Quick Answer: FCL shipping from the USA to Peru costs $2,150-$3,600 for a 20ft container and $2,900-$4,800 for a 40ft or 40HC, port to port. Transit runs 11-22 days depending on gateway. Miami and Houston reach Callao fastest; West Coast sailings usually transship through Panama or Balboa.
- A 20ft container from the USA to Peru runs $2,150-$3,600; a 40HC runs $2,900-$4,800 port to port, before local Peruvian charges.
- Miami→Callao is the fastest lane at 11-14 days direct; Los Angeles/Long Beach→Callao takes 18-25 days with transshipment via Panama or Balboa.
- Peru charges 18% IGV on CIF value plus duties, but a valid Certificate of Origin under the US–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement can drop the duty to 0%.
- FCL beats LCL above roughly 12-14 CBM on the Peru lane; below that, consolidated LCL wins on cost per cubic meter.
Peru moves about 2.9 million TEU per year through Callao, and the United States remains one of its top three trading partners. The numbers below reflect current 2026 market conditions on the USA–Peru lane, and the calculator on this page prices your exact origin ZIP code in seconds.
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Use the calculator above →What Is an FCL Shipping Calculator and How Accurate Is It?
Quick Answer: An FCL shipping calculator is a pricing tool that returns a full-container ocean freight rate from your US origin to a Peruvian port in seconds. It pulls live carrier contract rates, adds origin and destination charges, and lands within 5-10% of the final booked rate for standard dry cargo.
Start with the term itself. FCL means Full Container Load. You book the entire 20ft, 40ft or 40HC box. No other shipper's cargo rides inside it.
That matters for pricing. An FCL rate is a flat price for the equipment, not a price per cubic meter. Load 12 CBM or 32 CBM into a 20ft container and the ocean freight stays the same.
LCL works the opposite way. Your pallets share a container with four or five other importers, and you pay per cubic meter with a minimum chargeable volume of 1 CBM.
How the calculator builds your number
A proper fcl shipping calculator usa to peru stacks charges in a set order. It does not invent a single mystery figure.
- Ocean base rate — the carrier's contracted port-to-port price for the equipment
- BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) — the fuel surcharge, which moves monthly with IFO and VLSFO prices
- Origin THC — terminal handling at Miami, Houston, Savannah or your gateway
- Documentation and B/L fee — typically $65-$150 per Bill of Lading
- ISPS — the port security charge required under the international ship and port facility code
- Optional drayage — trucking from your warehouse to the container yard
Tools like the Free Container Shipping Cost Calculator and the Logistics Explorer App use the same layered logic. The difference on the Peru lane is local knowledge of Callao charges.
Where automated quotes stop working
Calculators price standard dry cargo well. They struggle with anything unusual.
Hazardous goods need an IMDG class, UN number and carrier approval. Reefer cargo needs a temperature set point and genset planning. Flat rack and open top loads need dimensions and lashing plans. All four route to a manual desk quote from our NVOCC pricing team.
Pro Tip
Every FCL quote carries an expiry date for a reason. Carrier rates on the USA–Peru lane reset on the 1st and 15th of most months. A quote pulled on the 13th may not survive to the 16th. Lock your booking inside the validity window or expect a re-rate.
The calculator embedded at #quote-calc is pre-configured for FCL USA→Peru. No email gate. No callback queue. You see the number, then decide.
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Use the calculator above →How Much Does It Cost to Ship a 40ft Container from the USA to Peru?
Quick Answer: A 40ft or 40HC container from the USA to Peru costs $2,900-$4,800 port to port in 2026. A 20ft runs $2,150-$3,600. East Coast and Gulf gateways price lowest; West Coast and inland rail origins add $400-$900. Peruvian local charges add another $550-$900.
