Container Shipping from Vietnam to Bolivia by Sea 2026
Container shipping costs from Vietnam to Bolivia by sea include ocean freight to the transit port, local charges at both ends, port transit fees and cross-border trucking. Bolivia is landlocked, so most containers from Vietnam are discharged at Arica (Chile), some via Peruvian ports (Matarani, Ilo), then cleared in transit and trucked across the Andes to La Paz, Cochabamba or Santa Cruz.
Table of contents:
I. What does container shipping to Bolivia cost include?
With no sea route running directly inland, the total logistics cost of moving a container from a warehouse in Vietnam to a destination in Bolivia is made up of 4 main cost groups:
Cost group | Components | What it covers |
1. Ocean freight (O/F) | Container freight from Vietnamese ports (Cat Lai, Cai Mep, Hai Phong) to the discharge port on Chile's west coast (Arica / Iquique). | Paid to the carrier; includes bunker adjustment factor (BAF) and peak season surcharge (PSS) as applicable. |
2. Local charges in Vietnam (POL) | THC (Terminal Handling Charge), seal, Bill of Lading (B/L), telex release, manifest and export customs clearance fees. | Paid to the carrier and port at the Vietnam export end. |
3. Handling & transit fees at the Chilean port | Discharge-port THC for transit cargo ( Transbordo / Tránsito ), storage management fees ( Almacenaje ASPB ), border transit permit fees. | Managed by the port and Bolivia's transit authority (ASPB) at the Chilean port under the 1904 Treaty regime. |
4. Cross-border trucking & border formalities | Container trucking ( Trucking ) from the Chilean port across the border into Bolivia; international transit declaration MIC/DTA fees. | Cross-border road transport costs based on distance and terrain from the discharge port to the consignee's warehouse. |
Note: All official import duties and value-added tax (IVA) in Bolivia are declared and paid by the buyer directly to the Bolivian Customs (ANB) when the cargo reaches the inland customs office.
II. What factors drive shipping costs on the Bolivia route?
Rather than a fixed price, the actual cost of each shipment to Bolivia depends on specific technical and seasonal conditions:
Container type and cargo weight: Heavy cargo in a 20DC or bulky cargo in a 40HC directly affects truck weight limits over the Andes passes. Trucks exceeding the permitted axle loads on Chile - Bolivia roads and bridges face fines or must offload and transfer to another truck.
Ocean bunker surcharge (BAF) volatility: The West Coast South America ( WCSA ) route is a long deep-sea voyage, so fuel price swings directly affect ocean freight week by week.
Final destination: Trucking from Arica to the capital La Paz (about 490 km) costs significantly less than hauling into the industrial hub of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (over 1,000 km across several difficult mountain passes).
To get the best shipping option for your specific cargo:
III. Which ports serve Bolivia-bound cargo, and is transshipment required?
All containers from Vietnam to Bolivia must go through 2 transfer stages: vessel transshipment ( Transshipment ) at international hubs, and a switch to road transport at the Chilean seaport.
1. The two main Chilean gateway ports for Bolivian cargo
Arica (Puerto Arica - CLARI): The largest and most important transit gateway. The port connects directly via Chile's Route 11-CH to Bolivia's Route 4 through the Tambo Quemado border crossing. This is the shortest and best route for cargo to La Paz and El Alto.
Iquique (Puerto Iquique - CLIQQ): South of Arica, connected via the Pisiga border crossing. Iquique is convenient when the destination is Oruro, Potosí, Sucre or Cochabamba, and suits companies that want to store goods in the ZOFRI free trade zone.
2. Carriers serving the West Coast South America route
Cargo from Vietnam to the west coast of South America usually transships at Asian hubs or in the Panama area before calling at Chilean ports. Transshipment hubs and transit times vary by carrier and by week, so check the specific schedule when booking.
IV. Bottlenecks and surcharges to watch on the Bolivia route
Shipping to a landlocked country requires anticipating the following operational risks:
Andes mountain passes and weather:
Container trucks from Chilean ports must climb above 4,200 m to cross the border. The rainy season (January – March) can cause landslides, while winter (June – August) often brings snow and ice on mountain passes, stalling transport.
Congestion at the Tambo Quemado / Chungará border crossing:
Seal checks, weight inspections and document verification between Chilean Customs ( Aduana de Chile ) and Bolivian Customs ( ANB ) sometimes face overloads or system outages, leaving trucks waiting at the border.
Risk of container detention charges:
Because the round trip from the Chilean port into Bolivia, unloading at the warehouse and returning the empty container to the depot takes a long time, shippers without enough free days ( Free time ) can easily face unexpected detention charges.
V. What should you note when shipping containers to Bolivia?
H-Cargo's international transport specialists highlight 2 key operational points you should not miss:
1. Bill of Lading (B/L) issuance rules
Transit notation on the B/L: the cargo description must include a transit notation, for example as required by Maersk: "CARGA EN TRÁNSITO A BOLIVIA" (TRANSIT TO BOLIVIA). Ocean freight must be itemized, not stated as "Freight as agreed".
