An export depends on several actors: your customs agent, the freight forwarder, the carrier and the terminal. Knowing what each one does and giving them the data on time avoids delays and extra charges.
Goal: Tell apart the roles of the customs broker, the freight forwarder and the terminal, and compare two freight forwarders by cost and break-even point.
Exporting is teamwork. You produce and sell, but others move the cargo and do the paperwork with customs. The General Customs Law (Legislative Decree 1053) groups them as intervening operators: customs dispatchers, carriers, freight forwarders, customs warehouses, express delivery companies, among others. Knowing their role lets you ask the right person for the right thing and know who failed when something goes wrong.
The customs agent is an individual or a legal entity authorized by customs to act before it on behalf of third parties. In an export they transmit the DAM, tell you the assigned channel and accompany you if there is a physical inspection. You give them the electronic mandate before numbering. The law also allows the owner to clear goods personally, under the conditions of the law and its regulations (for example, a guarantee before SUNAT); that is why most exporters prefer an agent. Choose one for their experience with your product, their speed of response and the clarity of their fees.
The international freight forwarder organizes the transport. Under the law, they can receive and carry out shipments, consolidate and deconsolidate goods (combine the cargo of several customers in one container and separate it at the destination), act as a multimodal operator and issue documents such as the bill of lading and the road waybill. They quote the freight, reserve space (booking) and tell you the departure dates. With an Incoterm® such as CFR or CIF, you contract the main transport; with FOB your buyer contracts it and you coordinate with their agent.
The customs warehouse or the port terminal holds the cargo before shipment. Each terminal sets a receiving cut-off: the deadline date and time to bring in the container. If you arrive late, the cargo is left for the next voyage. For containers you must also declare the verified gross mass (VGM), required since 2016 under the IMO's SOLAS convention. Ask your freight forwarder for the exact cut-off and how entry appointments are scheduled.
Coordinate with a simple list: who does what, by when and with what data. Send everyone the same set of data (description, weights, volume and value) and confirm in writing the schedule and the charges each party pays under the Incoterm®. Before choosing an operator, ask whether it is an OEA (Authorized Economic Operator): a SUNAT certification for logistics chain operators that meet security and compliance criteria. That program is studied in more detail in the course on Customs.
| Actor | What they do | What you give them or ask of them |
|---|---|---|
| Customs agent | Processes the DAM before SUNAT on your behalf | Electronic mandate, invoice, packing list and control documents |
| International freight forwarder | Organizes the transport, consolidates and issues transport documents | Cargo data, delivery date and freight quote |
| Shipping line, airline or road carrier | Carries the cargo to the destination | Confirmed booking and draft B/L or air waybill |
| Customs warehouse or terminal | Temporary custody of the cargo before shipment | Entry within the receiving cut-off, with weight and documents |
Result: Alpaca Sur chooses forwarder A (US$ 660) for price and frequency, knows that B is better above 8.67 m³ and has a schedule with dates that all operators have confirmed in writing.
2008
Legislative Decree 1053, which approved the General Customs Law, defines the customs dispatcher as the person empowered to carry out clearance. These can be owners or consignees, official dispatchers and customs agents, persons authorized by customs to act on behalf of third parties. It also defines the international freight forwarder, who can ship, consolidate, deconsolidate and issue bills of lading and road waybills, and the customs warehouse. In the text published by the MEF, article 15 groups them all as intervening operators.
Each actor has different functions and responsibilities; before hiring, verify that they are authorized for what you entrust to them.
Source: MEF – Decreto Legislativo 1053, Ley General de Aduanas (texto)
18/05/2022
A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) makes a foreign customs authority recognize the OEA certification granted by SUNAT. On its OEA portal, SUNAT records MRAs with South Korea (14/12/2017), the Pacific Alliance (21/07/2018), the United States (12/09/2018), Brazil (02/10/2020), Guatemala (01/10/2021), a regional MRA with several countries of the region (18/05/2022) and Canada (22/06/2022), among others. It matters because supply chain security can be a competitive advantage when exporting to those destinations.
If you export frequently to those destinations, consider getting OEA certified or working with certified operators.
Source: SUNAT – Programa OEA: Acuerdos de Reconocimiento Mutuo (ARM)
2026
On its customs guidance portal (consulted in October 2026), SUNAT explains that the OEA is a foreign trade operator certified after verifying legal criteria and requirements. It mentions manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs dispatchers and carriers. The requirements include a record of compliance, records that allow traceability, financial solvency and an adequate level of security. The certification has indefinite validity as long as the conditions are maintained, with at least one annual evaluation.
Before choosing an operator, ask whether it is an OEA and which security controls it applies.
Source: SUNAT – Orientación aduanera: Operador Económico Autorizado
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