Your gateway drives the price more than anything else. Gulf and East Coast ports feed direct South America West Coast services. The US West Coast does not, which is counterintuitive but true.
| US origin port | Peru destination | Service type | 20ft rate range | 40ft / 40HC range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (USMIA) | Callao (PECLL) | Direct | $2,150–$3,000 | $2,900–$3,900 |
| Houston (USHOU) | Callao (PECLL) | Direct | $2,250–$3,100 | $3,000–$4,000 |
| Savannah (USSAV) | Callao (PECLL) | Direct / 1 relay | $2,400–$3,300 | $3,150–$4,200 |
| Charleston (USCHS) | Callao (PECLL) | Transship | $2,450–$3,350 | $3,200–$4,300 |
| Newark (USEWR) | Callao (PECLL) | Transship | $2,550–$3,500 | $3,350–$4,500 |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Callao (PECLL) | Transship (Balboa) | $2,700–$3,600 | $3,600–$4,800 |
| Oakland (USOAK) | Callao (PECLL) | Transship | $2,750–$3,600 | $3,700–$4,800 |
| Miami / Houston | Paita (PEPAI) | Direct or relay | $2,300–$3,200 | $3,050–$4,100 |
| Miami / Houston | Matarani (PEMRI) | Transship | $2,700–$3,700 | $3,600–$4,700 |
| Miami / Houston | Salaverry (PESVY) | Transship / feeder | $2,800–$3,800 | $3,700–$4,900 |
Miami(USMIA)
Callao(PECLL)
Houston(USHOU)
Callao(PECLL)
20ft container cost to Peru versus 40HC
The 40HC costs about 30% more than a 20ft. It carries roughly 2.3 times the cubic volume. That math almost always favors the bigger box when volume allows.
A 20ft at $2,600 with 28 usable CBM works out to $93 per CBM. A 40HC at $3,400 with 70 usable CBM works out to $49 per CBM. Same lane, half the unit cost.
Weight flips the logic. Dense cargo like tile, machinery parts or canned goods hits the payload ceiling long before the volume ceiling. Then a 20ft heavy-duty container is the right call.
A full 40HC to Callao at $3,400 prices out near $49 per cubic meter. The same cargo moving LCL at $120 per CBM would cost $8,400. Volume is the single biggest lever on your freight budget.
Reefer and inland origins
Reefer containers add $1,400-$2,600 over the dry rate. Callao terminals operated by DP World and APM also bill plug-in and monitoring fees per day. Budget for both.
Midwest shippers move by rail through Chicago to Houston or Newark. That adds 4-7 days and $700-$1,300 in inland drayage and rail. Denver, Minneapolis and Kansas City all price this way.
Shippers comparing Central American lanes on the same vessel strings should read our FCL Miami to Panama 2026: Pricing & Cost Calculator guide. Many Peru services call Balboa or Manzanillo en route.
Never quote from a table alone. Use the calculator at #quote-calc, which prices your exact ZIP code origin against live carrier contracts.
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Use the calculator above →What Information Do I Need for an FCL Shipping Calculator to Peru?
Quick Answer: You need seven inputs: US origin city or port, Peruvian destination port, container size, commodity description with HS code, gross weight, Incoterm, and cargo ready date. Missing the HS code or Incoterm is what makes most online quotes drift from the final invoice by hundreds of dollars.
Each field changes the number. Skipping one does not make the quote faster — it makes it wrong.
- Origin ZIP code — not just the state. Dallas and El Paso both ship through Houston, but drayage differs by over $600.
- Destination port — Callao (PECLL) handles about 85% of Peru's container volume. Paita (PEPAI) serves the north, Matarani (PEMRI) the south, Salaverry (PESVY) the central coast.
- Container type — 20ft standard, 20ft heavy-duty, 40ft, 40HC, 40ft reefer, flat rack or open top.
- Commodity plus 6-digit HS code — this drives the Peruvian duty rate and flags restricted goods before booking.
- Gross weight in kg — overweight boxes need special chassis permits at both ends.
- Incoterm — defines which charges belong to you and which belong to the buyer.
- Cargo ready date — peak season shifts rates 15-25%.
Worked example: 18 pallets of auto parts, Houston to Callao
Here is how the fields fill in for a real shipment we price often.
- Enter origin ZIP 77032 (north Houston industrial belt).
- Select destination port Callao, Peru.
