Ocean and Air Shipping from Brazil to Singapore

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Updated on 28 Nov 2021

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The two countries have enjoyed fruitful diplomatic and trade relations for more than 50 years and are planning to strengthen their ties further. Brazil is currently Singapore’s third-largest trading partner in Latin America. Trade between the two nations reached $3.4 billion (USD) in 2017.

If importing from Brazil to Singapore is on your to-do list, this guide is for you. We know that transporting freight internationally via air and sea is a complex undertaking. That’s why we have compiled useful information on this page to help your business ship freight from Brazil to Singapore successfully.

What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight From Brazil to Singapore?

Flags of Brazil and Singapore to show Shipa Freight capacity to ship from Brazil to Singapore

Generally, you have the choice between ocean and air shipping from Brazil to Singapore. Both options have their benefits and downsides, which we will discuss subsequently.

Ocean Freight From Brazil to Singapore

Less than Container Load (LCL): LCL shipping is a mode of transport where your products are loaded into a container together with consignments belonging to other shippers. Instead of hiring the entire unit, you’ll only pay for the weight and dimensions that your cargo occupies. This makes LCL one of the most affordable ways to move small freight shipments from Brazil to Singapore.

Full Container Load (FCL): With FCL, you will pay a flat, per-container rate for shipping. The benefit is that your freight will have a dedicated container for the entire journey. This method is usually cheaper than LCL if you are moving larger consignments.

Air Freight from Brazil to Singapore

Flying your goods is the right choice if you need your products to reach Singapore urgently. Short transit times, unfortunately, come at a high price. Shipping by air is often much costlier than ocean freight.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Brazil to Singapore?

There is no quick answer to the question of how much your import from Brazil to Singapore will cost. The final price will depend on the factors below:

Nature of goods
Chosen mode of transport (FCL, LCL, Air)
Weight of the cargo
Dimensions of the cargo
Distance between origin and destination
Type of service (such as Port-to-Port, Door-to-Door)

The weight of your cargo is one of the most important influencing factors in the final cost calculation. Here is a handy rule of thumb for you: The price of air and ocean freight will be very similar if you ship 100 kg or less. However, if your freight exceeds 100 kg, then ocean shipping is typically less expensive than air freight.

Always keep in mind that freight forwarders like Shipa Freight don’t ship all weight brackets. Light shipments, weighing 35 kg or less will be better off in the hands of an international courier service.

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From Brazil to Singapore?

Hourglass and a calendar to represent the transit time of shipments with Shipa Freight

The transit times of ocean and air shipping are vastly different. Although there’s currently no direct connection between Brazil and Singapore, your freight can arrive within a couple of days via air. Transporting an entire shipping container from Brazil to Singapore will take much longer – at least a few weeks.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From Brazil to Singapore?

To give you an idea of the transit times for shipping a container from Brazil to Singapore, one of our routes, from Santos, takes about 37 days from port to port.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From Brazil to Singapore?

Air freight will typically take between five and eight days to travel from Brazil to Singapore. That said, it can, in some cases, take ten days, as on the service from Sao Paulo sometimes used by our customers.

Customs Clearance in Brazil and Singapore

Every export from Brazil to Singapore has to undergo customs clearance. As this can be an intricate process, novice and experienced shippers alike often hire freight forwarders and agents to complete it. An experienced partner can prevent any issues or delays and ensure that your freight complies with Brazilian and Singaporean customs laws as well as international regulations.

Even when you engage a freight forwarder, you have an important part to play in the customs clearance process. Your duty is to prepare and submit the necessary documents. Most customs authorities will ask for the following paperwork, as a minimum:

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)
Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)

Other paperwork, such as licenses, permits, or certificates, might be required to finalize the process. Your freight forwarder can advise and guide you in any case.

Check out our documents list to learn more about the different documents and see some examples.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean Freight

Most importers and exporters use ocean shipping to transport commercial goods from Brazil to Singapore. Specialized vessels ship cargo inside standard 20ft or 40ft shipping containers from port to port. If your sea freight doesn’t fit inside a standard unit, your carrier can recommend alternatives, such as break-bulk shipping and other container types.

