Quick Answer: Importing auto parts into Paraguay takes 28-40 days from a US port to Asuncion via Montevideo and the hidrovia barge. With AB Group Shipping, 2 m³ of consolidated parts ships port to port from $1,172 out of Miami (October 2026 quote). You need a RUC, a licensed despachante and an NCM-coded commercial invoice.
- Paraguayan importers generally need a tax ID (RUC) and work through a licensed despachante de aduana; confirm the exact registration and filing requirements with a licensed despachante before shipping.
- Most car-part lines under NCM 8708 carry an 18% Mercosur Common External Tariff on paper, but Paraguay applies its own national tariff (ANV) of 10% on these lines (Decree 6897/2022 as amended), plus 10% IVA on the CIF-plus-duty base — roughly 1.25x CIF landed with fees.
- Paraguay is landlocked: cargo moves ocean to Montevideo, Buenos Aires or Paranaguá, then barge up the Paraguay-Paraná hidrovia to Villeta or Terport, or by truck from Brazil.
- Air freight to Silvio Pettirossi (ASU) cuts transit to 5-9 days for urgent or high-value parts; ocean consolidation wins on anything over about 0.5 m³ per shipment.
Paraguay is one of the few South American markets where the river leg decides your delivered cost, not the ocean leg. Price the barge and the despachante before you price the vessel, and the rest of the plan falls into place.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: consolidated cargo from the USA to Paraguay
| Departure port | 2 m³ | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| MiamiCheapest | $1,172 | 54 days |
| Houston | $1,353 | 60 days |
| New Jersey | ≈ $1,250 | ≈ 57 days |
| Los Angeles | ≈ $1,250 | ≈ 57 days |
Port to port to Asuncion, in USD, quoted with our system on October 4, 2026. Includes freight and US export charges; excludes import taxes and destination charges. 2 m³ and 500 kg of general cargo; the price changes with the volume. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery. ≈ Approximate price: what our system quotes leaving from another port, or the median of the other ports for that shipment.
Shipping from another state? Which port to read
Each port in the table is the one that cargo from these states usually leaves through. Miami: Florida. Houston: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and West Virginia ship through New York / New Jersey; California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii ship through Los Angeles / Long Beach; Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama ship through Savannah; Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota ship through Chicago (rail); Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska ship through Seattle / Tacoma: those ports are not in the table yet. We pick up in every state, and the calculator finds the best port from your city.
How do I import auto parts into Paraguay?
Quick Answer: Importing auto parts into Paraguay follows seven steps: get an active RUC, register as an importer with the Dirección Nacional de Aduanas, appoint a despachante de aduana, place the order with NCM codes on the invoice, ship to Montevideo or Paranaguá, barge or truck to Asuncion, then clear through SOFIA.
The process is linear, but each step gates the next one. You cannot book freight usefully until the importer registration and the despachante are in place.
- Obtain your RUC from the Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación. This tax ID identifies you on every invoice and declaration.
- Register as an importer with the Dirección Nacional de Aduanas (DNA). Confirm with your despachante which party can act as importer of record.
- Appoint a licensed despachante de aduana and sign the power of attorney. The despachante prepares and files the despacho de importación.
- Order from your US supplier with NCM codes and unit values on the Factura Comercial. Vague descriptions cost you days later.
- Ship ocean to Montevideo, Buenos Aires or Paranaguá under a Bill of Lading issued by your forwarder.
- Move the cargo up the hidrovia by barge to Villeta or Terport, or by truck from the Brazilian border.
- Clear through the SOFIA customs system, pay duty and IVA, take the inspection channel and collect your cargo.
Step 7 is where most new importers lose time. Customs selects shipments for control after the despacho is filed, and the result can range from quick release to a document review or a physical inspection of the cargo.
If you also source for Central America, the workflow is similar but shorter. Our Importing Auto Parts from USA to Guatemala: Full Guide walks through a coastal-port version of the same process, without the river leg.