- Choose 40ft standard — 18 standard pallets occupy about 42 CBM with stacking.
- Type commodity "automotive brake components", HS code 8708.30.
- Enter gross weight 14,800 kg, well under the 26,700 kg payload.
- Pick Incoterm FOB Houston.
- Set cargo ready date 14 days out.
The calculator returns roughly $3,000-$3,400 port to port with a 13-17 day transit. Add drayage from the 77032 warehouse and the figure moves to about $3,650.
The HS code mistake that costs importers thousands
Guessing an HS code is the most expensive shortcut in this process. A wrong classification at SUNAT can trigger a red channel inspection, storage charges at the bonded depot, and a fine. It also breaks your Certificate of Origin claim under the PTPA, which turns a 0% duty into 6% or 11% on CIF value. Confirm classification with a licensed Peruvian customs agent before you book.
How Long Does It Take for a Container to Get from Miami to Callao?
Quick Answer: Miami to Callao takes 11-14 days on direct services. Houston to Callao runs 13-17 days, Savannah 14-18 days, Newark 16-20 days, and Los Angeles/Long Beach 18-25 days with transshipment through Panama or Balboa. Add 3-5 days for port cut-off before vessel ETD.
| Origin | Callao | Paita | Matarani | Service | Sailings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 11–14 days | 12–16 days | 17–22 days | Direct | Weekly |
| Houston | 13–17 days | 14–18 days | 19–24 days | Direct | Weekly |
| Savannah | 14–18 days | 15–19 days | 20–25 days | Direct / 1 relay | Weekly |
| Charleston | 15–19 days | 16–21 days | 21–26 days | Transship | Weekly |
| Newark | 16–20 days | 18–23 days | 23–28 days | Transship | Weekly |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | 18–25 days | 20–26 days | 24–30 days | Transship (Balboa) | Weekly |
| Chicago (rail + ocean) | 19–26 days | 21–27 days | 25–32 days | Rail + transship | Weekly |
Which carriers actually run this lane
Seven carriers matter on USA–Peru. Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and ONE run the deep-sea strings. Seaboard Marine and King Ocean dominate the Gulf and Florida short-sea services with tighter schedules and smaller vessels.
Seaboard's Miami and Houston rotations are the fastest reliable option to Callao. The global alliances usually relay through Balboa, Manzanillo or Cartagena.
Direct service
One vessel, one handling event, one set of cut-offs. Transit runs 11-17 days from Gulf and Florida gateways. Fewer touch points means lower damage risk and tighter schedule reliability. You pay a modest premium over relay services, usually $150-$350 per box.
Transshipment service
Your container discharges at Balboa, Cartagena or Manzanillo and waits for a connecting vessel. That relay adds 4-8 days and one extra lift. Rates run lower, but a missed connection can cost a full week. Best when your delivery window has slack.
Port cut-off is not vessel ETD
This trips up new exporters constantly. Vessel ETD is when the ship leaves. Cut-offs happen days earlier.
- Documentation cut-off — usually 72 hours before loading for B/L instructions
- VGM cut-off — verified gross mass filing, typically 48 hours prior
- Port cut-off — the physical gate deadline, often 24-48 hours before ETD
Miss the port cut-off and your box rolls to the next sailing. On a weekly service, that is a seven-day loss.
Chancay, Peru's new megaport north of Lima, opened with Asia-focused services. As of 2026 it carries limited direct US connections, so Callao remains the default for American cargo.
What Is Included in an FCL Container Shipping Quote to Peru?
