Home Shipping from China to Guatemala LCL sea freight from China to Guatemala (Guatemala City, Puerto Quetzal & Santo Tomás) — 2026 reference rates

LCL sea freight from China to Guatemala (Guatemala City, Puerto Quetzal & Santo Tomás) — 2026 reference rates

LCL consolidation from China to Guatemala

Rate rangeUSD 23–160 per CBM

Destinations2 coasts + inland capital

Transit time30–55 days

Cheapest originShanghai, USD 23/CBM

Guatemala has two coasts and therefore two legitimate gateways: Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific and Santo Tomás de Castilla on the Caribbean, with Guatemala City as the inland commercial centre. Which one you use changes the routing, the transit time and the price by a wide margin.

Tianjin is the most consistent origin: all three destinations are quoted at USD 67–78 per CBM. Ningbo and Shanghai publish volume and weight rates, and the spread between them is large — Ningbo quotes USD 33 per CBM but USD 53 per tonne to Guatemala City, so dense cargo pays a significant premium.

How to read these rates: figures are indicative reference levels for port-to-port LCL ocean freight, updated for October 2026. They exclude origin haulage, warehouse and customs charges, destination port charges and any surcharges. Space, cut-off times and rates must be re-confirmed at booking.

LCL rates from China to Guatemala

Port of departure	Port of destination	Volume range (CBM)	Rate (USD/CBM)	MIN (CBM)	Transit port	Cut-off / ETD	Carrier	Transit time (days)	Volume ratio
Tianjin	Guatemala City	0~5	69	1	Direct	Closed Wed / ETD Tue	MSK	31	1:1000
Tianjin	Guatemala City	5~15	67	1	Direct	Closed Wed / ETD Tue	MSK	31	1:1000
Tianjin	Puerto Quetzal	0~15	78	1	Guatemala City	Closed Wed / ETD Tue	MSK	32	1:1000
Tianjin	Santo Tomás	0~15	75	1	Guatemala City	Closed Wed / ETD Tue	MSK	32	1:1000
Ningbo	Guatemala City	0~15	33 volume / 53 per tonne	1	Direct	Closed Wed / ETD Sun	Hapag-Lloyd & MSK	30	1:1000
Ningbo	Puerto Quetzal	0~15	51 volume / 71 per tonne	1	Direct	Closed Wed / ETD Sun	Hapag-Lloyd & MSK	30	1:1000
Ningbo	Santo Tomás	0~15	150 volume / 160 per tonne	1	Colón Free Zone	Closed Tue / ETD Sat	CMA & COSCO	53	1:1000
Shanghai	Guatemala City	0~15	23 volume / 33 per tonne	1	San José	Closed Thu / ETD Tue	MSK / HPL	55	1:1000
Shanghai	Puerto Quetzal	0~15	55	1	San José	Closed Thu / ETD Tue	MSK / HPL	55	1:1000
Guangzhou	Guatemala City	0~15	45	1	Direct	Closed Fri / ETD Fri	HPL	36	1:1000
Guangzhou	Santo Tomás	0~15	55	1	Guatemala City	Closed Fri / ETD Fri	HPL	40	1:1000
Guangzhou	Puerto Quetzal	0~15	55	1	Guatemala City	Closed Fri / ETD Fri	HPL	40	1:1000

Tianjin to Guatemala City — USD 69 per CBM, volume range 0~5 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Tue; transit time about 31 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Tianjin to Guatemala City — USD 67 per CBM, volume range 5~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Tue; transit time about 31 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Tianjin to Puerto Quetzal — USD 78 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Guatemala City; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Tue; transit time about 32 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Tianjin to Santo Tomás — USD 75 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Guatemala City; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Tue; transit time about 32 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Ningbo to Guatemala City — USD 33 volume / 53 per tonne per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier Hapag-Lloyd & MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Sun; transit time about 30 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Ningbo to Puerto Quetzal — USD 51 volume / 71 per tonne per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier Hapag-Lloyd & MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Sun; transit time about 30 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Ningbo to Santo Tomás — USD 150 volume / 160 per tonne per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Colón Free Zone; carrier CMA & COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Tue / ETD Sat; transit time about 53 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Shanghai to Guatemala City — USD 23 volume / 33 per tonne per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via San José; carrier MSK / HPL; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 55 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Shanghai to Puerto Quetzal — USD 55 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via San José; carrier MSK / HPL; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 55 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Guangzhou to Guatemala City — USD 45 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier HPL; cut-off/ETD Closed Fri / ETD Fri; transit time about 36 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Guangzhou to Santo Tomás — USD 55 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Guatemala City; carrier HPL; cut-off/ETD Closed Fri / ETD Fri; transit time about 40 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Guangzhou to Puerto Quetzal — USD 55 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Guatemala City; carrier HPL; cut-off/ETD Closed Fri / ETD Fri; transit time about 40 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.

Volume or weight, whichever is greater. Ningbo and Shanghai quote both bases. Ningbo to Guatemala City is USD 33 per CBM but USD 53 per tonne — for cargo that is heavy relative to its volume, the tonne rate governs and the effective cost can be double the headline.

Tianjin is tiered. Guatemala City is USD 69 per CBM up to 5 CBM and USD 67 above it, a saving of USD 2 per CBM on larger consignments.

Santo Tomás via Colón. The Caribbean coast route from Ningbo tranships at the Colón Free Zone and takes 53 days, against 30 days for the Pacific routing to the same country.

Pacific or Caribbean coast?

If your consignee is in Guatemala City, Antigua or the western highlands, use Puerto Quetzal — it is a two-hour drive from the capital. If they are in Zacapa, Izabal or the eastern departments, Santo Tomás de Castilla on the Caribbean side is closer, but the routings are slower and, from Ningbo, considerably more expensive at USD 150 per CBM.

Mandatory weight declarations

All lanes bill on 1 CBM = 1,000 kg, and dense cargo converts unfavourably. A 2 CBM shipment weighing 3,000 kg converts to 3 CBM and is billed on 3 CBM. For machinery, ceramics or bottled goods, ask for the tonne rate to be quoted explicitly before you commit.

FAQ — LCL shipping from China to Guatemala

Which Guatemalan port should I use?

Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific for the capital and the highlands; Santo Tomás de Castilla on the Caribbean for the eastern departments. Puerto Quetzal has the shorter transit and the better rates.

What is the cheapest LCL rate to Guatemala?

USD 23 per CBM from Shanghai to Guatemala City — but check the tonne rate of USD 33 per tonne before assuming that figure applies to your cargo.

How long does LCL from China to Guatemala take?

30–36 days to the Pacific coast and Guatemala City, and about 53–55 days on the Caribbean routings that tranship at Colón or San José.

Does Guatemala require a customs broker?

Yes. Guatemalan law requires a licensed local broker to file the import declaration. We can introduce you to a partner agent on request.

Can I ship to Honduras or El Salvador through Guatemala?

Guatemala City is a common cross-border transit point for the northern triangle. Ask us for a specific cross-border quotation; the goods must be declared for transit at the border.