🇵🇪 How to Import from Panama to Peru?

Before beginning the process, you must determine whether you will conduct a Personal Import, submitting documentation directly to the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration of Peru (SUNAT), or appoint a licensed Customs Broker (Agente de Aduana) to represent your company in formal commercial customs clearance procedures (Commercial Import) before Peruvian Customs.

• National Identity Document (DNI) for individuals
• Single Taxpayer Registry (RUC) for commercial corporate entities
• Commercial Invoice or Proof of Purchase
• Simplified Import Declaration (DSI – Declaración Simplificada de Importación) or Single Customs Declaration (DAM)
• Sworn Declaration of Value (Declaración Jurada de Valor)
• Transport Document for the imported goods (Bill of Lading or Air Waybill)
• Cargo Transport Insurance Policy
• Certificate of Origin (for preferential tariff treatment under trade agreements)
• Control Document / Technical inspection clearance (where applicable)
• Notarized Power of Attorney authorizing the customs broker
• Specialized ministerial permits for regulated goods (DIGEMID, SENASA, SANIPES, etc., where required)

Once all required documentation has been compiled, deliver the dossier to your designated customs broker, who will generate the Simplified Import Declaration (DSI) or Customs Goods Declaration (DAM) and calculate the applicable tax liquidation slip.

Payment of customs duties and taxes is then completed through authorized financial institutions approved by SUNAT. Ensure you reference the Customs Document Code (CDA – Código de Documento Aduanero) provided on your customs declaration to identify the transaction.

Key customs duties and taxes to consider when evaluating landed import costs include:

• Ad Valorem Duties (Arancel Ad Valorem): Calculated as a percentage over the CIF customs value of the merchandise based on the National Tariff Heading (Subpartida Nacional).
• Price Band System (Sistema de Franja de Precios): Applied to specific agricultural commodities to stabilize import costs within predetermined domestic bands.
• Selective Consumption Tax (ISC): Levied on designated goods such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and high-sugar products.
• General Sales Tax (IGV – 16%): The national value-added tax applied to the taxable import base.
• Municipal Promotion Tax (IPM – 2%): Collected alongside the IGV, bringing the combined sales tax rate to 18%.
• Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Applied to specific imports in cases of unfair trade practices.
• IGV Perception Regime (Régimen de Percepción del IGV): An advance tax collection mechanism applied to definitive imports (typically 3.5%, 5%, or 10%).

For Peruvian commercial buyers placing volume wholesale orders, Free Zone distributors often offer tailored commercial payment terms following a credit risk assessment. Agreed payment windows typically range across 30, 60, or 90 days, with interest structures established according to individual distributor policies.

To protect transactions, distributors implement structured trade credit management and utilize trade credit insurance in partnership with Panamanian financial institutions. Additionally, suppliers incentivize early payment by providing attractive discounts to clients who settle invoices ahead of agreed credit terms.

This supplier financing is widely referred to as «Commercial Credit for Peruvian Businesses.» While common in wholesale commerce, obtaining credit lines requires establishing a proven, reliable commercial track record, meaning initial transactions generally require upfront settlement until business trust is demonstrated.

Importing products from China versus Panama differs significantly across several key operational dimensions. Choosing the optimal sourcing origin depends on your specific business requirements, turnaround urgency, procurement budget, product diversity, and logistics planning. Ocean freight from China involves extensive geographic transit times averaging 18 to 35 days for containerized shipments, tying up working capital and carrying higher potential shipping and inventory holding costs.

Conversely, importing from Panama offers superior logistical efficiency, with maritime transit taking just 4 to 7 sailing days. Sourcing from Panama eliminates language barriers, facilitates seamless negotiations, and provides direct access to 100% authentic inventory from premier global brands through authorized regional master distributors, backed by trade preferences under the Peru-Panama Free Trade Agreement.