Quick Answer: A port-to-port FCL quote covers ocean base rate, BAF, origin THC, documentation, ISPS and the Bill of Lading fee. It does not cover Peruvian destination THC, customs brokerage, 18% IGV, duties, drayage to your warehouse, or demurrage. Those add $1,100-$2,400 to a typical landed cost.
| Line item | In port-to-port quote? | Typical cost (40ft) | Billed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean base rate | Yes | $1,900–$3,400 | Carrier / NVOCC |
| BAF (bunker surcharge) | Yes | $280–$620 | Carrier |
| Origin THC | Yes | $320–$480 | US terminal |
| ISPS security | Yes | $18–$45 | Terminal |
| Documentation / B/L | Yes | $65–$150 | Forwarder |
| US origin drayage | Optional add-on | $350–$1,300 | Trucker |
| Destination THC at Callao | No | $280–$420 | DP World / APM |
| Peruvian customs brokerage | No | $220–$450 | Agente de aduanas |
| Ad valorem duty | No | 0%, 6% or 11% of CIF | SUNAT |
| IGV + IPM (18% total) | No | 18% of CIF + duty | SUNAT |
| Almacenaje / bonded storage | No | $90–$400 | Depot |
| Callao to Lima delivery | No | $180–$380 | Local carrier |
Why THC appears twice on your invoices
Terminal Handling Charge covers lifting your container on and off the vessel. The US terminal bills origin THC. The Callao terminal bills DTHC — destination terminal handling. Two separate entities, two separate invoices.
Buyers often assume one THC covers both ends. It never does, in any trade lane.
The surcharge glossary most quotes hide
- BAF — Bunker Adjustment Factor, the fuel cost pass-through
- CAF — Currency Adjustment Factor, applied on exchange-rate exposure
- PSS — Peak Season Surcharge, common August through November on LatAm lanes
- GRI — General Rate Increase, announced with 30 days notice per FMC rules
- ISPS — port security fee under the international ship and port facility code
- Chassis split fee — charged when the chassis and container sit at different yards
- Congestion surcharge — applied when Callao berth waiting exceeds carrier thresholds
Carrier liability will not cover your cargo
Under the Hague-Visby Rules, carrier liability caps out near $500 per package. A 40HC of electronics worth $180,000 is treated as a handful of packages, not the actual value. All-risk marine cargo insurance costs 0.35-0.65% of CIF value. On a $100,000 shipment that is $350-$650 to protect the whole load. Skip it and you are self-insuring six figures.
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Use the calculator above →Which Incoterm Should You Choose — FOB, EXW, CIF or DAP?
Quick Answer: FOB is the safest default for US exporters to Peru: you hand over the cargo loaded on the vessel and the Peruvian buyer controls the ocean leg. EXW pushes all export handling to the buyer. CIF bundles freight and insurance. DAP and DDP expose the seller to Peruvian import-side liability and SUNAT filings.
Incoterms 2020 decide who pays what. They also decide what your calculator quote should include.
| Incoterm | Risk transfers at | Seller pays | Quote should include |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Seller's dock | Nothing beyond packing | Buyer adds pickup + export clearance |
| FCA | Named US point | Export clearance | Drayage + export docs |
| FOB | On board at US port | Drayage, THC, export docs | Origin charges only |
| CIF | On board at US port | Ocean freight + insurance | Origin + ocean + insurance |
| DAP | Named Peru address | Everything except duty and IGV | Full door leg, taxes excluded |
| DDP | Named Peru address | Everything including duty and IGV | Full landed cost |
Why DDP to Peru rarely works
DDP looks clean to the buyer. It exposes the seller badly. To clear at SUNAT you need a Peruvian tax ID (RUC) or a local importer of record willing to sign.
Without one, your container sits at Callao accruing demurrage while lawyers argue. DAP is the cleaner split: you deliver to the door, the buyer handles duty and IGV with their own customs agent.
Pro Tip
Quote FOB Houston or FOB Miami as your standard term. Then send the buyer a link to the calculator so they price their own ocean leg. It removes the freight negotiation from your sales conversation entirely, and buyers trust a number they generated themselves.
How Does Peru Customs Clearance Work at SUNAT?
Quick Answer: Peru clears imports through SUNAT using the VUCE single window. Your customs agent files the DAM declaration, then the system assigns a channel: green releases immediately, orange triggers document review, red means physical inspection. Green clears in 24-48 hours; red can take 5-10 days at Callao.
