How GWT Handles China to Colombia Shipments Step by Step
Some suppliers are in Shenzhen, some in Guangzhou, and others in Yiwu. GWT usually collects the cargo first and brings it together into our warehouse before arranging the shipment.
After the goods arrive at the warehouse, GWT will first check the quantity and the packaging for any issues. Affix different labels and classify SKUs as per customer requirements.
Many factories’ packing lists and invoices are prone to errors in goods information. We usually help customers carefully inspect the goods before shipment, correct any obvious errors in advance, and prevent the risks of the goods at the customs of Colombia in advance.
GWT decides whether to use sea or air shipping based on the urgency of the goods. Some customers use sea transportation to replenish their inventories. Some production plants are shut down, so they must be transported by air or express lines. We will help the guests make a judgment based on the situation.
The real difficulty begins only after the goods arrive at the destination port. GWT will prepare the materials in advance for the DIAN to check the information and communicate with the local customs broker to avoid the goods staying at the port for too long.
Some goods are delivered to Bogota, some to Medellin, and some are directly sent to the warehouse or factory. We will keep following up until the goods are actually signed for, rather than just ensuring “arrival at the port”.
Colombian Shipping Problems Start Before The Cargo Arrives
Here’s what we see most often with Colombian importers:
- One container, multiple suppliers: Many Colombian customers will simultaneously purchase from 2 to 5 Chinese factories. If the goods are not consolidated in the GWT warehouse in advance, they will face a bunch of different boxes, documents, and invoices, which will be particularly messy to handle at the destination.
- Customs clearance is more troublesome than transportation: DIAN is quite strict in checking documents. When the HS code and invoice information do not match, or the documents are missing, your goods may be detained at customs for several days.
- The arrival of goods at the port doesn’t mean the transportation is complete: reaching Cartagena or Buenaventura is just the first step. The real trouble often begins when they are sent to inland cities like Bogota and Medellin.
GWT focuses on providing Colombian importers with cargo consolidation, efficient customs clearance, and stable inland transportation
How Can Goods from Multiple Chinese Suppliers Be Truly Transported to Colombia
Many Colombian customers’ problems are not about “how to book space”, but rather that the goods do not come out of the same factory at all. The more common situation is:
The products are purchased in Shenzhen, the accessories are from Yiwu, but the packaging materials are provided by the factory in Guangzhou. Finally, all the goods will be sent to Bogota or Medellin together.
GWT usually receives the goods in the warehouse in China first and then reorganizes them:
- Check the quantity of goods for each supplier.
- Re-pack and re-label the box.
- Check the packaging before mixing.
- Take photos of the problematic goods in advance and send them to the customer for confirmation.
Different Cargo with Different Shipping Options
- Sea Freight – For Heavy Stuff
- Air Freight – Fast Moves
- DDP Door-to-Door – Sit Back and Relax
- Express – Small but Urgent
Best for furniture, machinery, auto parts, and wholesale goods.
Main ports in China: Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao
Main ports in Colombia: Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla
Sea freight is your friend. Just remember: good packing + proper labeling saves days at DIAN.
What Sea Freight To Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla Usually Looks Like (Updated in 2026)
| Route | Shipping Type | Shipping Cost | Transit Time | |
| Shenzhen → Cartagena | FCL 20GP | $2,700–$3,300 | 28–36 Days | |
| Shanghai → Buenaventura | FCL 40HQ | $3,300–$4,200 | 28–36 Days | |
| Ningbo → Barranquilla | FCL 20GP | $2,850–$3,400 | 26–34 Days | |
| Qingdao → Barranquilla | FCL 40HQ | $3,300–$4,200 | 30–38 Days | |
| China → Colombia Ports | LCL(MIN1CBM) | $90–$130/CBM | 30–40 Days |
Good for electronics, car parts, or anything that can’t wait.
Airports in China: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong.
Airports in Colombia : Bogotá (BOG), Medellín (MDE), Cali (CLO).
Air is faster, but costs more. Perfect if your Bogotá warehouse is crying out for stock.”
What Air Freight To Bogotá, Medellín, Cali Usually Looks Like (Updated in 2026)
| Route | Shipping Type | Air Freight Cost | Transit Time |
| Shanghai → Bogotá (BOG) | Air Freight | $5.8/kg-$10.5/kg | 4–7 Days |
| Shenzhen → Medellín (MDE) | Air Freight | $6.2/kg-$10.9/kg | 4–8 Days |
| Guangzhou → Bogotá (BOG) | Air Freight | $5.9/kg-$11.2/kg | 5–8 Days |
| Hong Kong → Cali (CLO) | Air Freight | $6.8/kg-$12.5/kg | 3–6 Days |
Don’t want to touch customs? We handle everything—from pickup to final delivery.
Shipping cost &Transit time for DDP door-to-door shipment from China to Colombia(Updated in 2026)
| Route | Shipping Type | DDP Shipping Cost | Transit Time |
| China →Colombia | DDP Sea Freight | $5.5/kg-$10.5/kg | 40–48 Days |
| China → Colombia | DDP Air Freight | $10.2/kg-$15.2/kg | 6–10 Days |
Perfect for samples, spare parts, or online orders. DHL or FedEx gets it there fast.
Shipping cost &Transit time for DHL Express, FedEx shipment from China to Colombia(Updated in 2026)
| Route | Shipping Type | Express Cost | Transit Time |
| China → Colombia | DHL Express | $9.2/kg-$12.8/kg | 3–6 Days |
| China → Colombia | FedEx | $9.8/kg-$13.6/kg | 4–7 Days |
The problem of customs clearance delays is often caused by the following reasons:
- Inconsistent HS codes.
- Mismatch between goods and document descriptions.
- Confused and erroneous information in multiple suppliers’ documents.
- Understated declared value of goods.
Therefore, many experienced Colombian customers now have the GWT check the documents before shipment instead of waiting until they arrive at the destination port to make any changes to the information.
The sea transportation usually takes approximately 26 to 38 days.
Air transportation generally takes around 4 to 8 days. For samples or products that need to be replenished urgently, many customers will ship with air freight and express delivery.
The factors influencing transportation time are not limited to the transportation process alone:
- Cargo readiness date.
- Document accuracy.
- Colombian customs clearance and inspection.
- Inland transportation arrangement from Cartagena to Bogotá.
For newly registered trading companies making their first import, or for customers without their own customs clearance team, DDP would be preferred. This is because they don’t want to handle: transportation, customs clearance & tax payment, picking up goods & delivery themselves.
Especially for small importers in Colombia, they often prefer to have the freight forwarder handle the entire logistics process.
