Shipping from Colombia to the US: courier, air cargo or ocean, and what changed in 2025
Shipping from Colombia to the US comes down to weight. Small parcels go by courier, door to door. From about 100 kilos per shipment, air cargo to a US airport costs roughly half of an express courier, and large, non-urgent volumes go by ocean. Since the US ended the low-value exemption in 2025, every commercial shipment needs a customs entry and may pay duties.
Whether you are a US buyer ordering from a Colombian supplier or a Colombian brand selling to customers in the US, the first shipping decision is not which company to use. It is which mode: courier, air cargo or ocean. Get that wrong and you either pay parcel rates for a pallet or wait weeks for something that could have flown.
This guide explains how to choose, what each mode includes, which documents you need and what changed in 2025, when the US ended duty-free entry for low-value shipments. If your supplier has never exported, we can also act as the Colombian exporter of record so the goods can leave Colombia legally.
Courier, air cargo or ocean: what is the cheapest way to ship from Colombia to the USA?
The short answer: weight decides.
| Chargeable weight per shipment | Mode that usually fits | Delivered to | Who clears US customs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under about 100 kg | Courier | The recipient’s door | Usually the courier, on the importer’s behalf |
| From about 100 kg | Air cargo | The destination airport | The importer or their customs broker |
| Several tons, no rush | Ocean freight (LCL or full container) | The destination port | The importer or their customs broker |
Chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, which is calculated from the dimensions of the packed shipment. Large, light boxes can be charged as if they were heavy.
We do not publish rates or transit times here: they depend on the route, the season and the cargo, and any figure given in advance would be a guess.
When courier makes sense
Courier is the natural choice for samples, documents, spare parts and e-commerce orders: one company picks up or receives the parcel, flies it, handles a simplified customs process and delivers it to the door, with a tracking number throughout.
It stops making sense when the shipment grows. Courier rates are built per package, so a 300-kilo shipment pays hundreds of times a service designed for a box.
Air freight from Colombia to the USA, from 100 kg
From about 100 kilos per shipment, air cargo is usually the better option. It is charged per kilo of cargo instead of per package, which is why it costs roughly half of an express courier for the same shipment. The cargo is delivered to the destination airport, with freight and insurance covered to that point, and the importer or their broker clears it and picks it up.
That is how our air freight from Colombia service works. We receive cargo at our offices in Medellín and Bogotá, where each shipment is weighed and measured before the final quote, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay. Companies and individuals can ship.
Is ocean freight the cheapest option for large shipments?
For large, non-urgent volumes, ocean freight is usually the most economical. Smaller shipments travel as LCL (less than container load), sharing a container with other cargo; larger ones fill a container. Ocean shipments to the US also require the importer to file advance cargo information with US Customs before the goods are loaded.
What changed for shipping from Colombia to the US in 2025?
Two changes affect anyone shipping from Colombia to the US:
- End of de minimis. Under Executive Order 14324, effective August 29, 2025, commercial shipments no longer enter the US duty-free because of their low value, so even small shipments need a customs entry and may pay duties. Confirm current CBP guidance before shipping, since the rules keep changing.
- Additional tariffs. The US introduced additional tariffs in 2025 that may apply on top of the normal rate for a product. They have changed several times, so check the rate in force when you ship.
Many Colombian goods can still enter with preferential treatment under the US–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, if the importer claims it and the goods meet the rules of origin.
Documents for shipping from Colombia
Shipping from Colombia to the US usually requires these documents:
- Commercial invoice, with a precise description, quantities, values and the agreed Incoterm.
- Packing list, with the weight and dimensions of each package.
- Transport document: the courier’s waybill, the air waybill or the bill of lading.
- Proof of origin, if the importer wants preferential treatment.
- Product permits, if required: for example, FDA registration and prior notice for food and coffee, or USDA inspection for fresh produce and flowers.
- Export declaration in Colombia, for formal exports.
On the US side, an importer of record files the entry, usually through a licensed customs broker. The full process on both sides is in how to import from Colombia to the US.
Before you ship
Tell us what you are shipping, how much it weighs, its dimensions and where it is going. We will tell you which mode fits and what it costs. If you are still deciding what to buy, see what the US imports from Colombia. The consultation is free.
Sources
- The White House, Executive Order 14324: suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment, effective August 29, 2025.
- US Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov): entry requirements and advance cargo information for ocean shipments.
- IATA, The Air Cargo Tariff and Rules (TACT): chargeable and volumetric weight in air cargo.
- Excolbi Courier Freight service terms: air cargo from 100 kg, CIP to the destination airport, cargo received in Medellín and Bogotá.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship from Colombia to the US?
It depends on weight and volume. Courier is practical for small parcels. From about 100 kilos per shipment, air cargo to a US airport costs roughly half of an express courier. For large volumes without urgency, ocean freight is usually the cheapest.
Does air cargo deliver to the door?
Not by default. Air cargo is delivered at the destination airport, where the importer or their customs broker clears it. That is part of why it costs less than door-to-door courier.
Do small shipments from Colombia still enter the US duty-free?
No. The US suspended the low-value (de minimis) exemption in August 2025, so commercial shipments of any value need an entry and may pay duties. Check current US Customs guidance before shipping.
What documents do I need?
A commercial invoice, a packing list and the air waybill or bill of lading, plus proof of origin if you want duty-free treatment under the US–Colombia trade agreement and any permits your product requires.
Where does Excolbi receive shipments in Colombia?
At our offices in Medellín and Bogotá, where each shipment is weighed and measured before the final quote.
Related reading
How to import from Colombia to the US: the Colombian side, the US side and who does what
Importing from Colombia to the US takes two sets of formalities: the export side in Colombia, with invoice, export declaration and proof of origin, and the entry side in the US, handled by an importer of record. Under the US–Colombia trade agreement most goods can enter duty-free if origin is claimed. If your Colombian supplier cannot export on their own, a Colombian trading company can export on their behalf.
ReadWhat does the US import from Colombia? Top products, latest figures and how to source them
The US imports from Colombia mainly crude oil, gold and precious metals, cut flowers, coffee and fresh fruit such as bananas and avocados. US imports from Colombia were close to 18 billion dollars in 2025, according to US Census data. Most of these goods can enter duty-free under the US–Colombia trade agreement when origin is claimed.
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