Documents your Peruvian agent needs
- Factura Comercial — commercial invoice with full commodity description and values
- Bill of Lading — original, telex release or Sea Waybill
- Packing list — marks, numbers, weights and dimensions per package
- Certificado de Origen — Certificate of Origin, mandatory for PTPA duty-free treatment
- RUC number — the importer's Peruvian tax registration
Green, orange and red channels explained
SUNAT assigns a channel automatically after DAM filing. Verde (green) means immediate release. Naranja (orange) means document review, usually 1-3 days. Rojo (red) means physical inspection at the bonded depot.
New importers, high-duty commodities and inconsistent invoice values all raise red-channel odds. A clean filing history lowers them over time.
The tax stack on CIF value
Peru taxes on CIF, not FOB. That means your freight and insurance get taxed too.
- Ad valorem duty — 0%, 6% or 11% depending on HS classification
- IGV + IPM — 18% total (16% IGV plus 2% IPM) on CIF plus duty
- ISC — selective consumption tax on alcohol, tobacco, fuel and vehicles
- Perception — an advance tax of 3.5-10% for some importer categories
Under the US–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), most qualifying US-origin goods enter at 0% ad valorem. IGV still applies. A valid Certificate of Origin is the only thing standing between 0% and 6-11%.
Don't forget the US export side
According to CBP and Census regulations, an EEI filing through AES in the ACE portal is required for shipments over $2,500 per Schedule B line. Your forwarder can file it, but the USPPI holds the legal responsibility. Note that ISF ("10+2") is a US import rule — it does not apply to your Peru-bound exports. Duty and tax questions belong with a licensed Peruvian customs agent. AB Group Shipping handles the freight, not the tax opinion.
Is FCL Cheaper Than LCL for Shipping to Peru?
Quick Answer: FCL becomes cheaper than LCL above roughly 12-14 CBM on the USA–Peru lane. Below 10 CBM, consolidated LCL wins on cost per cubic meter. Between 10 and 14 CBM, compare total landed cost — LCL adds deconsolidation fees and CFS handling at Callao that erase the freight savings.
Run the math with real numbers. LCL to Callao prices at $95-$145 per CBM depending on gateway and season.
At 12 CBM and $120 per CBM, LCL costs $1,440 in freight. A 20ft at $2,400 looks worse. But add CFS deconsolidation, handling and the extra clearance days, and LCL lands near $2,100.
At 16 CBM, LCL hits $1,920 in freight plus the same destination fees — around $2,600 all in. The 20ft still costs $2,400 and gives you 28-33 CBM of capacity. FCL wins outright.
| Mode | Cost per CBM | Transit | Minimum volume | Damage risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCL 20ft | $65–$115 | 11–25 days | 12+ CBM | Low | Full pallet loads, sealed door to door |
| FCL 40HC | $40–$65 | 11–25 days | 30+ CBM | Low | High-volume, low-density cargo |
| LCL | $95–$145 | 16–30 days | 1 CBM | Medium | Small B2B orders, sample runs |
| Air freight | $1,100–$2,400 equiv. | 2–5 days | None | Low | Urgent, high-value, perishable |
| Container | Internal capacity | Max payload | Typical USA→Peru rate | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 33 CBM | 28,200 kg | $2,150–$3,600 | Dense cargo, tile, machinery |
| 40ft standard | 67 CBM | 26,700 kg | $2,900–$4,500 | Mixed pallet loads |
| 40HC | 76 CBM | 26,500 kg | $3,000–$4,800 | Light, bulky goods, furniture |
| 40ft reefer | 59 CBM | 27,700 kg | $4,400–$7,200 | Produce, seafood, pharma |
Choose FCL when
Your load exceeds 12-14 CBM, your cargo is fragile or high-value, or your delivery window is tight. The container seals at your dock and opens at the buyer's. No co-loaders, no CFS handling, no waiting on another importer's paperwork at Callao.
Choose LCL when
You ship under 10 CBM, test a new Peruvian buyer, or refill inventory monthly. Weekly consolidations from Miami and Houston keep cash tied up in freight to a minimum. Expect 4-8 extra days for deconsolidation at destination.
For the LCL side of the math, see our LCL Shipping Miami to Panama 2026: Small Business Cost Calculator and Transit Times breakdown. If part of your load is vehicles, compare equipment options in our RoRo vs Container Car Calculator: 2026 Rates guide.
