Importing machinery: RADAR, INMETRO and a realistic 90-day path

The prerequisite: what is RADAR/Siscomex habilitation?

RADAR is the Federal Revenue Service’s habilitation for companies that import and export; only once it is granted can a company file import declarations in Siscomex. It is tiered by expected import value, with the limit set by the tax authority according to the company’s financial capacity, so a newly formed subsidiary usually starts on a limited tier and applies for an increase later.

The application is filed by a customs broker (despachante aduaneiro) or a lawyer, with the corporate documents, the legal representative’s identification and evidence of financial capacity. Without RADAR, goods that have already arrived cannot be declared and simply sit at the port accruing charges.

Executed by: the customs broker. Indicative lead time: a few weeks once the documents are complete, depending on the tax authority’s review.

Customs broker and port: why Paranaguá?

Paranaguá is one of the largest ports in southern Brazil, and its container terminal TCP is controlled by China Merchants Port; in November 2025 Brazil’s Ports Ministry and China Merchants signed a R$1.5 billion agreement to expand it. The port is about 90 km from Curitiba, and Paraná’s industrial cities — São José dos Pinhais, Ponta Grossa, Londrina — are all within a day’s drive.

The customs broker is the party that actually clears the goods: import declaration, calculation and payment of duties and taxes, inspection support and release. Engage the broker and check the full document set (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, certification certificates) before the vessel sails, rather than looking for one after it docks.

beonshore introduces customs brokers with real operating experience in Paranaguá and Santos; they contract directly with you.

Certification: what do INMETRO, ANATEL, ANVISA and MAPA each cover?

Mandatory certification in Brazil is split by product type, and it is the longest single stretch of any import plan:

• INMETRO: electrical and mechanical safety (power tools, appliances, pressure equipment, some industrial machinery); indicative 60–120 days, tested in a Brazilian accredited laboratory
• ANATEL: any device with a radio module (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G/5G, LoRa modules, machine controllers with communications); indicative 90–180 days
• ANVISA: medical devices, food, cosmetics and certain sanitary products
• MAPA: specific registrations for agricultural machinery and inputs, depending on the product
• Certification is executed by accredited laboratories and certification bodies (OCP); beonshore identifies which regime your product falls under and introduces a certification consultant

Tariffs: what changed in 2026?

Import duty (II) is levied by NCM code, on top of IPI, PIS/COFINS on imports, ICMS and the transitional CBS/IBS. Two changes matter directly to Chinese companies:

Import duty on electrified vehicles (BEV/PHEV/HEV) is 35% from July 2026; the CKD quota and 14% rate for brands assembling locally run to the end of 2026, and from January 2027 the full 35% applies. Import duty on solar modules above quota is 25%. Both measures push towards local assembly and battery storage (BESS) investment.

Tariff and tax detail is calculated by the customs broker and the accountant; beonshore builds the tariff scenarios into the entry cost model during the market study.

A realistic 90-day path

This path assumes the Brazilian company is already incorporated, product certification is already under way or not required, and ocean freight from China to Paranaguá takes about 35–45 days. If INMETRO or ANATEL certification is needed, add that lead time before day 0.

• Days 1–10: RADAR application filed; customs broker engaged; NCM codes confirmed and the tax burden calculated
• Days 5–20: certification certificates checked (or confirmed not required); commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin prepared to Brazilian requirements
• Days 15–25: RADAR granted; import licence (LI) applied for in advance where required (some machinery and controlled goods)
• Days 20–30: loading; bill of lading and insurance; the broker pre-checks the documents
• Days 30–70: ocean transit; import declaration (DI/DUIMP) prepared 10 days before arrival
• Days 70–80: arrival, discharge, declaration, payment of duties and taxes, inspection (green channel clears immediately, red channel 3–10 days)
• Days 80–90: inland transport to the plant or warehouse; entry invoice issued; equipment installed

What causes the delays?

According to customs brokers and importers, delays almost always come from documents and prerequisites rather than from the port itself:

• RADAR applied for only after the goods arrive: demurrage accrues by the day
• Wrong NCM code: tax recalculated, fines and a new declaration
• Commercial invoice inconsistent with the bill of lading (description, quantity, value, consignee)
• Equipment with a radio module shipped without ANATEL certification: no release
• The model on the INMETRO certificate does not match the model that actually shipped
• Manuals and nameplates with no Portuguese version
• The importer’s address does not match the state tax registration, causing ICMS errors