In the next sections, we will concentrate on explaining the two options for containerized ocean shipping – LCL and FCL.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

Pros:

LCL is typically the most affordable option for freight with a total volume of 14 CBM or less.
You don’t have to load and unload the container yourself. Simply drop-off and collect your cargo from the warehouse of a freight forwarder or carrier.
Your supply chain can benefit because you can move your goods as soon as they are ready instead of waiting to fill a container.

Cons:

Your cargo will be moved and handled more, which might put fragile, delicate, or perishable products at risk of damage.
The transit time will be a bit longer than FCL, because the additional process steps of freight consolidation and deconsolidation take time.

Learn more about Less than Container Load on our dedicated page on LCL shipping.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

Pros:

FCL is the quickest mode of ocean shipping.
It’s usually the most economical option for large shipments (more than 14 CBM).
Your goods will remain in an unopened container until they reach the final recipient, unless customs officials decide to perform an inspection.

Cons:

Even if you are shipping only a small consignment, you still have to pay the fee for the entire unit.
FCL might restrict your loading and delivery options, as not every supplier or buyer can deal with a container at their facilities.

Learn more about Full Container Load on our dedicated page on FCL shipping.

Air Freight

Pros:

With air shipping, you will benefit from the shortest transit times.
This is best for perishable goods that have a very limited shelf-life.
Air freight has very low risk and is therefore suited for high-value cargo.
It’s less affected by the weather and very reliable with regard to the delivery date.
For shipments consisting of a couple of pallets or less, this might be even the most affordable mode of transport.
Air shipping is convenient for any supplier and/or buyer located close to an international airport.

Cons:

Air shipping can be costly for larger, heavier goods.
It’s not a viable option for bulky or awkwardly shaped cargo that can’t fit into the hold of an aircraft.

Learn more about Air Freight on our dedicated page by clicking here.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo Ports of Origin in Brazil

Paranagua

Port Facts:

Third-largest port in Brazil for container shipping.
Main exporting port for agricultural products.
Located close to the city of Curitiba in the state of Paraná.
In operation since 1872.

Owned By: Administração dos Portos de Paranaguá e Antonina.

Annual Container Volume: >2 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRPNG.

Navegantes

Port Facts:

20th-busiest port in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Second-busiest container gateway in the country.
Home to a sophisticated port complex with a 50,000 square meter automated warehouse.

Owned By: Portonave S/A.

Annual Container Volume: >800,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRNVT.

Itajai

Port Facts:

Main port of the state of Santa Catarina.
Facilities include one container terminal and four berths.
Can handle vessels with capacities of up to 9,000 TEUs.

Owned By: Federal Government of Singapore.

Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRSSZ.

Rio de Janeiro

Port Facts:

Third-busiest port in the country.
Situated on the western coast of the Guanabara Bay.
Facilities include a 7,000-meter wharf and an 883-meter pier.

Owned By: Companhia Docas do Rio de Janeiro.

Annual Container Volume: >170,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRRIO.

Itapoa

Port Facts:

Fifth-busiest container port in Brazil.
Among the newest and highest-performing container gateways in the country.
Expansion underway to increase capacity to over a million TEUs per year.

Owned By: Itapoá Terminais Portuários S.A.

Annual Container Volume: >600,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRIOA.

Other Ports in Brazil

In addition to the five ports listed above, you can also export your ocean freight from Brazil to Singapore from the following container gateways:

Belem
Santos
Manaus
Rio Grande do Sul
Itaguai
Salvador

###Cargo Port of Arrival in Singapore

####Singapore

Port Facts:

20% of shipping containers worldwide pass through Singapore.
Located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.
Connects to more than 600 ports in 123 countries.
Freight facilities include 52 berths and about 200 quay cranes.

Owned By: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Annual Container Volume: >36 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: SGSIN.

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide