Importing from Asia
How to import from Asia to Costa Rica (not just China)
Vietnam, Korea, India, Thailand, Japan: what each Asian origin offers, transit times and how cargo reaches Costa Rica.
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Practical guides on Incoterms, customs, freight and international trade so you can import to Costa Rica without surprises.
Importing from Asia
Importing used cars from Korea to Costa Rica
Purchase, documents, shipping via Caldera, taxes by age and registration: the whole process to bring a used vehicle.
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Ocean freight
Types of shipping containers: dimensions and uses
20', 40', High Cube, Reefer, Open Top, Flat Rack and Isotank: which cargo goes in each container and how to pick the right one.
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Customs
Costa Rica's ports of entry by route
Limón, Caldera, Peñas Blancas, Paso Canoas or Santamaría: which customs office your cargo enters through, by origin and mode.
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Customs & documentation
Certificate of origin: what it is and what it's for
The document that activates FTA preferential tariffs. Without it, you pay the full duty even if your product qualifies.
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Importing from Europe
How to import from Europe to Costa Rica, step by step
From purchase order to delivery: the 7 steps to import from Europe, with incoterms, documents and customs in plain language.
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Importing from Europe
The EU agreement that lowers your import duties
How to pay less duty (even 0%) on European goods with the EUR.1 certificate of origin or the invoice declaration.
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Importing from Europe
How much does it cost to import from Europe?
Every cost component of a European import and the levers to reduce it, including the preferential duty.
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Importing from Europe
How long does shipping from Europe to Costa Rica take?
Real transit times by sea and air from Europe, port by port, plus the stages that add days to your import.
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Importing from Europe
Import from anywhere in Europe: hub ports
Your supplier can be in any country, even landlocked: Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Valencia and Le Havre concentrate the continent's cargo.
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Business
How to reduce your company's import costs
Concrete strategies for your company to lower the total cost of importing, without sacrificing time or compliance.
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Business
How to choose a freight forwarder for your company
What to evaluate when choosing a freight forwarder: experience, coverage, transparent rates, communication and backing.
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Importing from China
Common mistakes when importing from China for the first time
The mistakes first-time importers make with China and how to avoid them so you do not lose money.
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Importing from China
How long does a shipment from China to Costa Rica take
Transit times by sea and air, which stages add days and how to plan your import from China.
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Importing from China
How to find and vet a supplier in China
Where to look for Chinese suppliers and how to vet them step by step to buy with confidence and avoid scams.
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Importing from China
How much does it cost to import from China to Costa Rica
All the components of the cost of importing from China to Costa Rica, with a breakdown example and how to lower it.
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Importing from China
How to import from China to Costa Rica step by step
The 7 steps to import from China to Costa Rica without headaches, from supplier to delivery.
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Ocean freight
FCL vs LCL: which is best for your cargo?
When full container (FCL) is best and when consolidated cargo (LCL) wins, based on your volume, cost and transit time.
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Import guide
Ocean vs. air freight: which to choose?
Cost, time and cargo type: when ocean freight is best and when air wins when importing to Costa Rica.
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Import guide
Import duties in Costa Rica: how they are calculated
Which taxes you pay when importing to Costa Rica and how they are calculated on the CIF value, with a step-by-step example.
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Logistics & packaging
Euro pallet vs. American pallet: which to choose?
Dimensions, uses and differences between the euro pallet and the American pallet so you pick the right one for your cargo.
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Customs
Pre-arrival vs. on-arrival (redestino) clearance
Benefits, drawbacks and when the advance declaration beats the on-arrival declaration when importing to Costa Rica.
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Customs & documentation
What the commercial invoice must include for customs
The mandatory information your commercial invoice cannot miss to avoid rejections and problems at Costa Rican customs.
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Logistics & packaging
Correct cargo packaging: responsibility and benefits
Why correct packaging protects your goods, cuts costs and avoids legal and customs problems in international transport.
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Import guide
Incoterms explained: FOB vs CIF vs EXW
What FOB, CIF and EXW mean, who pays freight and insurance, where risk transfers, and which one suits you when importing to Costa Rica.
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