You built a brand in Latin America. Maybe it is a Brazilian beauty line that dominates Mercado Livre, a Colombian coffee brand with loyal wholesale accounts across Bogota, or a Mexican consumer electronics company shipping thousands of units through Amazon Mexico. Now you want to sell in the United States — the world's largest consumer market, with 330 million customers who spent $1.1 trillion online in 2025. But there is a problem: the logistics of selling in the US from Latin America are completely different from anything you have done at home. US consumers expect 2-3 day delivery. Amazon has specific prep and labeling requirements. FDA, CPSC, and FCC regulate product categories that may be unregulated in your home country. Customs duties and tariffs add layers of cost that can destroy your margins if you do not plan correctly. And coordinating all of this in English, across time zones, with unfamiliar carriers and warehouses, is where most LATAM brands stall. This guide is for you. It covers everything a Latin American brand needs to know about using a 3PL in Miami to enter the US market — from receiving your first container at PortMiami to shipping 2-day orders to customers in New York, Los Angeles, and everywhere in between. Tambien disponible en espanol — desplazate hacia abajo o cambia el idioma.
In This Guide
- The LATAM-to-USA Market Opportunity
- Challenges Latin American Brands Face Entering the US
- Why Miami Is the #1 Gateway for LATAM Brands
- Miami Alliance 3PL Services for LATAM Brands
- Case Study: Brazilian Beauty Brand to $1M in US Sales
- Country-Specific Guides
- Getting Started: 4-Step Process
- Frequently Asked Questions
The LATAM-to-USA Market Opportunity
If you are a Latin American brand considering US expansion, the macroeconomic data confirms what you already feel: this is the best time in history for LATAM brands to enter the US market. The convergence of nearshoring momentum, exploding cross-border e-commerce, and the massive growth of Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States has created an unprecedented window of opportunity.
Here are the numbers driving the LATAM-to-USA distribution boom in 2025-2026:
📈 LATAM Exports Surging
Latin American exports grew 6.4% in 2025 according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), outpacing global trade growth for the third consecutive year. Mexico alone set a record with $664.84 billion in exports in 2025 — a 7.6% year-over-year increase. Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Peru all posted export growth as LATAM manufacturers diversify away from China-dependent supply chains and toward the US market.
🛒 Cross-Border E-Commerce Explosion
Cross-border e-commerce in Latin America is projected to reach $114.6 billion by 2026. That figure includes not just LATAM consumers buying from US brands, but increasingly US consumers buying from Latin American brands through Amazon, Shopify, and direct-to-consumer channels. The infrastructure for cross-border selling — payment processing, logistics, marketplace integration — has matured to the point where a 3PL for Latin American brands can plug your products into the US market within weeks, not months.
🌎 The Nearshoring Revolution
The US-China trade war and post-pandemic supply chain restructuring triggered the largest nearshoring wave in history. Manufacturers and brands are moving production from Asia to Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and other LATAM countries to be closer to the US market with shorter lead times, lower shipping costs, and fewer tariff risks. South Florida's trade economy reached $144 billion in total trade volume, with Miami International Airport posting a 14% year-over-year increase in cargo — handling 70% of all US perishable imports.
🏢 Hispanic Business Boom in the US
There are now over 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, contributing more than $800 billion annually to the US economy. Hispanic-owned businesses grew 35% between 2019 and 2024 — compared to just 6% nationally. 1 in 4 new US entrepreneurs is Hispanic or Latino. This means there is a massive, culturally aligned distribution network already in the US for LATAM brands — distributors, retailers, and e-commerce operators who understand your products, speak your language, and are actively looking for quality Latin American brands to sell.
🏗️ Miami: The Capital of LATAM Trade
Over 1,200 multinationals have their Latin American headquarters in Miami-Dade County. Miami-Dade's population is over 70% Hispanic, making it the most culturally and linguistically aligned US city for Latin American business operations. Every major Latin American airline, bank, logistics company, and trade organization has a Miami office. When a LATAM brand needs a US distribution center, Miami is not just the logical choice — it is the only choice that makes geographic, cultural, and economic sense.
