Importing Textiles & clothing from Brazil

Textiles & fashion by air freight: when and why

Textiles and clothing mostly ship by sea — sea freight is cheaper and volumes are large. But there are specific situations where air freight is unavoidable or smart:

• Seasonal pressure — If the new collection arrives late from the manufacturer in Asia and the store introduction date is fixed, part of the order goes by air
• Fast fashion replenishment — Fashion companies quickly reorder from suppliers in Bangladesh or Vietnam based on sales data
• High-end or luxury fashion — Where the value per kg is high enough to justify air freight rates
• Sample shipments — Prototypes and samples for showroom or photography — speed is essential

Importing from Brazil

Brazil is a top producer of agricultural commodities: soy, sugar, coffee, citrus, and meat. In addition, Brazil exports aircraft parts (Embraer), machinery, and petrochemical products. Air freight from Brazil mainly involves high-value or time-sensitive goods: fresh fruit juices, pharmaceutical raw materials, aircraft parts, and precious stones.

Import duties & documentation

Standard EU import duties apply when importing from Brazil into the EU. The EU-Mercosur trade agreement (under negotiation) is expected to reduce tariffs on many Brazilian products. Certificates of origin are mandatory when claiming preferential tariffs.

Points of attention for textiles & clothing

Origin documentation

Textiles have strict origin rules for tariff preferences. The 'double transformation rule' specifies that textiles gain EU origin only if both weaving and confection take place in the EU. Incorrect origin leads to additional charges. Aircargo.nl checks the origin for all textile shipments.

Seasonality

Fashion cargo is highly seasonal. Q4 (October–December) and Q1 (January–March) are peak seasons. Plan air freight in time — during peak periods, capacity on Asia routes is limited and expensive.