Pro Tip
Send your despachante the supplier's proforma invoice before you pay the deposit. Thirty minutes of NCM review at the quoting stage prevents a reclassification dispute after the barge arrives at Villeta, when storage is already running.
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Go to the calculator →What documents does Paraguay require to import auto parts?
Quick Answer: Paraguay requires a Factura Comercial, the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, a packing list, the manifiesto de carga, the importer's RUC and DNA registration, and the despacho de importación filed by the despachante. A certificate of origin may be needed if you claim a preferential tariff; confirm with your despachante.
Document quality drives clearance speed more than any other factor. The DNA reads your invoice line by line against the NCM tariff.
- Factura Comercial — should show values, currency and a clear description per line; ask your despachante which details (such as NCM codes per line item, origin and part numbers) customs expects. "Auto parts, 14 boxes" invites a valuation dispute.
- Bill of Lading or Sea Waybill — for the ocean leg to Montevideo or Paranaguá, plus a separate barge B/L for the hidrovia segment unless your forwarder issues a through document.
- Air Waybill (AWB) — for air freight into Silvio Pettirossi (ASU).
- Packing list — carton count, net and gross weight, and dimensions per carton. The despachante needs this to reconcile the manifiesto de carga.
- Certificado de Origen — needed only if you claim a preferential tariff for qualifying origin goods; confirm with your despachante whether it applies to your shipment.
- Insurance certificate — needed to build the CIF value that duty is calculated on.
- Technical or conformity documentation — some product types may need it; check with your despachante for your NCM lines.
The US Department of Commerce Country Commercial Guide for Paraguay lists the baseline documentation set and is worth reading alongside your despachante's checklist.
Documentation patterns repeat across South America with local twists. Compare the Andean version in our guide to Documents for Shipping to Ecuador: Requirements and Process.
Common mistake: the copy-paste invoice
US suppliers often reuse a domestic invoice template with no NCM codes, no country of origin and a lump-sum price. Paraguayan customs can then question your declared value and reassess it. The duty bill can go up and disputes take time.
Which HS codes and NCM classifications apply to auto spare parts?
Quick Answer: Paraguay classifies goods under the Mercosur NCM, which builds on the HS code. Brake pads fall under 8708.30, oil and air filters under 8421.23 and 8421.31, batteries under 8507.10, tires under 4011, and most body and suspension parts under heading 8708, where the AEC is 18% but Paraguay applies a 10% national tariff (ANV).
The first six digits of an NCM code match the global Harmonized System. Mercosur adds two more digits for tariff and statistical detail inside the bloc.
That matters for sourcing. Your US supplier knows the Harmonized Tariff Schedule code for export; your despachante converts the first six digits into the Paraguayan NCM line that actually sets the duty rate.
Duty by auto part category (Paraguay, extra-zone origin)
See the data
| NCM / HS code | Description | Typical AEC duty | Landed multiplier at AEC rate (incl. 10% IVA + fees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8708.30 | Brakes, pads, discs, servo-brakes | 18% (ANV 10%) | ~1.38x CIF |
| 8708.80 | Suspension systems, shock absorbers | 18% (ANV 10%) | ~1.38x CIF |
| 8708.29 | Body parts, panels, mirrors, trim | 18% | ~1.38x CIF |
| 8708.99 | Other parts and accessories | 16% | ~1.36x CIF |
| 8409.91 | Engine components, pistons, valves | 16% (ANV 10%; 2% on electronic injection) | ~1.36x CIF |
| 8511.xx | Ignition, starters, alternators | 16% | ~1.36x CIF |
| 8507.10 | Lead-acid starter batteries | 18% | ~1.38x CIF |
| 4011.10 | New pneumatic tires, passenger cars | 16% (ANV 5%) | ~1.36x CIF |
| 8421.23 | Oil and fuel filters | 16% (ANV 5%) | ~1.36x CIF |
| 8544.30 | Wiring harnesses | 16% | ~1.36x CIF |
Source: Mercosur Common External Tariff (NCM 2022), Paraguay's national tariff schedule (Decree 6897/2022 as amended) and Paraguayan IVA rate. Paraguay applies its national tariff (ANV) rather than the AEC on many lines, so actual duty can be lower than shown. Confirm your exact line with a licensed despachante.
