Customs Broker in Miami

Name: Greenwich Mercantile — Miami
Telephone: +14157185722
Price range: $100 per filing

Miami is the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and the largest perishable import hub in the United States. Miami International Airport is the number one U.S. airport for international freight, handling over 80% of perishable air imports from South and Central America. If you are importing through Miami, you need a customs broker who understands perishable timing, USDA inspections, and the unique trade corridors connecting the Americas.

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Why Miami Is the Gateway to the Americas

#1 U.S. airport for international freight.

Miami International Airport handles more international freight than any other airport in the United States and ranks among the top cargo airports globally. The airport's massive cold chain infrastructure — including dedicated perishable handling facilities — makes it the primary entry point for temperature-sensitive imports from Latin America, including fresh produce, flowers, seafood, and pharmaceuticals.

~80% of U.S. perishable air imports.

Approximately 80% of perishable products imported by air from South and Central America enter the United States through Miami. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables from Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Guatemala, as well as cut flowers from Colombia and Ecuador. The concentration of perishable volume makes Miami's USDA/APHIS inspection operations among the busiest and most demanding in the country.

PortMiami: cruise capital and cargo hub.

PortMiami is the cruise capital of the world, but it is also a significant commercial cargo port. The port handles containerized cargo from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, with growing volumes from Asia via the expanded Panama Canal. Cruise ship provisioning — the importation of food, beverages, and supplies for the cruise industry — adds another layer of import complexity unique to Miami.

Latin American trade corridor.

Miami's geographic position and deep commercial ties to Latin America make it the natural gateway for trade with the region. CAFTA-DR preferential trade agreements, Colombian TPA, Chile FTA, Peru TPA, and other bilateral trade arrangements all drive significant import volume through Miami. Understanding these agreements and their rules of origin requirements is essential for importers using the Miami corridor.

What We Handle for Miami Importers

Perishable Food Clearance

Rapid clearance for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other perishable products. We coordinate USDA/APHIS inspections, verify phytosanitary certificates, manage FDA holds on perishable shipments, and prioritize speed to protect shelf life and cold chain integrity.

Cut Flower Imports

Miami is the primary U.S. entry point for cut flowers from Colombia, Ecuador, and other South American producers. Flower imports require USDA phytosanitary inspection, proper cold storage coordination, and rapid release timing — particularly during peak seasons like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day when volumes surge.

Pharmaceutical & Medical Imports

Miami handles significant pharmaceutical and medical device imports from Latin American and European manufacturers. We manage FDA drug registration requirements, device listing compliance, cold chain documentation for temperature-sensitive medications, and controlled substance import permits where applicable.

CAFTA-DR Preferential Claims

Apparel, textiles, and other goods from Central American and Dominican Republic producers may qualify for duty-free treatment under CAFTA-DR. We verify rules of origin documentation, file preferential claims, and ensure your certificates of origin are CBP-audit-ready.

Seafood Clearance

Fresh and frozen seafood from Latin American and Caribbean sources requires FDA prior notice, NOAA/NMFS seafood import monitoring documentation, and compliance with the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) for certain species. We handle the full compliance stack for seafood imports.

General Customs Clearance

Beyond perishables and specialties, we handle standard customs clearance for all cargo arriving through PortMiami and MIA — electronics, consumer goods, apparel, machinery, and any other product category requiring CBP entry.

Miami-Specific Compliance Considerations

Importing through Miami requires compliance expertise that reflects the port's unique cargo mix, its role as a perishable gateway, and the trade agreements that drive volume through South Florida.

USDA/APHIS phytosanitary inspections. Fresh produce and cut flowers entering through Miami are subject to inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Phytosanitary certificates issued by the exporting country must be accurate, current, and must match the shipment documentation exactly. Products failing inspection — due to pest findings, documentation discrepancies, or certificate errors — are refused entry. For perishable products, a refusal often means total loss of the shipment.

FDA cold chain requirements. FDA regulates food safety for imported products, and perishable goods arriving through Miami face particular scrutiny around temperature control. Importers must demonstrate that cold chain integrity has been maintained from the point of origin through transportation and arrival. Temperature monitoring records, proper packaging documentation, and compliance with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) requirements are all part of the regulatory landscape for perishable food imports through Miami.

CAFTA-DR preferential treatment. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement provides duty-free or reduced-duty treatment for qualifying goods from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Apparel and textiles are the largest CAFTA-DR category flowing through Miami. However, CAFTA-DR rules of origin for textiles are highly specific — they require yarn-forward or fabric-forward origin, depending on the product. Incorrect origin claims result in duty assessments plus penalties.

Perishable spoilage risk. Time is the defining variable for perishable imports through Miami. Every hour that a shipment of fresh strawberries, cut roses, or fresh shrimp sits at the airport or port waiting for clearance is an hour of shelf life lost. A customs broker who understands the operational tempo of perishable clearance — pre-clearance filing, USDA coordination, rapid document resolution — can be the difference between product reaching the market in prime condition and product arriving past its peak.

