Shipping from Dubai to Chile usually means a container from Jebel Ali to San Antonio or Valparaiso, the two ports that serve Santiago and central Chile, with air cargo for urgent goods. Chile charges a general 6% customs duty and 19% IVA on the CIF value, and imports above US$1,000 FOB must be cleared by a licensed Chilean customs agent. Since the UAE-Chile CEPA entered into force on 24 November 2025, goods of UAE origin can claim lower or zero duty with a certificate of origin.
Shipping from Dubai to Chile at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main UAE load port | Jebel Ali (AEJEA), with Khor Fakkan as an alternative on some services |
| Main Chilean gateways | San Antonio (2,060,244 TEU in 2025) and Valparaiso; Arica, Iquique and Antofagasta for the north |
| Modes | FCL, LCL, flat rack and breakbulk, dangerous goods, air cargo |
| Customs authority | Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (Chilean Customs) |
| Import declaration | Declaracion de Ingreso, filed by a licensed customs agent for commercial goods above US$1,000 FOB |
| General customs duty | 6% of the CIF value |
| IVA (VAT) | 19% of the CIF value plus duty |
| Trade agreement with the UAE | UAE-Chile CEPA, in force internationally since 24 November 2025; Chile grants preferential access for about 99.5% of products imported from the UAE |
| Biosecurity | SAG checks plant and animal products; all wood packaging must meet ISPM 15 |
| Published sea transit | Varies widely by routing; schedule data shows 50 days or more on the quickest services listed |
Which mode should you use from Dubai to Chile?
Chile is on the far side of the world from Dubai, so the choice is mostly between sea and air. There is no road or rail option on this lane.
| Your cargo | Best mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A full container or more of general goods | FCL by sea | Lowest cost per unit; the box stays sealed to Chile |
| A few pallets or cartons | LCL by sea | You pay for the space you use, but release depends on the whole consolidation |
| Machinery, steel structures, vehicles, oversized pieces | Flat rack, open top or breakbulk | Fits cargo that does not go in a standard box |
| Chemicals, batteries, aerosols, perfumes, paints | DG container or DG air | Needs carrier and terminal acceptance before booking |
| Samples, spare parts, urgent stock | Air cargo | Around a day and a half in the air instead of weeks at sea |
A simple rule for this lane: sea transit is long, so if a line stoppage or a contract deadline in Chile is less than about two months away, price air first. If the goods can wait, start with sea and compare FCL and LCL once you know the volume and weight.
Sea freight from Dubai to Chile: ports, FCL and LCL
Sea freight from Dubai to Chile normally loads at Jebel Ali. Our Jebel Ali port shipping guide covers the terminals, cut-offs and export steps there. There are no direct services on this lane, so containers are transshipped at least once on the way to Chile's Pacific coast.
Which Chilean port should your cargo go to?
Most of Chile's population and industry is in the central zone around Santiago, and two ports serve it. San Antonio is the larger. In 2025 it handled 23,855,311 tonnes of cargo and 2,060,244 TEU, the first time a Chilean port passed 2 million TEU in a year. Valparaiso, the older port, handled 9,403,319 tonnes in 2025, of which 7,757,307 tonnes were in containers.
| Port | What it handles | Best for consignees in |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | Containers at STI and DP World, breakbulk, vehicles, dry and liquid bulk | Santiago, the central valley and most of central Chile |
| Valparaiso | Containers, reefer cargo, cruise calls, coastal breakbulk | Valparaiso region and Santiago, as the second central option |
| Arica and Iquique | Smaller container and general cargo ports in the far north | Northern Chile |
| Antofagasta region ports | Mining supplies and bulk | Mining operations in the north |
If your consignee is in Santiago, pick the port your carrier calls directly and let the trucking leg decide the rest. Both central ports are a road trip away from the capital, so the gap in inland cost between them is usually small compared with the difference in sailings.
FCL or LCL?
- FCL (full container load). You book a whole 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube. It suits larger volumes, heavy goods and cargo you do not want handled with other shipments.
- LCL (less than container load). Your cargo shares a box with other shippers. It is packed at a container freight station in the UAE and unpacked in Chile, so your release also depends on the other cargo in the box being cleared.
On a long lane like this, LCL also means more handling and more days at each end. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows how to compare the two, and our sea freight service page explains what we book.
How long does sea freight from Dubai to Chile take?