Misclassification is the number one cause of canal rojo inspections on auto parts. The despachante prepares the classification filed with the DNA, not your US supplier — so the despachante will push back on anything ambiguous.
Electric and hybrid components deserve separate planning. Lithium battery packs can be regulated as dangerous goods, so confirm the documentation and packing they need before booking; most LCL consolidators will not accept them without advance notice.
Pro Tip
Build a standing NCM master list for your top 50 SKUs and give it to your supplier as a template column. After two or three orders your invoices arrive pre-classified, and clearance in Asuncion drops from five days to two.
What are the import duties on auto parts in Paraguay?
Quick Answer: Most car-part lines in heading 8708 carry an 18% Mercosur Common External Tariff, but Paraguay applies its own national tariff (ANV) of 10% on these lines, plus 10% IVA on the CIF-plus-duty base. Add despachante fees, DNA service charges and port handling, and total landed cost on those lines runs roughly 1.25 times CIF value.
The AEC (Arancel Externo Común) is the common Mercosur tariff, but Paraguay applies its own national tariff (Arancel Nacional Vigente, ANV) on many lines — on most of heading 8708 it is 10% against an 18% AEC. Confirm your line's rate with a licensed despachante.
Worked example: a $10,000 parts order
Here is the arithmetic on a typical container-load spare-parts purchase. The numbers below are a calculation example, not a quote.
- FOB value of goods: $10,000
- Ocean + barge freight: $900
- Insurance: $150
- CIF value = $11,050
- National tariff (ANV) at 10% of CIF: $1,105
- Taxable base for IVA = $11,050 + $1,105 = $12,155
- IVA at 10%: $1,216
- Despachante fee, DNA service charges, terminal handling at Villeta: roughly $300-$500
- Total landed cost ≈ $13,800 — about 1.25x CIF
Budget roughly this multiplier on extra-zone heading 8708 orders into Paraguay; lines with a different national rate land differently. It covers the 10% national tariff (ANV), 10% IVA on the duty-inclusive base, despachante fees and terminal handling — before inland delivery.
Secondary charges add up faster than importers expect. The despachante fee usually runs 0.5-1% of CIF with a minimum, and storage starts after free time expires at Villeta or Terport.
ISC (Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo) applies only to certain products, so confirm whether your specific line carries it with your despachante before pricing your retail margin.
One thing to be clear about: duties and taxes are Paraguayan government charges, not AB Group Shipping freight. The calculator on this page prices the transport leg. Your despachante prices the fiscal leg.
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Go to the calculator →How does cargo reach landlocked Paraguay from the USA?
Quick Answer: Paraguay has no coastline, so US cargo moves ocean to Montevideo, Buenos Aires or Paranaguá, then transfers to a barge convoy on the Paraguay-Paraná hidrovia to Villeta or Terport near Asuncion. Trucking from São Paulo and air freight into ASU are the faster alternatives.
The hidrovia is a 3,400 km waterway running from the River Plate up to Corumbá in Brazil. Paraguay runs one of the largest barge fleets in the world on it, and most containerized imports arrive this way.
A barge convoy is not a vessel on a fixed weekly schedule. Convoys build up at Montevideo or Nueva Palmira, then push upriver — which is why the river leg carries more schedule variability than the ocean leg.
| Routing | Typical transit | Relative cost | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean + barge via Montevideo → Villeta | 28-40 days | Lowest per CBM | Standard spare-parts replenishment, LCL and FCL |
| Ocean + truck via Paranaguá → Asuncion/CDE | 25-35 days | Moderate | Ciudad del Este stock, time-sensitive FCL |
| Direct truck from São Paulo / Buenos Aires | 7-14 days | Moderate to high | Mercosur-origin parts with Certificado de Origen |
| Air freight to ASU via São Paulo or Panama | 5-9 days | Highest | Urgent, warranty and high-value electronic parts |
Which US gateway serves your region?
