianópolis can be. For sea freight, the Port of Rio Grande on the southern coast of the state is the main container port, connected to Porto Alegre by road and by inland waterway through the Lagoa dos Patos.
The BR-116 runs north to Novo Hamburgo and Caxias do Sul and south towards Pelotas and Rio Grande, while the BR-290 heads west to Uruguaiana, the main road crossing into Argentina. The BR-386 leads north-west into the state's agricultural interior. Road links also connect the region with Uruguay. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Greater Porto Alegre, the Sinos Valley and the Serra Gaúcha around Caxias do Sul.
Clearance through the Ziem network in Brazil
In Brazil, customs entries are filed by a partner team in the Ziem network. They work under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures; our operations desk prepares the shipment data and remains your contact for the whole shipment.
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.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
Who clears imports arriving at POA or Rio Grande?
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.
How are road shipments from Argentina to Porto Alegre cleared?
Road freight from Argentina usually crosses at Uruguaiana and Paso de los Libres, where export and import formalities are handled. Mercosur certificates of origin can reduce duties when the goods qualify. We prepare the documents for both sides in advance.
What does an importer in Rio Grande do Sul need?
The importer needs a CNPJ company registration and RADAR authorisation in Siscomex. Some goods also need approvals from other authorities. Clearance depends on complete and consistent documents, which we review with you before departure.