Published figures for this lane do not agree, and most forwarder pages give no source. Schedule data is the better guide. Fluent Cargo lists its quickest UAE to Chile ocean option as Khor Fakkan to Arica in 52 days 17 hours, with two transfers, sailing every 2 to 4 weeks with Maersk and MSC. Its Dubai to Santiago page shows a Jebel Ali to Puerto Angamos option at 74 days 6 hours. Some forwarders quote 20 to 45 days without naming a carrier, so check the vessel schedule and the estimated arrival on your booking before you promise a delivery date.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually book from Jebel Ali to San Antonio and Valparaiso, the transshipment hub used, and our typical port-to-port days on each]
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods to Chile
Breakbulk and project cargo
Heavy equipment for Chilean mining, energy and construction sites often does not fit a standard box. Cargo that fits a container by weight but is too tall or wide goes on flat racks or open tops. Cargo that does not fit a container at all moves as breakbulk on a general cargo or heavy-lift vessel. San Antonio handled 544,522 tonnes of breakbulk (carga fraccionada) in 2025, and DP World San Antonio lists project cargo and out-of-gauge handling among its services.
The rule is the same as on any long lane. If a piece fits a 40ft flat rack by size and weight, a container service usually gives you more sailings. If it does not, you need breakbulk or heavy-lift tonnage, and that sailing date drives the whole plan. We collect drawings, weights and lifting points, agree lashing with the carrier and plan the UAE road move to the quay. See our break bulk and project cargo service.
Dangerous goods
DG cargo to Chile must be packed, marked and declared under the IMDG Code for sea or IATA rules for air. Every carrier on the route and every transshipment port must accept the cargo, which is the main reason DG bookings on this lane take longer to confirm. DP World San Antonio lists IMDG dangerous goods handling at its terminal.
You need a correct UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, a safety data sheet, a signed DG declaration and UN-approved packaging. Our dangerous goods shipping team gets carrier acceptance for the whole routing before you commit, and passes the DG data to the consignee's customs agent in Chile early.
Air cargo from Dubai to Chile
Air cargo suits samples, spare parts, electronics and urgent orders. There is no non-stop flight between Dubai and Santiago, so shipments connect once on the way. Fluent Cargo lists Dubai International (DXB) to Santiago (SCL) in about 1 day 4 hours with one transfer, with Air France and Turkish Airlines every 1 to 2 days and Ethiopian Airlines 2 to 4 times a week. It also lists an Ethiopian Airlines freighter route from Al Maktoum (DWC) to Santiago 2 to 4 times a week.
Air freight is priced on chargeable weight, which is the higher of the actual weight and the volume weight. Chilean customs rules are the same as for sea: the same 6% duty, 19% IVA and customs agent threshold apply. See our air cargo service for what we arrange from Dubai.
The UAE-Chile CEPA: what it changes for your shipment
The UAE and Chile signed their economic partnership agreement, the CEPA, in Abu Dhabi on 29 July 2024. Chile's Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations (SUBREI) and Chilean Customs both confirm it entered into force internationally on 24 November 2025. Chile promulgated it by Supreme Decree No. 142, published in the Diario Oficial on 22 December 2025, when it took effect nationally. Chilean Customs issued instructions for applying it in Oficio Circular No. 228 of 21 November 2025.
| Point | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Signed | 29 July 2024, Abu Dhabi |
| In force | 24 November 2025 (international); 22 December 2025 (national publication) |
| Chile's market access for UAE goods | About 99.5% of products imported from the UAE: 99% at entry into force, the remaining 0.5% phased in over three stages |
| Chapters | 21, including trade in goods, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, SPS measures and technical barriers to trade |
| Proof needed | A certificate of origin; Chilean Customs publishes the CEPA certificate model |
The preference is only for goods that qualify as UAE origin under the agreement's rules of origin chapter. Goods made in another country and shipped through Jebel Ali do not become UAE goods because they sailed from Dubai. They pay the duty for their real origin, which may be 6% or a rate from another Chilean agreement. Ask the manufacturer about origin before the goods are packed, and check your HS code in Chile's tariff schedule under the CEPA.
Chilean Customs says a certificate of origin is required when an import claims a tariff preference under a trade agreement. If the certificate is missing or wrong, the importer pays the general duty.
Chilean customs: who clears your cargo and what they need
Chile's import rules are run by the Servicio Nacional de Aduanas. The process turns on the value of the goods.
Do you need a customs agent to import into Chile?