B/L type: Bolivia only accepts an Original B/L, not a Seaway Bill.
Port of Discharge field: clearly state Arica, Chile or Iquique, Chile.
Final Destination field: clearly state the city in Bolivia (e.g. La Paz, Bolivia).
Risk if the notation is missing: the shipment may be treated as an import into Chile, losing the storage benefits for Bolivian transit cargo and incurring extra costs and formalities.
2. Check D&D free time for Bolivian transit cargo
The journey covers discharge, transit clearance at the Chilean port, trucking across the Andes into Bolivia, unloading and returning the empty container to a Chilean depot, so free time must be long enough. Some carriers offer specific free time for Bolivian transit cargo; for example, Maersk applies about 21–23 combined days (demurrage and detention) for cargo discharged at Arica or Iquique. Arica port grants 365 days of free storage for Bolivian transit imports, Iquique 7 days. Terms vary by carrier, so confirm them at booking.
Related articles:
- Container shipping from Vietnam to Venezuela by sea 2026VI. What documents and procedures apply to imports into Bolivia?
Importing goods into Bolivia involves 2 separate legal stages:
1. Documents to prepare
Commercial Invoice: State the Incoterms, a detailed description of the goods and HS codes in Spanish or English.
Packing List: Must match exactly the number of packages, net weight, gross weight and volume.
Bill of Lading: Must include a clause stating the cargo is in transit to Bolivia.
International transit declaration MIC/DTA (Manifiesto Internacional de Carga / Declaración de Tránsito Aduanero): Issued by the road carrier at the Chilean discharge port to monitor the cross-border journey.
Certificate of Origin (C/O Form B): Certifies that the goods originate from Vietnam.
2. Customs rules and tax policy in Bolivia
Electronic customs system: Bolivian Customs manages declarations through the SUMA portal ( Sistema Único de Modernización Aduanera ). A licensed customs broker in Bolivia submits the electronic import declaration ( DIM ).
Value-added tax (IVA): The nominal VAT rate is 13% (the effective rate on the CIF value plus import duty is about 14.94%).
Import duty (Gravamen Arancelario - GA): Bolivia classifies goods under the NANDINA nomenclature of the Andean Community (CAN), with GA rates commonly from 0% to 40% depending on the product group. As Vietnam and Bolivia have no bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), goods are subject to Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rates.
VII. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Bolivia has no coastline, so where are containers from Vietnam discharged?
Bolivia is landlocked. Most containers from Vietnam are discharged at Arica (Chile), with Iquique (Chile) and Peruvian ports such as Matarani and Ilo as alternatives, then moved by road into Bolivia.
2. How long does container shipping from Vietnam to Bolivia take?
Transit time depends on the carrier, the number of transshipments and border processing time. The sea leg to Chile is usually long because of transshipment, plus the trucking leg across the Andes and border formalities. Ask for a specific vessel schedule and total time estimate when you request a quote.
3. How can containers avoid being taxed in Chile when transiting to Bolivia?
The cargo description on the B/L must include a transit notation such as "CARGA EN TRÁNSITO A BOLIVIA" (TRANSIT TO BOLIVIA). The cargo is then handled under the free transit regime of the 1904 Treaty between Chile and Bolivia, without import clearance into Chile.
4. How many free days are needed for containers to Bolivia?
The round trip from the Chilean port into Bolivia and back to the depot with the empty container is very long. Some carriers offer specific free time for Bolivian transit cargo (e.g. Maersk about 21–23 days); check by carrier and confirm at booking.
VIII. Conclusion
Container shipping to Bolivia involves more legs than a typical route: ocean freight to the transit port, port and transit fees in Chile or Peru, then cross-border trucking over the Andes. Three things to do before booking:
Choose the transit port (Arica, Iquique or a Peruvian port) based on the delivery point in Bolivia.
Include the correct transit notation on the original B/L.
Confirm free time for Bolivian transit cargo and the time to return the empty container to the depot.
The H-Cargo team quotes per shipment, clearly separating ocean freight, transit fees and cross-border trucking to the warehouse in Bolivia.
Learn more about our international ocean freight services at H-Cargo Sea Freight Forwarding.
Author: Navy Ngo - Marketing Specialist
Contact us for a free consultation:
H-Cargo International Logistics
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· Email: jack.tran@hcargovn.com
· Web: www.hcargovn.com
Sources cited: Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Chile and Bolivia (Tratado de Paz y Amistad de 1904); Chilean Customs transit regulations (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas); Customs Law and NANDINA tariff - National Customs of Bolivia (Aduana Nacional de Bolivia - ANB); Administración de Servicios Portuarios - Bolivia (ASPB, aspb.gob.bo); Maersk - Bolivia import local information (maersk.com). Accessed 20/10/2026. Information is for reference only and is not a quotation. Check that regulations and tax policies are still in force at the time of use.
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