Furniture Sourcing from China to Peru
Peru’s hotel and residential market is concentrated in Lima, with tourism projects in Cusco, Arequipa and the north coast. For developers and hotel owners furnishing a full property, importing custom furniture from China is often the most practical option, especially because the Peru–China Free Trade Agreement has removed import duty on furniture. Chinify helps Peruvian 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 Peru: duties under the trade agreement, IGV, percepción, customs agent rules, documents, ports and timing.
Import duties and taxes for furniture
Peru’s general import duty on furniture, mattresses and most lamps is 6% of the customs value. Under the Peru–China Free Trade Agreement, in force since 2010, furniture and mattresses from China are now fully liberalised: they enter at 0% duty with a valid certificate of origin. Many LED luminaires already have a 0% general rate.
| With FTA certificate of origin | Without it | |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty on furniture and mattresses (9401, 9403, 9404) | 0% | 6% |
| IGV + IPM | 18% of customs value | 18% of customs value + duty |
| Percepción del IGV (advance collection) | 3.5% in general; 10% on a first import or if the importer is not in good standing | Same |
IGV and IPM together are 18% (in 2026, 15.5% IGV plus 2.5% IPM). The percepción is an advance collection of IGV charged at customs, not an additional tax; ask your accountant how it applies to your company. Note the 10% rate on a company’s first import, which matters for a new project company.
Illustrative example: for furniture with a CIF value of USD 100,000, with a valid certificate of origin you pay no duty and USD 18,000 of IGV and IPM. Without the certificate, you pay USD 6,000 of duty and USD 19,080 of IGV and IPM. The percepción, customs agent fees, port charges and inland transport come on top.
The certificate of origin is what saves the 6%
- It must be issued in China, by an authorised entity, in the format set by the Peru–China agreement.
- It is valid for one year from issue, and the original is presented at clearance.
- The goods must be shipped directly from China to Peru; transit through a third country is accepted only under the agreement’s conditions.
- If the certificate is missing or has errors, SUNAT gives the importer a short period to correct it, and the goods can be released against payment of the duty or a guarantee.
We arrange the certificate of origin with each shipment and check it against the commercial invoice and packing list before the goods leave China.
Customs agent and other requirements
- RUC: commercial imports require an active RUC in good standing (“habido”).
- Customs agent: imports with an FOB value above USD 2,000 must be cleared through a licensed agente de aduanas, so every project shipment needs one.
- Advance clearance: sea imports are declared in advance (despacho anticipado), before the goods arrive. Your agent needs the documents early, which is why we send them as soon as the container sails.
Documents for a shipment to Peru
We prepare the export documents; your customs agent files the import declaration (DAM). A typical file includes:
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading
- Packing list
- Insurance document, if the cargo is insured
- Certificate of origin under the Peru–China FTA, to claim 0% duty
Peru applies ISPM-15 to wooden packaging, so we use treated and marked pallets and crates.
Ports and ocean transit
- Callao: Peru’s main port, next to Lima.
- Chancay: the new deep-water port north of Lima, opened in November 2024 and majority-owned by COSCO Shipping Ports, with direct services from China.
As an example from a published carrier schedule (August 2026), one Asia–South America service took 33 days from Shekou to Callao, counted from the last South China port. Transit time varies by service and route, so ask your forwarder for the current schedule to Callao or Chancay, and add time for port handling, clearance and inland transport.
A realistic timeline
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. Projects in Cusco or Arequipa need extra time for inland transport from the coast.
What Chinify coordinates
- Specification of every item and FOB Foshan quotations you can compare
- Factory matching, samples and three-stage quality control with photos and signed reports
- Certificate of origin under the Peru–China FTA, checked against invoice and packing list
- Export packing, consolidation, loading and export documents, sent early for advance clearance
- Coordination with your forwarder and customs agent in Peru
Import clearance, IGV and percepción are handled in Peru by your customs agent. The full process is on how we work.
Related
See our hotel furniture page and the catalog, read the guide to importing furniture from China and how to choose hotel furniture manufacturers in China, or go back to Latin America.
Send us your Peruvian project scope and we will reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the import duty on furniture from China to Peru?
Peru’s general duty on furniture and mattresses is 6%, but under the Peru–China Free Trade Agreement furniture from China enters at 0% with a valid certificate of origin. IGV and IPM add 18%, and SUNAT also collects an advance IGV percepción, usually 3.5%.
What do I need to claim 0% duty under the Peru–China FTA?
An original certificate of origin issued in China by an authorised entity, in the agreement’s format and valid for one year. The goods must be shipped directly from China, and the certificate must match the commercial invoice.
Do I need a customs agent to import furniture into Peru?
Yes, for any import with an FOB value above USD 2,000, which includes every project shipment. You also need an active RUC in good standing with SUNAT.
Why is the percepción 10% on my first import?
SUNAT applies the higher 10% percepción rate to a company’s first import and to importers that are not in good standing, such as those behind on their tax filings. After that, the general rate is 3.5%. It is an advance collection of IGV, not an additional tax.
How long does furniture take to arrive in Peru from China?
It depends on the service: one carrier schedule from August 2026 showed 33 days from Shekou to Callao. 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.