For commercial goods above US$1,000 FOB, yes. Chilean Customs says the importer must hire an agente de aduanas, who prepares the import declaration (Declaracion de Ingreso) and can file it online. For commercial goods up to US$1,000 invoiced, the importer can clear them in person at the customs office with a simplified procedure. Most shipments from Dubai are above the threshold, so plan on a Chilean customs agent. We work with the consignee's chosen agent or a clearing agent in Chile.
What documents do you need to ship to Chile?
Chilean Customs lists four documents for every commercial import: the original bill of lading, air waybill or consignment note; the original commercial invoice; the importer's sworn declaration on the price of the goods, a form the customs agent provides; and the mandate to the agent, which is given by endorsing the original bill of lading.
| Document | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Always; it proves the consignee's ownership of the goods |
| Commercial invoice | Always; it states the goods and their value |
| Sworn price declaration | Always, on the customs agent's form |
| Endorsed bill of lading (mandate) | When an agent clears the goods |
| Packing list | Always for containerised goods |
| Certificate of origin | When you claim a CEPA or other agreement preference |
| Insurance certificate | When the premium is not shown on the invoice |
| Note of expenses | When freight and other costs are not on the invoice |
| Permits, certificates or approvals (vistos buenos) | For regulated goods such as food, plant and animal products |
How customs clearance works in Chile
- The carrier presents the cargo manifest and the goods arrive at the Chilean port or airport.
- The importer sends the bill of lading, invoice, packing list and any certificates to the customs agent.
- The agent prepares the Declaracion de Ingreso with the HS code, CIF value and any CEPA preference claim, and files it.
- Duty and IVA are paid, and any SAG or other agency checks are completed.
- Customs releases the goods and the terminal hands them over for trucking.
Customs duty and IVA when you ship from Dubai to Chile
Chile's import taxes are simple to estimate. The general rule, as Chilean Customs states it, is two charges calculated on the CIF value (cost of goods plus insurance plus freight).
| Charge | Rate | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (derecho ad valorem) | 6%, or lower or zero under a trade agreement | CIF value |
| IVA | 19% | CIF value plus duty |
| Additional taxes | Set rates for some goods, such as alcoholic drinks, tobacco and luxury items like gold and precious stones | As set by law |
| Used goods | A 50% surcharge on the ad valorem duty | Ad valorem duty |
Customs gives a worked example: on a CIF value of US$1,000, duty is US$60 and IVA is US$201.40 (19% of US$1,060), for a total of US$261.40. Note that freight and insurance are part of the base, so a higher freight cost also raises the duty and IVA you pay. For UAE-origin goods with a valid CEPA certificate, the duty line may drop to zero, but IVA still applies.
Restricted and prohibited goods in Chile
Check the goods before you book, not after they sail. Chilean Customs lists these among prohibited imports:
- Used vehicles, except under specific legal franchises such as the one for returning Chilean residents.
- Used motorcycles.
- Used and retreaded tyres.
- Asbestos in any form.
- Toxic industrial waste and unauthorised radioactive material.
Other goods are allowed but controlled. The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) sets phytosanitary rules for plant products and verifies them on entry, and animal products can only enter through authorised ports. Food, medicines and cosmetics may need approvals from health authorities before release, so the consignee should confirm requirements with their customs agent.
Wood packaging is the easy one to get wrong. SAG requires all wood packaging on imports, including pallets and dunnage, to comply with ISPM 15 (NIMF 15). Use heat-treated, stamped pallets or plastic pallets for every Chile shipment.
What does shipping from Dubai to Chile cost?
We do not publish rates, because they change with every sailing. These are the things that move the price on this lane:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ocean freight and surcharges | Long, transshipped routing; fuel and peak season surcharges change often |
| Chilean port and routing | A carrier's direct call at San Antonio or Valparaiso costs less than an extra feeder leg |
| Container type | Flat racks, open tops and DG boxes cost more and have fewer slots |
| Origin charges in the UAE | Trucking to Jebel Ali, terminal handling, export declaration, DG and survey fees |
| Destination charges in Chile | Terminal handling, customs agent fee, storage and trucking to the consignee |
| Duty and IVA | Calculated on CIF, so freight and insurance increase them |
| Incoterm | Decides who pays each of the above |
Agree the Incoterm with your buyer before you ask for a price. Our Incoterms 2020 guide for sea freight explains who pays what under FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP.
[AMIR-FACT: one real Dubai to Chile shipment we handled (cargo, port, mode, how long it took door to door) that we can describe without naming the client]
How to ship cargo from Dubai to Chile: step by step
- Confirm the goods, HS code and origin. Decide whether you can claim the CEPA preference and get the manufacturer's origin evidence.
