Import from Argentina to Europe

Ocean freight

Container shipping from Buenos Aires to major European ports (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Felixstowe):

• 20' container (FCL) – USD 1,800 to 3,200 depending on destination port and season
• 40' container (FCL) – USD 2,500 to 4,800
• 40' reefer container – USD 4,500 to 7,500, required for beef and fresh produce
• LCL (Less than Container Load) – USD 80 to 150 per m³

Customs duties and taxes

• Import duty – ranges from 0% to 26% depending on product classification (e.g., frozen beef 12.8%, bottled wine €32/hl)
• Import VAT – varies by EU member state (e.g., 20% UK, 19% Germany, 21% Netherlands)
• Excise duty – applies to wines and alcoholic beverages

Additional costs

• Customs brokerage – €300 to €900 per shipment
• Phytosanitary and veterinary inspections – €150 to €600 per consignment
• Cargo insurance – approximately 0.3–0.8% of goods value
• Terminal handling charges (THC) – €150 to €350 per container

Imports from Argentina into the European Union are subject to the EU's Common Customs Tariff. Duty rates are defined in the TARIC database and depend on the product's Combined Nomenclature (CN) classification code.

Key tariff rates for Argentine products

• Frozen beef – 12.8% + €221.1/100 kg (Hilton quota: 0% duty for approx. 29,500 tonnes annually)
• Soybeans – 0% (strategic raw material)
• Soybean meal – 0% to 6.4%
• Soybean oil – 6.4%
• Bottled wine – €32/hl
• Natural honey – 17.3%
• Lemons and limes – 6.4% (seasonally up to 12.8%)
• Biodiesel – anti-dumping duty of 4.5% to 8.1%

Mercosur-EU trade agreement

The Mercosur-EU trade agreement, negotiated since 2019, provides for gradual reduction of duties on many Argentine products. Once fully implemented, the agreement will eliminate tariffs on 91% of industrial goods and significantly reduce duties on agricultural products within tariff-rate quotas. For beef, a new quota of 99,000 tonnes at a 7.5% duty rate is envisaged.

Argentina also benefits from the EU's GSP (Generalised Scheme of Preferences), though its importance will diminish once the Mercosur-EU agreement is fully ratified.

Importing goods from Argentina into the EU requires a complete set of documentation. Missing or incorrect documents can result in cargo being held at the border or penalties being imposed.

Commercial documents

• Commercial Invoice – issued by the Argentine exporter, containing full product description, value, and Incoterms delivery terms
• Packing List – detailed breakdown of shipment contents
• Bill of Lading (B/L) – transport document issued by the shipping line

Customs and origin documents

• Certificate of Origin – issued by the Argentine Chamber of Commerce, required to claim preferential duty rates
• Customs Declaration (SAD) – Single Administrative Document filed through the national customs system
• EORI Number – mandatory for all EU importers

Sanitary and phytosanitary documents

• Veterinary Certificate – mandatory for beef, poultry, and animal products; issued by Argentina's SENASA authority
• Phytosanitary Certificate – required for fruits, vegetables, and plant products
• Health Certificate – for processed food products
• CHED (Common Health Entry Document) – electronic notification in the TRACES NT system, required before goods enter the EU

Sea freight from Argentina to European ports is the most common transport method due to cost efficiency and shipment volumes.

Ocean transit times

• Buenos Aires → Rotterdam – 20–24 days
• Buenos Aires → Hamburg – 22–26 days
• Buenos Aires → Felixstowe – 22–25 days
• Buenos Aires → Barcelona – 18–22 days
• Buenos Aires → Genoa – 19–23 days

Major shipping lines

The Argentina–Europe route is served by Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Hamburg Süd, and Evergreen, among others. Voyages typically involve transshipment at Brazilian ports (Santos, Rio Grande) or the Canary Islands (Las Palmas).

Logistics options

• FCL (Full Container Load) – best per-unit rate for large volumes
• LCL (Less than Container Load) – for smaller shipments, consolidated in Buenos Aires
• Air freight – Buenos Aires (EZE) → Europe, 2–4 days, rates from USD 3.5 to 6/kg; used for urgent sample deliveries or high-value goods
• Reefer transport – essential for meat, fruit, and frozen goods; requires unbroken cold chain throughout

Importing from Argentina involves specific challenges. Awareness of these pitfalls helps avoid costly delays and financial losses.

• Failing to check tariff-rate quotas – Hilton beef and other agricultural products are subject to volume limits; importing above quota means full duty rates, potentially 3 times higher
• Incorrect veterinary certificates – Argentine meat requires SENASA certificates compliant with EU standards; formal errors result in cargo being detained at port
• Ignoring TRACES NT requirements – since 2022, the CHED notification in TRACES must be submitted at least 24 hours before the goods arrive at an EU port
• Wrong tariff classification – an incorrect CN code leads to the wrong duty being applied, with corrections triggering fines and delays
• No cargo insurance for long-distance shipping – ocean transit takes 3–4 weeks, and the risk of damage is significant, especially for frozen products
• Overlooking Argentine export restrictions – Argentina applies variable export taxes (retenciones) and quantity restrictions on certain products, affecting price and availability
• Underestimating demurrage and detention costs – customs clearance delays can generate container holding charges of USD 50 to 200 per day