💰 The Shipping Speed Advantage
Shipping products directly from Latin America to US consumers takes 7 to 14 days — an eternity in the age of Amazon Prime 2-day delivery. US consumers abandon carts when delivery estimates exceed 5 days. By pre-positioning your inventory in a Miami warehouse for LATAM brands, you cut delivery time to 2-3 days for the entire eastern United States. Brands using Miami-based 3PLs save 10-32% on shipping costs compared to shipping directly from Latin America, while dramatically improving conversion rates.
Challenges Latin American Brands Face Entering the US Market
The opportunity is enormous, but Latin American brands entering the US market face specific challenges that do not exist when selling domestically. Understanding these challenges is essential — and it is exactly why working with a bilingual 3PL in Miami that has LATAM experience changes the equation entirely.
🛃 Customs, Tariffs & Regulatory Compliance
Every product entering the US must clear customs with proper HS (Harmonized System) tariff classification, accurate commercial invoices, and full regulatory compliance. Average effective US tariff rates vary dramatically by country: Brazil faces 33%, Uruguay 20%, and Mexico 8% (2026 rates). Beyond tariffs, the FDA regulates food, beverages, cosmetics, and supplements. The CPSC regulates consumer products and toys. The FCC regulates electronics. Many LATAM brands discover these requirements only after their first container is held at customs — costing thousands in storage fees and weeks of delay.
🗣️ Language & Communication Barriers
Coordinating logistics with US warehouses, freight carriers, customs brokers, and marketplace support teams in English creates friction at every step. A labeling error that costs $200 to fix in your home country costs $5,000 when it causes a container to be rejected at a US port. Miscommunications about Amazon prep requirements lead to rejected FBA shipments. Product listings with awkward English translations tank conversion rates. A Miami 3PL with Spanish-speaking staff eliminates this barrier entirely — you communicate in your language, and the 3PL handles all English-language coordination with carriers, marketplaces, and US customers.
🚚 US Delivery Speed Expectations
In most Latin American countries, 5-10 day delivery is acceptable for e-commerce. In the United States, Amazon Prime has trained consumers to expect 2-day delivery as the baseline. Free shipping is expected on orders over $35. Shoppers routinely abandon carts when delivery estimates exceed 5 days. If you are shipping directly from Sao Paulo, Bogota, or Mexico City, your delivery times of 7-14 days make you uncompetitive against domestic brands. The only solution is pre-positioning inventory in a US warehouse — and a Miami 3PL is the fastest, most cost-effective way to do that.
📦 Marketplace Integration Complexity
Selling on Amazon.com requires a US Seller Central account, FNSKU labeling, FBA-compliant prep, and real-time inventory syncing. Selling on Shopify requires a US-based fulfillment partner with API integration. Selling wholesale requires EDI capabilities, retail-ready packaging, and UPC/EAN barcodes. Each channel has specific requirements that differ from MercadoLibre, Shopee, or whatever marketplace you currently sell on in Latin America. A 3PL for Latin American brands with multi-channel experience handles every integration, letting you focus on selling rather than configuring logistics software.
💳 Financial & Entity Complexity
Selling in the US often requires a US bank account, a US business entity (LLC or Corporation), an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and US sales tax registration in states where you have nexus. Payment processors like Stripe and PayPal have different requirements for international sellers. Amazon withholds a 30% tax on payments to non-US entities unless you file a W-8BEN-E. Many LATAM brands underestimate the financial infrastructure required to operate in the US. A Miami-based 3PL with LATAM experience can connect you with attorneys, accountants, and banking partners who specialize in helping Latin American companies establish US operations.
Why Miami Is the #1 Gateway for LATAM Brands
There are thousands of 3PL warehouses across the United States. You could store your products in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, or New Jersey. But for a Latin American brand entering the US market, Miami is not just one option among many — it is the only option that makes complete strategic sense. Here is why every data point, every trade lane, and every competitive advantage converges on Miami.
