Home Shipping from China to Puerto Rico LCL sea freight from China to Puerto Rico (San Juan) — 2026 reference rates

LCL sea freight from China to Puerto Rico (San Juan) — 2026 reference rates

LCL consolidation from China to Puerto Rico

Rate rangeUSD 2–185 per CBM

Transit time38–45 days

Cheapest laneShenzhen, USD 2/CBM

AMS filingUSD 40 per bill

Puerto Rico is a US territory, so cargo is cleared under a separate customs regime from the mainland, but it is served by the same Caribbean shipping network. Everything arrives at San Juan, the island's principal port.

Rates here are extraordinary: Shenzhen to San Juan costs USD 2 per CBM for consignments up to 5 CBM and USD 7 above it. Xiamen is higher at USD 24–29. Qingdao and Tianjin, which tranship through the Colón Free Zone, are far more expensive at USD 145 and USD 185.

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 Puerto Rico

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	AMS / OT USD/BL
Shenzhen	San Juan	0~5	2	1	Direct	Closed Tue / ETD Tue	MSK	45	1:1000	AMS: 40
Shenzhen	San Juan	5~15	7	1	Direct	Closed Tue / ETD Tue	MSK	45	1:1000	AMS: 40
Xiamen	San Juan	0~5	24	1	Direct	Closed Tue / ETD Tue	MSK	45	1:500	AMS: 40
Xiamen	San Juan	5~15	29	1	Direct	Closed Tue / ETD Tue	MSK	45	1:500	AMS: 40
Qingdao	San Juan	5~15	145	1	Colón Free Zone	Closed Thu / ETD Tue	COSCO	38	1:500	AMS: 40
Tianjin	San Juan	5~15	185	1	Colón Free Zone	Closed Thu / ETD Tue	COSCO	45	1:500	AMS: 40

Shenzhen to San Juan — USD 2 per CBM, volume range 0~5 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Tue / ETD Tue; transit time about 45 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Shenzhen to San Juan — USD 7 per CBM, volume range 5~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Tue / ETD Tue; transit time about 45 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 1000 kg.
Xiamen to San Juan — USD 24 per CBM, volume range 0~5 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Tue / ETD Tue; transit time about 45 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 500 kg.
Xiamen to San Juan — USD 29 per CBM, volume range 5~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier MSK; cut-off/ETD Closed Tue / ETD Tue; transit time about 45 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 500 kg.
Qingdao to San Juan — USD 145 per CBM, volume range 5~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Colón Free Zone; carrier COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 38 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 500 kg.
Tianjin to San Juan — USD 185 per CBM, volume range 5~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Colón Free Zone; carrier COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Tue; transit time about 45 days; chargeable ratio 1 CBM = 500 kg.

Shenzhen is unbeatable. USD 2 per CBM up to 5 CBM and USD 7 above it — by far the lowest rates in this batch of guides, direct to San Juan on a 45-day transit and on the standard 1 CBM = 1,000 kg conversion.

Xiamen uses 1:500. Its rates are USD 24–29 per CBM, well above Shenzhen, but the 1:500 conversion is twice as generous for dense cargo. Even so, Shenzhen wins on any realistic calculation.

Qingdao and Tianjin route via Colón. They are far more expensive — USD 145 and USD 185 per CBM — and only cover the 5–15 CBM band in our records. Use them only if the cargo is already in Shandong or the north.

AMS applies. A USD 40 AMS/OT filing per bill of lading is charged on all Puerto Rico services.

A US territory with its own customs regime

Puerto Rico is part of the United States for customs purposes but operates under a separate entry system: cargo is cleared in San Juan by a local broker, not through a mainland US port. There is no US mainland customs entry, and goods do not need to be transhipped through a US port of entry. That is why Puerto Rico is priced so much lower than comparable Caribbean islands — it sits on the Jones Act trade lanes.

Comparing the two bases

Shenzhen bills on 1 CBM = 1,000 kg and Xiamen on 1 CBM = 500 kg. A 3 CBM shipment weighing 1,200 kg converts to 1.2 CBM on the Shenzhen standard and 2.4 CBM on the Xiamen standard. At Shenzhen's USD 2 per CBM that is USD 6; at Xiamen's USD 24 per CBM, USD 72. The conversion difference never outweighs the rate gap on this lane.

FAQ — LCL shipping from China to Puerto Rico

What is the cheapest LCL rate to Puerto Rico?

USD 2 per CBM from Shenzhen to San Juan for consignments up to 5 CBM, rising to USD 7 above that. It is the lowest rate in this set of guides.

How long does LCL from China to Puerto Rico take?

45 days from Shenzhen, Xiamen and Tianjin, and 38 days from Qingdao via the Colón Free Zone. All lanes sail direct except Qingdao and Tianjin.

Does Puerto Rico use US customs?

Puerto Rico is a US territory with its own customs entry system. Cargo is cleared in San Juan by a local broker rather than entering through a mainland US port.

Is there an AMS charge?

Yes, USD 40 per bill of lading, charged once per shipment.

Why are Qingdao and Tianjin so much more expensive?

They tranship through the Colón Free Zone, which adds a handling cycle, and they are quoted on different carrier tariffs. Use Shenzhen or Xiamen unless the cargo is already in the north.