What are the characteristics of the air cargo sector to Brazil?

According to the recent report of IATA, “The value of air transport in Brazil” (2021), the aviation sector contributes US$ 18.8 billion to Brazil’s GDP and generates more than 800,000 jobs. There are some facts and figures of Brazil’s air cargo that helps to understand these numbers:

•  2nd nation in the world by number of airports.
• 3rd in the world in domestic commercial aviation market.
• 110 public airfields receive scheduled flights.
• 18 airports receive international flights.
• 22 airports granted to private administrations.
• 44 airports still managed by Infraero (government administration).

This shows the importance of the air traffic in Brazil and its the incidence it has in the world.

“The international airports of Guarulhos and Viracopos in Brazil are responsible for almost 80% of the flow of exports and 67% of imports”

Brazilian airports

The transport of air cargo in Brazil is characterized by the high concentration of origin and destination flows of imports and exports. The international airports of Guarulhos and Viracopos in Brazil are responsible for almost 80% of the flow of exports and 67% of imports, while trade with five countries (States United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and Mexico) accounts for about 55% of the total moved by air.

New information from May 2022 indicates that the Brazil’s leading airport, Guarulhos International Airport, both in terms of passengers and cargo carried, is looking to increase its freighter capacity. The airport will invest US$20 million to renovate its air cargo terminal. The construction is scheduled to begin during the second half of 2022 and extend into next year. Guarulhos will have three new warehouses of 40,000 m2 each, increasing the overall cargo covered area to nearly 200,000 m2.

Since 2012, the Guarulhos airport has been operated by a “consortium” composed of Invepar S/A, Airports Company South Africa, and Infraero.

Concerning to Viracopos, since 2013, it is operated by Infraero, UTC Participações ,Triunfo Participações and Egis, which form the concessionaire.

The other principal airports of Brazil in air cargo handling are: Manaus, Curitiba, Recife, Navegantes, Goiânia, Vitória, São José dos Campos, Londrina, Joinville and Foz do Iguaçu.

What is required to export air cargo to Brazil

For the transport of air cargo in Brazil, the Cargo Nature Code (CN), established by the Integrated System of Foreign Trade ( Siscomex ), of the Receita Federal do Brasil, is required.

All air cargo exported to Brazil must be registered by airport administration upon arrival at the terminals, for subsequent customs control by the Receita Federal do Brasil.

The documents that accompany an air cargo export to Brazil are: the Cargo Manifest that is delivered to the airline, and the Air Waybill, which contains information on the quantity and volume of the cargo, the weight, the packaging and its nature

At the same time, the freight forwarder or logistics operator delivers to the Brazilian Customs all the required documentation, and the data is confirmed in the Siscomex system.

After the unloading and verification of the merchandise in the handling terminal, the storage in the terminal is carried out. The cargo remains here until the beginning of the customs clearance process carried out by the importer.

Wooden boxes and pallets: Since September 1st of 2005, Brazil implemented the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures ISPM nr 15 of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – FAO. All the Brazilian exportation will have to follow the requirements of the countries integrated the ISPM nº 15, means for all wooden packing and supports must be treated by companies’ Legal representative by the Ministry of Agriculture and identified with the international mark recognized by IPPC.

Goods that are subject to government agency controls require an Import License, which is generally obtained prior to loading the cargo at the point of origin.

“Logisber’s experience in exporting airfreight to Brazil is backed up by more than ten years of activity with its own office in this country”

The imported cargo is released to be delivered to the recipient once the release document or Declaration has been registered with the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service.

Afterwards, the merchandise is analyzed for tax purposes and assigned a green channel (delivery without documentary or physical verification), a yellow channel (documentary verification prior to delivery), a red channel (documentary and physical verification prior to delivery) or a gray channel (documentary, physical verification and customs valuation).

After these customs procedures have been completed, the goods are delivered to the importer or his legal representative, although Airport administration may consult the State Treasury Secretariat before completing the delivery.

At Logisber we have over ten years of experience in the air cargo market with Brazil. Through Logisber Forwarding do Brasil Ltda we take care of all the documentary processing and follow up of the goods until they are delivered to the importer at their destination.