🌎 Geographic Proximity to Latin America
Miami is 1,100 miles from Bogota, 1,300 miles from Mexico City, and 4,100 miles from Sao Paulo. Compare that to Los Angeles (2,600 miles from Bogota, 1,750 from Mexico City, 6,300 from Sao Paulo) or New York (2,500 from Bogota, 2,100 from Mexico City, 4,800 from Sao Paulo). Ocean freight from Cartagena to PortMiami takes 3-4 days. From Santos (Brazil) to Miami, 7-10 days. From Manzanillo (Mexico) to Miami, 4-5 days. These transit times are 40-60% shorter than routes to the West Coast or Northeast — which means your inventory reaches your US warehouse faster, with lower freight costs, and you can replenish stock more frequently.
👥 Fully Bilingual Workforce
Miami-Dade County is over 70% Hispanic. This is not a statistic — it is the defining characteristic of Miami's logistics industry. Your bilingual 3PL in Miami has warehouse staff, account managers, and customer service teams who speak fluent Spanish and Portuguese. When your factory foreman in Medellin calls about a shipping discrepancy, your Miami 3PL understands the conversation without a translator. When labeling instructions need to be communicated in Spanish, there is no risk of mistranslation. This bilingual capability eliminates the communication errors that plague LATAM brands working with 3PLs in other US cities.
✈️ World-Class Trade Infrastructure
Miami International Airport (MIA) handles more international freight than any other US airport — with a 14% year-over-year cargo increase and processing of 70% of all US perishable imports. PortMiami is the #1 container port in Florida and among the top 10 in the US. The Miami Free Trade Zone, Foreign Trade Zone #281, and dozens of bonded warehouses provide flexible import options. The Medley/Doral industrial corridor, where Miami Alliance 3PL is located, sits 15-20 minutes from both PortMiami and MIA — minimizing drayage costs and transit time from port to warehouse.
⏰ Same Time Zone as LATAM
Miami operates on Eastern Time (ET), which is the same time zone as Bogota, Lima, and Panama City, and only 1-2 hours offset from Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Santiago. This means real-time communication with your 3PL during your business hours. When you email your account manager at 10 AM Bogota time, you get a response within the hour — not the next morning. For brands accustomed to the 12-15 hour time difference with Chinese suppliers, the Miami time zone advantage is transformative.
📦 2-Day Shipping to 80% of US Population
From a Miami warehouse for LATAM brands, ground shipping reaches the entire eastern United States within 2-3 days: Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and all of Florida within 2 days. New York, Boston, Chicago, and the entire East Coast within 3 days. The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic — home to over 50% of the US population — are within 2-day ground reach. Combine this with competitive USPS, UPS, and FedEx rates from Miami, and you match Amazon Prime delivery expectations at a fraction of the cost.
🏢 LATAM Business Ecosystem
Over 1,200 multinationals have Latin American headquarters in Miami-Dade. This means Miami has the attorneys, accountants, customs brokers, freight forwarders, bankers, and consultants who specialize in LATAM-to-US business operations. Need a lawyer to form your US LLC? Miami has dozens who specialize in Brazilian or Colombian companies. Need a customs broker for FDA-regulated food products from Chile? Miami has them. No other US city has this depth of LATAM-focused professional services.
Miami Alliance 3PL Services for LATAM Brands
Miami Alliance 3PL, located at 8780 NW 100th ST, Medley, FL 33178, provides a complete suite of 3PL services for Latin American brands entering or expanding in the US market. Every service is designed to solve the specific logistics challenges LATAM brands face — from receiving your first container to fulfilling your ten-thousandth order.
Container & Freight Receiving
We receive ocean containers directly from PortMiami and air freight from MIA. Our team unloads, counts, inspects, and photographs every unit against your commercial invoice and packing list. Discrepancies are flagged immediately with photo documentation sent to you in Spanish or Portuguese. We handle 20-foot and 40-foot containers, LCL (less than container load) shipments, LTL freight, and small parcel deliveries. Our proximity to PortMiami (15 minutes) minimizes drayage costs — you save $150-$400 per container compared to warehouses in Homestead, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach. For LATAM brands shipping their first container to the US, we guide you through the entire process: booking drayage, coordinating with your customs broker, scheduling receiving appointments, and ensuring your cargo moves from port to shelf in 24-48 hours.