Your origin city decides your gateway, and the gateway decides your price and sailing day. AB Group Shipping ships from anywhere in the USA and Canada.
- Florida and the Southeast coast → PortMiami, with weekly consolidations toward the River Plate
- Texas and the central states → Port Houston
- California and the Southwest → Los Angeles / Long Beach
- The Northeast → Port of New York and New Jersey
- Georgia and the Southeast interior → Savannah
- The Midwest → rail to the coast via Chicago
Ocean + hidrovia barge
Cheapest per cubic meter and the default for replenishment stock. The trade-off is schedule risk: a missed barge convoy at Montevideo can add a week, and low-water season on the Paraguay River — typically August to November — adds 7-14 days plus low-water surcharges.
Ocean + Brazilian truck corridor
Faster and more predictable, at a higher cost per CBM. Cargo discharges at Paranaguá and runs by road to Ciudad del Este or Asuncion. This is the normal path for border-trade stock and for shipments that cannot wait out a barge convoy build-up.
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Go to the calculator →How long does it take to ship auto parts to Paraguay?
Quick Answer: Ocean freight plus the hidrovia barge runs 28-40 days from a US port to Asuncion. Ocean to Paranaguá with a truck leg takes 25-35 days. Air freight into Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) delivers in 5-9 days including customs clearance.
| Lane | Mode | Port-to-port transit | + Clearance in Asuncion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami → Montevideo → Villeta | LCL ocean + barge | 28-36 days | 2-5 business days |
| Houston → Montevideo → Villeta | LCL ocean + barge | 32-40 days | 2-5 business days |
| New York/New Jersey → Paranaguá → Asuncion | FCL ocean + truck | 25-35 days | 2-5 business days |
| Miami → ASU via São Paulo or Panama | Air freight | 3-5 days | 2-4 business days |
Port cut-off and vessel ETD are not the same date. The CFS cut-off for an LCL consolidation falls several days before the vessel sails; confirm it at booking. Miss it by two hours in Miami and your parts wait a full week for the next consolidation.
Clearance adds 2-5 business days in normal conditions. Canal verde can release the same day the despacho is accepted; canal rojo physical inspection adds 3-7 days and often a container-destuffing charge.
Air freight pays for itself on a narrow band of cargo. Urgent brake assemblies, ECUs and warranty replacements under about 150 kg usually justify ASU air freight; bulk filters, body panels and tires never do.
For a structured way to make the air-versus-ocean call on parts specifically, read our breakdown of Auto Parts Transit Time Central America: Air vs Ocean — the decision framework transfers directly to Paraguay, just with longer ocean legs.
Pro Tip
Split your purchase order. Send the fast-moving 10% of SKUs by air into ASU and the remaining 90% by consolidated ocean. Your counter stays stocked while the cheap freight catches up a month later.
Which Incoterm should you use for Paraguay shipments?
Quick Answer: FCA or CIF to Montevideo works best for most Paraguayan importers because it keeps control of the river leg local. DAP Asuncion pushes the barge and trucking risk to the seller, while DDP exposes the US supplier to Paraguayan duty liability it cannot legally recover.
| Incoterm 2020 | Who pays the ocean leg | Who pays the hidrovia barge | Risk transfers at |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (seller's warehouse) | Buyer | Buyer | Supplier's dock in the USA |
| FCA (US port/terminal) | Buyer | Buyer | Named US terminal |
| CIF Montevideo | Seller | Buyer | On board at the US port |
| DAP Asuncion | Seller | Seller | Named place in Asuncion |
| DDP Asuncion | Seller | Seller | Delivered, duties paid |
CIF Montevideo looks clean on paper. In practice it leaves the importer buying the hidrovia leg separately, usually at a worse rate than a forwarder's single through-rate to Villeta.
DDP Asuncion is rarely workable. A US seller without a Paraguayan presence usually needs a local party to front the duty and IVA — and that party absorbs the risk without controlling the declaration.
