São Paulo, Brazil
Customs clearance in São Paulo
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from São Paulo. 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 São Paulo and how we support them
Greater São Paulo is Brazil's economic centre. The ABC region, with Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo and São Caetano do Sul, hosts car and truck plants and their suppliers, while machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals are produced across the metropolitan area. It is also the country's largest market for consumer goods and electronics. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight on our own air waybills via GRU and VCP, Next Flight Out for production-critical parts, On-Board Courier for hand-carried items and FCL or LCL via Santos. 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 São Paulo
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) | General cargo, pharma, electronics, Next Flight Out | Brazil's largest air cargo gateway with wide international airline choice |
| Port of Santos | FCL and LCL to and from Europe, Asia and the Americas | Latin America's largest container port, linked to São Paulo by highway and rail |
| ABC region industrial belt | Automotive, machinery, chemicals | Inbound parts and machinery cleared in one shipment file |
| Viracopos International Airport (VCP) | Import-oriented air cargo | Second major cargo airport within road distance of the city |
Airports, seaports and connections in São Paulo
- AirportGuarulhos
GRU - AirportViracopos
VCP - SeaportPort of Santos
São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), north-east of the city, is Brazil's largest airport and its main international air cargo gateway, with a large cargo terminal handling imports, exports and temperature-sensitive goods. Viracopos International Airport (VCP) in Campinas, north-west of São Paulo, is the second major cargo airport and handles a high share of imports. Congonhas (CGH) serves domestic passenger traffic. For sea freight, the Port of Santos on the coast below the city is Latin America's largest container port and handles most of São Paulo state's trade.
The Anchieta and Imigrantes highways descend the Serra do Mar to the Port of Santos, while the Rodoanel Mário Covas ring road lets trucks bypass the city. The Presidente Dutra highway runs to Rio de Janeiro, the Bandeirantes and Anhanguera highways to Campinas and the interior, and the Castello Branco west to Sorocaba. MRS Logística freight rail connects the metropolitan area with Santos. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Greater São Paulo, including the ABC region and Guarulhos.
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 GRU, VCP or Santos?
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.
What does a São Paulo importer need before the first shipment?
The importer needs a CNPJ company registration and RADAR authorisation in Siscomex. Regulated goods such as medicines, medical devices or certain chemicals also need approvals from authorities such as ANVISA. Clearance depends on complete and consistent documents.
How does DUIMP change import clearance in Brazil?
Brazil is moving import declarations to the DUIMP in the Portal Único Siscomex, replacing the older import declaration step by step. It relies on accurate product data registered in advance, so we prepare product descriptions and tariff classification carefully before shipment.