Amazon FBA Prep for LATAM Products
Selling on Amazon.com is the fastest path to US revenue for most Latin American brands — and Amazon FBA prep is the most critical service your Miami 3PL provides. We prep your products to Amazon's exact specifications: FNSKU labeling (covering manufacturer barcodes), poly bagging with suffocation warnings, bubble wrapping fragile items, bundling multi-packs, creating box content labels, and palletizing shipments to meet Amazon's strict inbound requirements. Every FBA shipment is prepped to achieve a 99%+ compliance rate at Amazon's receiving dock. For LATAM brands, this service is especially important because Amazon will reject shipments that do not meet their specifications — and rejected shipments mean weeks of delay, penalty fees, and lost sales momentum when you are trying to establish your brand in a new market.
Shopify & DTC Fulfillment
Many LATAM brands launch their US presence with a Shopify store before expanding to Amazon. We integrate directly with your Shopify store via API — orders flow automatically to our warehouse, we pick, pack, and ship same-day (orders before 2 PM), and tracking numbers push back to Shopify for customer notifications. We handle custom branded packaging: your boxes, your tissue paper, your inserts, your branding. The US consumer receives a premium unboxing experience with your brand front and center — not a generic warehouse box. For DTC brands, we also handle subscription box assembly, promotional inserts, and seasonal packaging changes.
Multi-Channel Marketplace Fulfillment
Beyond Amazon and Shopify, we fulfill orders from Walmart Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop, Faire (wholesale marketplace), and any platform that connects via API or CSV. All channels draw from a single inventory pool — no need to split stock between marketplaces. Inventory counts sync in real time across all connected platforms, preventing overselling. For LATAM brands testing multiple US sales channels simultaneously, multi-channel fulfillment from one Miami warehouse eliminates the complexity of managing separate logistics for each marketplace.
Warehousing & Inventory Management
We store your inventory on dedicated pallet positions at $15-$40 per pallet per month. Real-time inventory tracking through our WMS gives you visibility into every unit: quantities on hand, quantities allocated to orders, quantities in receiving, and quantities reserved for FBA shipments. Low-stock alerts notify you when it is time to ship your next container from Latin America. For seasonal brands, we offer flexible storage — scale up before Q4 holiday season and scale down in Q1 without long-term lease commitments. For brands with FDA-regulated products, we maintain compliant storage conditions and lot-level traceability.
Customs Coordination & Compliance Support
While we are not a licensed customs broker, we work directly with experienced customs brokers who specialize in LATAM imports. We coordinate container pickup from PortMiami after clearance, advise on documentation requirements (commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin), and flag potential compliance issues before they become problems. For FDA-regulated products (food, cosmetics, supplements), we help ensure your labeling meets US English-language requirements before the product reaches store shelves or Amazon fulfillment centers. For brands importing from countries with trade agreements (USMCA for Mexico, ATPA for Andean countries), we work with your broker to ensure you capture every available duty reduction.
Bilingual Team & LATAM-Fluent Operations
Every account manager and warehouse supervisor at Miami Alliance 3PL is bilingual (English/Spanish), and we have Portuguese-speaking staff for Brazilian clients. Communication happens in your language — emails, phone calls, WhatsApp messages, receiving reports, and inventory updates. When your production team in Sao Paulo, Medellin, or Monterrey calls about a shipment, we answer in their language. When we need to coordinate with US carriers, Amazon, or customs, we handle the English-language communication. This eliminates the translation layer that causes errors, delays, and frustration at every other non-Miami 3PL.