- Agree the Incoterm and the Chilean port with your buyer.
- Ask the consignee to appoint a Chilean customs agent and to check any SAG or health approvals for the goods.
- Send us cargo details: weight, dimensions, packing, DG data if any, and the delivery address in Chile.
- We book space with the carrier, confirm the routing and transshipment, and get DG or out-of-gauge acceptance where needed.
- We arrange trucking to Jebel Ali, the UAE export declaration and loading.
- We send the bill of lading, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin to the consignee and their agent before the vessel arrives.
- The customs agent files the import declaration, pays duty and IVA, and arranges release and delivery.
Checklist before you ship to Chile
- HS code checked against Chile's tariff and the CEPA schedule.
- Origin confirmed and certificate of origin ready if you claim a preference.
- Consignee's customs agent appointed.
- Commercial invoice shows full goods description, value and Incoterm.
- Packing list matches the cargo piece by piece.
- All wood packaging ISPM 15 treated and stamped.
- No used tyres, used vehicles or other prohibited goods in the load.
- DG documents and carrier acceptance in place for the whole routing.
- Delivery date set with the real transit time, not the shortest quote.
Common mistakes on the Dubai to Chile lane
- Claiming CEPA rates for goods that are not UAE origin. Re-exported goods pay the duty for where they were made.
- Planning on a 25-day transit. Check the carrier's schedule; many services take far longer.
- Untreated wooden pallets or crates, which SAG will not accept.
- Forgetting that freight and insurance are part of the duty base.
- No customs agent lined up until the ship arrives, which starts storage charges. Our guide to demurrage and detention explains how those costs build.
- Booking DG cargo before checking acceptance at every transshipment port.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Dubai to Chile take?
By sea, published schedule data shows the quickest UAE to Chile options at around 50 days or more, with one or two transfers. Some forwarders quote shorter times without naming a carrier. By air, Dubai to Santiago takes about 1 day 4 hours with one connection, plus time for handling and clearance.
Which Chilean port is best for cargo from Dubai?
For Santiago and central Chile, San Antonio or Valparaiso. San Antonio is the larger, with 2,060,244 TEU in 2025. Choose the one your carrier calls directly.
Is there customs duty on goods shipped from Dubai to Chile?
The general duty is 6% of the CIF value, plus 19% IVA on the CIF value and duty. Goods of UAE origin can pay lower or zero duty under the UAE-Chile CEPA if the importer presents a valid certificate of origin.
Is the UAE-Chile CEPA in force?
Yes. It entered into force internationally on 24 November 2025, and Chile published the promulgating decree in the Diario Oficial on 22 December 2025. Chile grants preferential access to about 99.5% of products imported from the UAE.
Do I need a customs agent in Chile?
Yes, for commercial imports above US$1,000 FOB. The agent files the import declaration and works from the bill of lading, invoice, packing list and the importer's sworn price declaration.
Can I ship used cars or used tyres from Dubai to Chile?
In general, no. Chilean Customs lists used vehicles, used motorcycles and used or retreaded tyres among prohibited imports, with limited legal exceptions for vehicles.
Can I ship dangerous goods from Dubai to Chile?
Yes, if they are classified, packed and declared under the IMDG Code or IATA rules and every carrier and transshipment port on the route accepts them. Allow extra time for acceptance.
Do wooden pallets need treatment for Chile?
Yes. SAG requires all wood packaging on imports to comply with ISPM 15, so pallets and crates must be treated and stamped.
Get a quote for shipping from Dubai to Chile
Send us the cargo details, the Chilean delivery address and the Incoterm, and we will come back with a routing and a price. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a breakbulk, DG or CEPA origin question first. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- SUBREI: Chile - United Arab Emirates agreement
- SUBREI: CEPA between Chile and the UAE enters into force
- Chilean Customs: CEPA Chile - UAE (decree, circulars)
- Chilean Customs: Oficios Circulares 2025 (No. 228 and No. 250)
- Chilean Customs: Certificates of origin (CEPA UAE model)
- Chilean Customs: How much tax do you pay on imports?
- Chilean Customs: What do I need to do to import goods?
- Chilean Customs: Import FAQ (prohibited goods, thresholds)
- SAG: Imports and transit
- SAG: Wood packaging (ISPM 15)
- Puerto San Antonio: Transfer figures 2025
- Puerto Valparaiso: Statistics
- DP World San Antonio: Port services
- Fluent Cargo: United Arab Emirates to Chile
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Santiago
Reviewed: 10 November 2026