Anti-narcotics enforcement. Miami's position as a gateway to Latin America means CBP and other federal agencies maintain heightened anti-narcotics enforcement at both PortMiami and MIA. This enforcement translates to elevated examination rates for certain commodity types and origin countries. Importers with clean compliance histories, accurate documentation, and consistent filing patterns experience fewer disruptions.

Latin American Trade Through Miami

Miami's identity as a trade gateway is inseparable from its relationship with Latin America. Understanding the trade dynamics and regulatory frameworks that govern this relationship is essential for importers operating through South Florida.

Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. The U.S.-Colombia TPA eliminated duties on the majority of goods traded between the two countries. Colombia is the world's second-largest flower exporter and a major source of fresh produce, coffee, and manufactured goods entering through Miami. Proper certification of origin is required to claim preferential treatment.

Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The U.S.-Peru TPA provides similar duty benefits for Peruvian goods, including agricultural products like asparagus, blueberries, grapes, and avocados that flow through Miami in significant volumes. Rules of origin documentation must be maintained for CBP verification.

Seasonal volume surges. Miami's perishable import volumes fluctuate dramatically with seasons and holidays. Valentine's Day drives a massive surge in flower imports from Colombia and Ecuador. The winter produce season sees peak volumes of berries, stone fruits, and vegetables from Chile, Peru, and Argentina. A customs broker serving Miami must be operationally prepared for these surges.

For more on how we handle food and beverage imports, see our dedicated industry page.

Industries We Serve Through Miami

Fresh Produce

Rapid USDA/APHIS-coordinated clearance for fruits, vegetables, and herbs from Central and South America. Phytosanitary certificate verification, cold chain protection, and time-critical release to preserve shelf life and market value.

Flowers & Floriculture

Import clearance for cut flowers, bouquets, and ornamental plants from Colombia, Ecuador, and other South American producers. USDA inspection coordination, seasonal surge management, and cold storage logistics for the most time-sensitive cargo category.

Pharmaceutical & Medical

FDA drug and device clearance for pharmaceutical imports arriving through MIA. Registration verification, controlled substance permits, cold chain documentation for temperature-sensitive biologics, and coordination with FDA's Florida District Office.

Seafood

Clearance for fresh and frozen seafood from Caribbean and Latin American waters. NOAA/NMFS Seafood Import Monitoring Program compliance, FDA prior notice, species identification, and HACCP documentation for processors and distributors.

Fashion & Apparel

CAFTA-DR preferential claims for garments manufactured in Central America and the Dominican Republic. Textile classification, fiber content verification, yarn-forward origin analysis, and proper country of origin marking for the fashion supply chain.

Food & Beverage

FDA-regulated food and beverage imports including coffee, chocolate, snack foods, beverages, and packaged goods from Latin American producers. Prior notice filing, FSVP compliance, and labeling review for the U.S. market.

Pricing & How to Get Started

Greenwich Mercantile charges a flat $100 per filing for entries at PortMiami and Miami International Airport — any product, any value, any government agency. There are no surcharges for USDA inspections, FDA filings, perishable handling, CAFTA-DR claims, or after-hours processing. For a full breakdown of how our pricing compares to other brokers, see our customs broker cost guide.

No minimum volume. Whether you are filing 5 entries per month or 500, the rate is the same. We work with importers of all sizes at Miami.

30-minute consultation. Book a free consultation and we will review your Miami import operations, identify compliance risks, and show you exactly how we can help. Most importers are fully onboarded within an hour.

Fast onboarding. We handle your power of attorney, continuous bond procurement, and ACE setup. If you are switching from another broker, we manage the transition so there is no disruption to your shipments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does customs clearance take in Miami?

Air cargo clearances at Miami International Airport typically process within 4 to 24 hours when documentation is complete and no PGA holds apply. Perishable shipments requiring USDA or FDA inspection are prioritized but depend on inspection queue length. Ocean cargo through PortMiami generally clears within 2 to 4 business days. Perishable importers should factor in USDA/APHIS phytosanitary inspection times, which vary by product and season.

Do I need a Miami-based customs broker?

No. A licensed U.S. customs broker can file entries at any port of entry, including PortMiami and Miami International Airport. What matters is that your broker understands the unique operational demands of Miami — perishable clearance timing, USDA inspection coordination, CAFTA-DR preferential claims, and the Latin American trade corridors that define Miami's import landscape. Greenwich Mercantile files entries at Miami remotely with the same speed and expertise as a locally based broker.

Can you handle perishable imports through Miami?

Yes. Miami is the largest perishable import gateway in the United States, and perishable clearance is one of our core competencies at this port. We coordinate USDA/APHIS phytosanitary inspections, verify phytosanitary certificates, manage FDA prior notice for food products, and work to minimize cold chain disruption. Every hour a perishable shipment sits at the port costs shelf life and revenue, so we prioritize speed and accuracy for time-sensitive cargo.

What products come through Miami?

Miami handles a distinct mix of goods driven by its role as the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. The largest categories include fresh produce (fruits, vegetables, and herbs from Central and South America), cut flowers from Colombia and Ecuador, seafood, pharmaceutical products, apparel from Central American CAFTA-DR countries, electronics, and medical devices. Miami International Airport alone handles over 80% of all perishable air imports from Latin America.