FCA + forwarder through-movement
The importer buys FCA at the US terminal and hands the whole movement to one forwarder. One Bill of Lading covers ocean and barge. You see the real freight cost, you control the despachante, and nobody hides margin in the river leg.
DAP Asuncion
Convenient when the supplier has a proven Paraguay lane. The risk is visibility: you inherit a delivered price with no breakdown of ocean, barge and handling. When the convoy slips, you have no leverage because you do not hold the contract with the barge operator.
Check your cargo insurance covers the river
Many marine policies written for a coastal port stop at discharge in Montevideo. The barge convoy up the Paraná is a separate inland waterway leg. Ask your broker for written confirmation that coverage extends to final discharge at Villeta or Terport.
Can you import used auto parts and used tires into Paraguay?
Quick Answer: Used auto parts and used tires may face import restrictions in Paraguay; confirm the status of your exact NCM line with a licensed despachante before shipping. Remanufactured units with documented rebuild certificates are treated more favorably, and used-goods shipments routinely draw closer inspection and valuation checks.
Used tires are the item most likely to be restricted, and environmental rules may apply alongside customs controls.
Valuation is the second surprise. Customs can question an invoice it considers undervalued and reassess the value, which hits salvage and used parts hardest.
- Remanufactured alternators, starters and transmissions — ship with the rebuilder's certificate and clear core-exchange documentation
- Safety-relevant parts — some may need technical conformity documentation; confirm with your despachante
- Used engines and gearboxes — expect physical inspection and chassis/serial number verification
- Salvage body panels — commonly reassessed on reference values rather than invoice value
Ciudad del Este runs on different economics. Border retail aimed at cross-border shoppers works under its own tax arrangements, which is part of why border pricing on accessories and electronics undercuts Asuncion wholesale.
Verify restrictions before you pay the supplier
Restriction lists can change without much notice. Get written confirmation from your despachante on the specific NCM code before wiring funds for any used or remanufactured consignment.
What does shipping auto parts to Paraguay cost with AB Group Shipping?
Quick Answer: Port-to-port consolidated freight is the cheapest route for most spare-parts orders. In October 2026, 2 m³ / 500 kg ships from $1,172 out of Miami and from $1,353 out of Houston to Asuncion. The price table under the opening answer updates automatically each month.
MiamiUSMIA
AsuncionPYASU
HoustonUSHOU
AsuncionPYASU
Dallasvia Port Houston
AsuncionPYASU
Those rates are port to port. You deliver the cargo to the departure port and collect it in Asuncion. Door delivery, local trucking and destination terminal charges sit outside AB Group Shipping freight and are quoted separately.
Other US origins price from the nearest listed gateway. A shipper in Atlanta prices approx. at the Miami rate; a shipper in Dallas or Oklahoma City prices approx. at the Houston rate via Port Houston.
Below roughly 10 cubic meters, consolidated LCL beats a full container on cost per CBM. Above it, a 20ft FCL usually wins — and you avoid deconsolidation handling at the CFS.
Four things move your freight number: total cubic meters versus chargeable weight, the mode you choose, low-water surcharges on the barge leg between August and November, and peak-season surcharges on the ocean leg.
Duties, IVA and despachante fees are not freight. Budget them separately using the tariff and IVA percentages in the duty section.
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Go to the calculator →How do you choose a freight forwarder and avoid clearance delays?
Quick Answer: Choose a forwarder that controls both the ocean leg and the hidrovia barge under one Bill of Lading, works daily with Asuncion despachantes, and classifies your NCM codes before booking. Most Paraguay delays come from invoice detail gaps, not from the vessel schedule.
The red flag is simple to spot. A forwarder who quotes only to Montevideo, with no named barge partner and no visibility on the Villeta or Terport transfer, is handing you the hardest 20% of the journey.
The five causes of clearance delay in Asuncion
- Vague invoice descriptions — "spare parts" instead of "brake pad set, Toyota Hilux, PN 04465-0K340"
- Missing NCM codes — forces the despachante to classify blind and invites a canal naranja document review
- Undervaluation versus reference prices — triggers reassessment and a duty bill you did not budget
- No Certificado de Origen when claiming Mercosur preference on Brazilian or Argentine goods
- Low-water season congestion on the Paraguay River, which backs up convoys and terminal yards
Ask two commercial questions before you book. How much free time do I get at Villeta or Terport, and who pays storage and demurrage when the barge convoy slips? Get the answer in writing.