| Capability | Miami Alliance 3PL | Typical Non-Miami 3PL |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual Staff | 100% Spanish/English, Portuguese available | English only or limited Spanish |
| Container Receiving from LATAM | 15 min from PortMiami, daily drayage | Hours from nearest LATAM-serving port |
| LATAM Import Experience | Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina | Limited or no LATAM experience |
| Amazon FBA Prep | Same-day processing, 99%+ compliance | Varies widely |
| Multi-Channel Fulfillment | Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, eBay, TikTok, wholesale | Often Amazon-only or limited channels |
| Customs Coordination | Broker network for LATAM imports, FDA support | Not available or limited |
| Time Zone Alignment | Same or +/- 1-2 hours from LATAM | 3-5 hour offset (West Coast) |
| Delivery Speed (East Coast) | 2-3 days ground | 4-6 days from West Coast |
| Minimum Requirements | Zero minimums | Often 100+ orders/month minimums |
Case Study: How a Brazilian Beauty Brand Scaled to $1M in US Sales
To illustrate how the 3PL for Latin American brands model works in practice, here is the story of a Brazilian natural beauty brand that launched in the US market through a Miami 3PL and reached $1 million in annual US revenue within 18 months. (Details are anonymized to protect the client.)
The Challenge: The brand wanted to sell on Amazon.com and their own Shopify store targeting the rapidly growing US market for natural beauty products. Their products required FDA registration as cosmetics, English-language labeling (ingredient lists, directions, warnings), FNSKU labeling for Amazon FBA, and compliance with California Proposition 65. They had no US warehouse, no US entity, no Amazon Seller Central account, and no customs broker. All communication needed to happen in Portuguese.
The Solution:
- Month 1 — Setup: The Miami 3PL connected the brand with a Florida attorney (Portuguese-speaking) who formed a US LLC in 5 business days. A Miami customs broker handled FDA cosmetic registration. The 3PL team reviewed all product labels for FDA English-language compliance and flagged two products with missing ingredient translations. An Amazon Seller Central account was created under the new US LLC.
- Month 2 — First Container: The brand shipped a 20-foot container (4,800 units across 15 SKUs) from Santos, Brazil to PortMiami. Ocean transit: 9 days. Customs clearance: 2 days. Drayage to the Medley warehouse: same day. The 3PL received, inspected, and shelved all 4,800 units in 48 hours, with a Portuguese-language receiving report sent to the brand's operations team in Sao Paulo.
- Month 2-3 — Amazon Launch: The 3PL prepped 2,000 units for FBA (FNSKU labeling, poly bagging, box content labels, palletizing) and shipped to three Amazon fulfillment centers. The remaining 2,800 units were allocated for Shopify DTC fulfillment. First Amazon sale: Day 17 after container arrival. First Shopify sale: Day 22.
- Month 6 — Scaling: The brand was selling 80 units/day on Amazon and 25 orders/day on Shopify. Monthly revenue crossed $45,000. The 3PL processed a second container (9,600 units) and began preparing a third. Inventory turns were averaging 45 days.
- Month 12 — $1M Trajectory: Monthly US revenue reached $85,000. The brand added Walmart Marketplace as a third channel. All three channels were fulfilled from the same Miami warehouse inventory. The 3PL was receiving one 40-foot container per month and processing 150+ orders daily across all channels.
- Month 18 — $1M Milestone: Cumulative US sales crossed $1 million. The brand had expanded from 15 to 22 SKUs (adding US-exclusive products developed based on American customer feedback). Amazon Best Seller Rank in Natural Face Moisturizers: top 50. Shopify returning customer rate: 34%. Total 3PL cost as a percentage of revenue: 8.2%.
Country-Specific Guides: Exporting to the USA
Each Latin American country has unique trade relationships, tariff structures, and regulatory considerations when exporting to the United States. Here is a brief guide for the five largest LATAM exporters.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Average effective US tariff on Brazilian goods: 33%. Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and the #1 source of natural beauty, coffee, footwear, and aircraft parts exported to the US. Brazilian brands face among the highest tariff rates of any LATAM country, making landed-cost calculation critical before entering the US market. However, Brazilian products command premium pricing in the US — particularly in beauty, skincare, and specialty food categories — which can absorb tariff costs when positioned correctly. Key categories for a Miami 3PL: cosmetics and beauty (ANVISA-to-FDA compliance), coffee and food products (FDA registration, English labeling), fashion and footwear, and health supplements. Ocean freight from Santos to PortMiami averages 7-10 days.
