Furniture Sourcing from China to Colombia
Colombia’s hotel and residential pipeline spans very different markets: business hotels in Bogotá and Medellín, resorts and boutique hotels on the Caribbean coast, and residential towers in every major city. Many of these projects need custom furniture in volumes that are hard to source locally at the right price and quality. Chinify helps Colombian developers, hotel owners and interior designers source furniture from verified factories in Foshan, China, and coordinates samples, production, quality control and export.
This page sums up what you need to know before importing furniture from China to Colombia: duties and taxes, clearance requirements, documents, ports and timing.
Import duties and taxes for furniture in Colombia
Colombia has no free trade agreement with China, so furniture made in China pays the general (MFN) rate in Colombia’s customs tariff. As of October 2026:
| Product (HS code) | Import duty |
|---|---|
| Seats and sofas (9401), including upholstered seating | 15% |
| Other furniture (9403): bedroom, office, kitchen, dining, metal and other furniture | 15% |
| Mattresses (9404.21, 9404.29) | 15% |
| Table and floor lamps (9405.21, 9405.29) | 15% |
| LED-only ceiling, wall and other fittings (several 9405.11 and 9405.42 lines) | 0% |
On top of the duty, IVA at 19% is charged on the customs value plus the duty. The customs value includes freight and insurance to the Colombian port, so in practice both are calculated on the CIF value.
Illustrative example: for furniture with a CIF value of USD 100,000, the duty at 15% is USD 15,000 and IVA at 19% on USD 115,000 is USD 21,850. Duty and IVA together add about USD 36,850 before broker fees, port charges and inland transport.
Lighting is the category where the exact HS code matters most, because rates within heading 9405 range from 0% to 15%. Classify every item with your customs agency before ordering. Rates are set by Decree 1881 of 2021 and its amendments, and they can change.
Clearance requirements
- RUT: the importer must be registered in the RUT with the DIAN as an importer.
- Customs agency: using an agencia de aduanas is not mandatory for any amount, but for a project shipment we recommend one with furniture experience.
- Andean Customs Value Declaration (DAV): required when the FOB value is USD 5,000 or more, including split shipments from the same purchase.
- Lighting: lighting products fall under RETILAP, Colombia’s technical regulation for lighting, and electrical goods may need an import registration through VUCE. Check this with your customs agency at the specification stage, so we can request the right test reports from the factory.
Documents for a shipment to Colombia
We prepare the export documents; your customs agency completes the Colombian side. A typical file includes:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Andean Customs Value Declaration (DAV) and its supporting documents, when it applies
- Insurance document
- Import registration and technical certificates for goods that need them (for example, lighting under RETILAP)
- Power of attorney for the customs agency, if you use one
Wooden pallets and crates must carry the ISPM-15 (NIMF 15) treatment mark. A certificate of origin does not lower the duty on Chinese goods because there is no trade agreement, but your agency may still ask for one.
Ports and ocean transit
- Buenaventura (Pacific): served directly by Asia–West Coast South America shipping services. The usual port for Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and the coffee region.
- Cartagena (Caribbean): reached via the Panama Canal or with transshipment in Panama. Convenient for projects on the Caribbean coast.
- Barranquilla and Santa Marta (Caribbean): other options for the north coast, depending on the service your forwarder books.
Forwarders publish ocean transit estimates of about 30 to 35 days from East Asia to Buenaventura or Cartagena. Add time for booking, port handling, clearance and inland transport, and ask your forwarder for the current schedule from Shekou, Yantian or Nansha, the ports closest to Foshan.
A realistic timeline for a Colombian project
For a custom hotel or residential package, plan on roughly 4 to 6 months from approved drawings to furniture on site: specification and quotes, samples, production, inspection and loading, then ocean freight, clearance and delivery. Work back from your opening date and leave a buffer for approvals.
What Chinify coordinates
- Specification of every item and FOB Foshan quotations you can compare
- Factory matching by category and sample development
- Three-stage quality control with photos and signed reports
- Export packing, consolidation, loading and export documents
- Coordination with your freight forwarder and customs agency in Colombia
Import clearance, duties and IVA are handled by your customs agency or forwarder in Colombia. The full process is on how we work.
Related
See our hotel furniture page and the catalog, read our practical guide to importing furniture from China to Colombia and the general guide to importing furniture from China, or go back to Latin America.
Send us your Colombian project scope and we will reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the import duty on furniture from China to Colombia?
As of October 2026, seats, sofas, other furniture under heading 9403 and mattresses pay 15% import duty in Colombia, because there is no trade agreement with China. Lighting ranges from 0% for some LED fittings to 15% for table and floor lamps. IVA at 19% is then charged on the customs value plus duty.
Does Colombia have a free trade agreement with China?
No. China is not among Colombia’s trade agreements in force or under negotiation, so Chinese furniture pays the general tariff rate. A certificate of origin does not reduce the duty.
Do I need a customs agency to import furniture into Colombia?
It is not mandatory: importers registered in the RUT can clear goods directly. For a project shipment we still recommend an agencia de aduanas with furniture experience, especially to classify items correctly and prepare the Andean Customs Value Declaration, required from USD 5,000 FOB.
Which Colombian port is best for furniture from China?
Buenaventura, on the Pacific, is usually the most direct route for Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. Cartagena suits projects on the Caribbean coast. Your forwarder can compare the current schedules and inland transport costs for your site.
How long does furniture take to arrive in Colombia from China?
Forwarders estimate about 30 to 35 days at sea from East Asia to Buenaventura or Cartagena, plus port handling, clearance and inland transport. For a custom project, plan about 4 to 6 months from approved drawings to delivery on site.
Tell us about your project
Send us the location, the type of project, the areas to furnish, drawings or references and your timeline. We reply within 24 hours.