Latin America · Country guide
🇧🇴 Importing motorcycles from China to Bolivia
Everything comes through Chilean ports; budget the extra road leg and paperwork. Santa Cruz is the commercial hub, La Paz the political one.
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Figures are indicative planning defaults, last reviewed 2026-09. No FTA.
What sells here
Segments that move in Bolivia
Chinese brands hold roughly two-thirds of the Bolivian market. Landlocked logistics make small mixed containers attractive: less capital tied up per shipment.
Standard export document set; the CG/CB-type 150 is the most widely registered Chinese platform worldwide.
As CM150.
Standard export document set; EFI versions recommended for altitude markets (Andes).
Off-road unit; road-legal kit optional.
Off-road use in most markets needs no type approval; road-legal kits (lights, mirrors, horn) can be supplied for dual-sport registration.
Paperwork
Registration & documents in Bolivia
What the registry and customs typically ask for. Your customs broker owns the declaration; we supply everything that originates in China.
- 1Invoice, packing list, B/L
- 2Transit documents through Chilean port (DTI) — your forwarder handles
- 3Aduana Nacional declaration
- 4RUAT registration
Ports & transit
Where the container lands
| Port | Transit from China |
|---|---|
| Arica (Chile) → truck to La Paz | 35–45 + 3–5 road days |
| Iquique (Chile) → Santa Cruz | 35–45 + 4–7 road days |
Bikes are crated in Chongqing and move to the coast by rail or Yangtze barge (about a week), then sail. Add 1–2 weeks for pre-shipment inspection where your market requires it, and budget port-side charges of a few hundred dollars per container at each end.
Duty: Planning default 10% GA (gravamen arancelario) for motorcycles; no FTA with China.
Excise / other: ICE applies to some vehicles; verify for motorcycles above 250cc.
Freight and local charges are planning ranges and move with the market. Profile last reviewed 2026-09.
Numbers
Landed cost in Bolivia, per unit
Pick a model and quantity. Defaults: 10% duty, 14.94% IVA, mid-range freight to Arica (Chile) → truck to La Paz. Every field is editable in the full calculator.
Freight US$2,900 per 20GP, insurance 0.5%, port/broker US$600/side, inland US$300. 450cc Rally / ADV (NC450-class engine) at mid-band FOB. Indicative — Planning default 10% GA (gravamen arancelario) for motorcycles; no FTA with China.
Example first container
A 20GP for Bolivia
An example built from the segments above so it fits one 20-foot container with a parts kit. It is an illustration, not a past order — your mix will differ.
| Model | Qty | FOB / unit (mid-band) | Line total | m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN450 450cc Enduro (NC450-class engine) | 3 | US$3,700 | US$11,100 | 5.4 |
| EN250 250cc Enduro / Trail | 4 | US$1,800 | US$7,200 | 6.4 |
| ST300 300cc Twin Street / Mini-ADV | 4 | US$1,300 | US$5,200 | 6.8 |
| CM150 150cc Street Commuter | 5 | US$550 | US$2,750 | 5.0 |
| Matched spare-parts kit | 1 | ≈5% of bike value | US$1,313 | ~1.5 |
| Total FOB Chongqing | 16 | US$27,563 | 25.1 / 26 |
Why this shape
- Anchors first. The higher-ticket models give the showroom something to talk about and carry the margin.
- Volume fills the box. Commuters and small enduros use the remaining cubic metres and turn over weekly, which pays the freight.
- Parts in the same container. About 5% of bike value in fast-moving parts means a warranty fix at destination is same-day, and it retails at 2–3× cost.
- Room to adjust. Every line is from 3 units per model (2 for UTVs). Swap models freely in the RFQ builder.
FAQ
Importing to Bolivia: common questions
- What import duty applies to Chinese motorcycles in Bolivia?
- Our planning default is 10% on the CIF value, plus 14.94% IVA. Planning default 10% GA (gravamen arancelario) for motorcycles; no FTA with China.
- Which port should I ship to in Bolivia and how long does it take?
- Arica (Chile) → truck to La Paz (35–45 + 3–5 road days from Chinese ports); Iquique (Chile) → Santa Cruz (35–45 + 4–7 road days from Chinese ports). Bikes leave Chongqing by rail or river to the coast, then sail. Indicative ocean freight for a 20GP is US$2,200–US$3,600 and for a 40HQ US$3,200–US$5,200; we quote a live rate with every RFQ.
- What documents do I need to register an imported motorcycle in Bolivia?
- Typically: Invoice, packing list, B/L; Transit documents through Chilean port (DTI) — your forwarder handles; Aduana Nacional declaration; RUAT registration. We supply the full export document set (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, factory technical sheet with VIN and engine number, and PDI report per VIN); your broker handles the local declaration.
- Which Chinese motorcycle segments sell best in Bolivia?
- Chinese brands hold roughly two-thirds of the Bolivian market. Landlocked logistics make small mixed containers attractive: less capital tied up per shipment. Our recommended starting mix is 150cc Street Commuter, 200cc Heavy-Duty Cargo, 300cc Twin Street / Mini-ADV, 250cc Enduro / Trail, 450cc Enduro (NC450-class engine), mixed in one container from 3 units per model.
Tax and registration figures on this page are indicative planning defaults, last reviewed 2026-09, and must be confirmed with a licensed customs broker for your exact HS subheading and displacement. Yangtze Moto is an independent export company and is not a customs authority or broker.
Planning a container for Bolivia?
Send your model list and quantities. We confirm FOB line by line, get a live freight rate to Arica (Chile) → truck to La Paz and flag any registration issue for your models before you commit.