🇨🇴 Colombia
Average effective US tariff on Colombian goods: variable (many products enter duty-free under ATPA/ATPDEA). Colombia is rapidly becoming one of the most dynamic exporters to the US market, with strong growth in fashion, cosmetics, food products (coffee, chocolate, tropical fruits), and tech accessories. Colombian brands benefit from the Andean Trade Promotion Act, which allows many products to enter the US duty-free. Shipping from Cartagena or Buenaventura to PortMiami takes just 3-4 days — the shortest ocean transit of any major LATAM country. Key categories for a Miami 3PL: specialty coffee, chocolate and snacks, fashion apparel, cosmetics, and emerging tech brands. Miami's large Colombian community (400,000+) provides natural test-market and distribution networks.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Average effective US tariff on Mexican goods: 8% (lowest among major LATAM countries thanks to USMCA). Mexico set a $664.84 billion export record in 2025, with 7.6% year-over-year growth. Mexican brands have the strongest tariff advantage of any LATAM country thanks to the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), which eliminates tariffs on qualifying goods. The nearshoring boom has made Mexico the #1 US trading partner, surpassing China. Key categories for a Miami 3PL: food and beverages (tequila, salsas, snacks), auto parts, consumer electronics, fashion, and artisanal goods. Ground freight from Northern Mexico to Miami takes 3-4 days; ocean freight from Manzanillo or Veracruz takes 4-6 days.
🇨🇱 Chile
Average effective US tariff on Chilean goods: low (US-Chile FTA eliminates duties on most products). Chile benefits from the US-Chile Free Trade Agreement, which eliminates tariffs on virtually all Chilean exports to the US. Chile is a major exporter of wine, fresh fruit, salmon, copper products, and increasingly, cosmetics and health supplements derived from native Chilean plants. Key categories for a Miami 3PL: wine and spirits, organic and natural food products, health supplements, and premium consumer goods. Ocean freight from Valparaiso to PortMiami averages 12-15 days via the Panama Canal.
🇵🇪 Peru
Average effective US tariff on Peruvian goods: low (US-Peru TPA eliminates duties on most products). Peru's US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement provides duty-free access for the vast majority of Peruvian exports. Peru has seen explosive growth in specialty food exports (quinoa, maca, cacao, Pisco), textiles (alpaca wool, Pima cotton), and natural cosmetics. Key categories for a Miami 3PL: superfoods and health foods (quinoa, maca, camu camu), premium textiles, artisanal goods, and organic beauty products. Ocean freight from Callao to PortMiami averages 8-10 days.
Getting Started: Your 4-Step Path to US Distribution
Here is the exact process for a Latin American brand to begin selling in the United States through Miami Alliance 3PL. From first contact to first sale, most brands are operational within 2-4 weeks.
Free Consultation & Quote
Contact us through our instant quote form or email contact@miamialliance3pl.com (en espanol, portugues, or English). Tell us about your products (categories, number of SKUs, unit dimensions), your current sales volume in Latin America, your target US sales channels (Amazon, Shopify, wholesale, or all three), and the country you are shipping from. We respond within 24 hours with a customized quote including storage rates, fulfillment costs, FBA prep pricing, and container receiving fees. Zero commitment, zero pressure, zero cost for the consultation.
US Entity & Channel Setup
If you do not already have a US entity, we connect you with a Florida attorney who specializes in LATAM business formation (Spanish and Portuguese speaking). A Florida LLC typically takes 3-5 business days and costs $125 in state filing fees. Simultaneously, we help set up your US sales channels: Amazon Seller Central account, Shopify store configuration, and any other marketplace accounts. For brands selling FDA-regulated products, we coordinate with your customs broker on product registration and labeling compliance. This entire setup phase takes 1-2 weeks and runs in parallel with your first shipment.
Ship Your First Container
Book ocean freight from your nearest port to PortMiami (or air freight to MIA for smaller, high-value shipments). We provide your customs broker with our warehouse receiving address and coordinate drayage from the port to our Medley facility. Your container arrives, clears customs, and reaches our dock in 24-48 hours. Our team unloads, counts every unit, inspects for transit damage, photographs the shipment, and sends you a detailed receiving report in your language. Average time from container arrival at PortMiami to inventory shelved and ready to sell: 2-3 business days.