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Use the calculator above →How Do You Book After Getting Your Calculator Quote?
Quick Answer: Booking takes five steps: lock the rate, send the commercial invoice and packing list, receive the booking confirmation with cut-off dates, load and submit VGM, then approve the draft Bill of Lading. From quote to vessel departure runs 5-10 business days on most USA–Peru services.
- Lock the rate inside its validity window, usually 7-14 days.
- Send the Factura Comercial, packing list and shipper details for the B/L.
- Receive the booking confirmation showing vessel, voyage, ETD and all three cut-offs.
- Load the container and submit VGM at least 48 hours before the port cut-off.
- Approve the draft Bill of Lading — corrections after issuance cost $75-$200 per amendment.
Free time and demurrage at Callao
Carriers grant free time at destination. Typical terms on this lane are 7-10 days demurrage and 3-5 days detention.
Demurrage is the clock on the container sitting inside the terminal. Detention is the clock on the empty box after you pull it out. Past free time, expect $85-$180 per day per container.
Red-channel inspections eat free time fast. Negotiate extended free time at booking if your HS code carries inspection risk.
Telex release versus original B/L
Original Bills of Lading must be couriered to Lima and surrendered before release. That takes 3-6 days by international courier and creates real demurrage exposure.
Telex release lets the origin office release electronically once payment clears. A Sea Waybill removes the surrender step entirely and suits shipments between related parties.
Pro Tip
Shipping a vehicle inside your container? Read our Car Shipping USA to Peru 2026: $1,450-$3,900 guide first — Peru restricts used-vehicle imports by age and emissions standard. For lane comparison, our Car Shipping Calculator: Miami to Colombia Rates & Costs 2026 shows how the neighboring market prices out.
Flat rack, open top, reefer and project cargo bookings route to the custom quote form at #quote-calc. Our pricing desk returns those within one business day.
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Use the calculator above →Price Your Container to Peru Right Now
Quick Answer: Use the embedded calculator on this page to price your exact FCL shipment from any US ZIP code to Callao, Paita, Matarani or Salaverry. Enter container size, commodity, weight and ready date. You get a real rate in under two minutes, with no email gate and no sales callback.
With thousands of shipments processed across the USA–Latin America corridor, we price the Peru lane every week. The fcl shipping calculator usa to peru above reflects live carrier contracts, current BAF levels and real Callao local charges.
Run your 20ft against your 40HC. Compare Miami, Houston and Los Angeles gateways side by side. Then book the option that fits your margin and your delivery window — using the calculator above at #quote-calc.
A 40ft or 40HC container from the USA to Peru costs $2,900-$4,800 port to port in 2026. Miami, Houston and Savannah price at the low end; Los Angeles/Long Beach and inland rail origins sit at the top. Add $550-$900 in Peruvian destination charges plus customs brokerage and 18% IGV for your true landed cost.
Miami to Callao takes 11-14 days on direct services with weekly sailings. Houston runs 13-17 days and Los Angeles/Long Beach 18-25 days because those services transship through Panama or Balboa. Always add 3-5 days between your cargo ready date and the actual vessel departure for port and documentation cut-offs.
Yes. Peru charges 18% IGV (VAT) on the CIF value plus duty, and that applies even to duty-free goods. However, most qualifying US-origin products enter at 0% ad valorem duty under the US–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement when you present a valid Certificate of Origin. Confirm your HS code classification with a licensed Peruvian customs agent.
You need your US origin ZIP code, the Peruvian destination port, container size, commodity description with HS code, gross weight and your cargo ready date. Adding the Incoterm makes the quote far more accurate because it defines which charges belong to you. The calculator on this page asks for all of these in under two minutes.
FCL is cheaper above roughly 12-14 CBM. Below 10 CBM, LCL consolidation wins on cost per cubic meter at $95-$145 per CBM. Between those thresholds, compare full landed cost — LCL adds CFS deconsolidation and extra handling at Callao that often close the gap entirely.