Bonded warehouse, FTZ and Maquila options
Paraguay offers duty-deferral structures that most small importers never use. A bonded warehouse (depósito aduanero) may let you hold stock and defer duty until withdrawal — confirm the conditions with your despachante — which protects cash flow on slow-moving SKUs.
Paraguay also has a maquila regime for export-oriented assembly; ask a licensed customs agent how it works and whether it fits if you assemble kits or harnesses in Paraguay for regional sale.
Compliance habits carry across lanes. If you also handle small-parcel flows, our USA to Central America International Courier: Customs Requirements & Compliance Guide covers the courier-side documentation rules. And if your business also moves complete vehicles, the Car Import Requirements Panama: Complete Documentation Checklist for US Vehicles shows how a full vehicle file differs from a parts file.
On the US export side, parts shippers should also watch tariff and classification notices. CBP publishes guidance such as its guidance on import duties for certain automobile parts, and its requirements for importing vehicles and vehicle parts are a useful cross-reference when your supplier handles returns or cores.
Pro Tip
Build your first Paraguay shipment as a deliberate test run: one pallet, five SKUs, perfect paperwork. You learn the channel assignment, the real Villeta handling cost and your despachante's response time — for a fraction of what a full container teaches you the hard way.
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Go to the calculator →Start your Paraguay auto parts shipment
Importing auto parts into Paraguay rewards preparation. Get the RUC and DNA registration done, appoint a despachante with real auto parts experience, classify your SKUs once, and the freight becomes the easy part.
AB Group Shipping moves consolidated and full-container cargo from anywhere in the USA and Canada to Asuncion through Montevideo and the hidrovia. Use the calculator on this page to price your exact origin, volume and mode in seconds — no email required, no follow-up calls. For breakbulk, oversized or dangerous-goods parts, the same form sends your details straight to a specialist.
In practice, yes. Commercial imports into Paraguay are normally cleared through a licensed despachante de aduana, who prepares the classification and declaration. Confirm the requirements for your shipment with a licensed despachante, and pick one with real auto parts experience before you book the freight.
Most car-part lines under NCM 8708 carry an 18% Mercosur Common External Tariff, but Paraguay applies its own national tariff (ANV), 10% on those lines, plus 10% IVA calculated on the CIF value plus duty. Once broker fees and port charges are added, total landed cost on those lines lands around 1.25 times the CIF value. Confirm your specific rate with a licensed despachante.
Ocean freight plus the hidrovia barge runs about 28-40 days from a US port to Asuncion, while air freight into Silvio Pettirossi Airport (ASU) takes 5-9 days. Add 2-5 business days for customs clearance, and more if your shipment is assigned the red inspection channel.
Used tires and used parts may be restricted, so confirm the status of your exact NCM line with a licensed despachante before you buy. Used mechanical parts are heavily scrutinized, and customs may question your invoice value. Remanufactured units with rebuild certificates are the safer route.
The cost depends on your origin city and gateway port, the cubic meters or chargeable weight of your cargo, the mode you choose, and seasonal surcharges like low-water fees on the Paraguay River. Freight rates change monthly, so check the live price table on this page and run your exact shipment through the calculator for a current number.
Sources
We checked the rules and figures in this guide against these sources on November 1, 2026.
- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas, Paraguay (Dirección de Integración): Nomenclatura Común del MERCOSUR (NCM) y Arancel Externo Común (AEC) 2022 – Arancel a la importación actualizado a setiembre 2024
- Argentina, InfoLEG (Decreto 557/2023): Arancel Externo Común (NCM 2022) - Anexo I
✓ Fact-checked by AB Group Shipping on November 1, 2026. Prices come from our own rate system. How we check our guides · Spotted an error? [email protected]