Go Live — Start Selling
Your inventory is shelved. Your sales channels are connected. Orders start flowing. For Amazon, we prep and ship your first FBA shipment to Amazon's fulfillment centers — you are live on Amazon.com within days. For Shopify, your first customer order is picked, packed, and shipped same-day. For wholesale, we palletize and ship to your retail accounts on schedule. From this point forward, you manage your brand, marketing, and customer relationships from Latin America — we handle every physical logistics operation in the United States. Shipping, storage, prep, fulfillment, returns — all handled from our Medley, FL warehouse by our bilingual team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 3PL for Latin American brands and how does it work?
A 3PL for Latin American brands is a US-based warehouse and fulfillment partner that receives, stores, and ships your products to US customers on your behalf. You manufacture in Latin America, ship containers or pallets to the 3PL's Miami warehouse, and the 3PL handles all US-side logistics: customs coordination, Amazon FBA prep, labeling, pick-and-pack, carrier shipping, and returns processing. You focus on product development and marketing; the 3PL handles every physical operation in the US.
Why should a Latin American brand use a Miami-based 3PL?
Miami is the natural gateway: closest major US logistics hub to Latin America, over 70% Hispanic bilingual workforce, PortMiami and MIA with direct LATAM freight routes, same time zone as most LATAM countries, and 1,200+ multinationals with LATAM headquarters in Miami-Dade. No other US city combines proximity, language capability, trade infrastructure, and cultural fluency for Latin American brands.
How much does a Miami 3PL cost for a Latin American brand?
Typical costs include pallet storage at $15-$40/month, container receiving at $300-$600 per container, pick and pack at $1.50-$5.00 per order, and Amazon FBA prep at $0.50-$3.00 per unit. A LATAM brand with 10 pallets and 300 orders/month typically pays $1,500-$4,000/month. Compare that to $8,000-$15,000/month for your own US warehouse operation. Miami Alliance 3PL has zero minimums and no long-term contracts.
Can a Miami 3PL help with US customs clearance?
Yes. While a 3PL is not a licensed customs broker, Miami Alliance 3PL works with experienced customs brokers specializing in LATAM imports. We coordinate container pickup from PortMiami, advise on documentation requirements, handle FDA/CPSC/FCC compliance for regulated products, and ensure your cargo moves from port to shelf in 24-48 hours. We have experience with imports from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Argentina.
Does a Miami 3PL offer Amazon FBA prep for LATAM products?
Yes. Amazon FBA prep is one of the most critical services for LATAM brands selling on Amazon.com. We handle FNSKU labeling, poly bagging, bubble wrapping, bundling, box content labels, and palletizing — all to Amazon's exact specifications with 99%+ compliance rates. Products arrive from your LATAM factory, get prepped at our Miami warehouse, and ship directly to Amazon fulfillment centers.
What types of Latin American products can a Miami 3PL handle?
Virtually every product category that LATAM brands export: beauty and cosmetics, food and beverages (with FDA-compliant storage), health supplements, fashion and apparel, home goods, electronics, toys, sporting goods, and pet products. For FDA-regulated items (food, cosmetics, supplements), we ensure English-language labeling and compliant storage. We have specific experience with Brazilian beauty, Colombian food products, Mexican consumer goods, and Chilean exports.
How long does it take to start selling in the US through a Miami 3PL?
From first contact to live US sales: 2-4 weeks. Week 1: account setup, entity formation, channel integration, ship first container. Week 2: container arrives, inventory received and shelved. Week 3: first orders fulfilled, first FBA shipment sent. Week 4: full operational velocity. For brands with inventory already in transit, you can be operational in 5-10 business days.
Can a Miami 3PL handle both DTC and marketplace fulfillment?
Yes. Multi-channel fulfillment is essential for LATAM brands. We fulfill Shopify DTC orders, Amazon FBA prep, Amazon FBM, Walmart Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop, and wholesale from a single inventory pool. All channels sync in real time — no splitting stock between platforms. Test multiple US sales channels simultaneously from one Miami warehouse.
What are the biggest logistics challenges for LATAM brands in the US?
Five key challenges: (1) Customs and regulatory compliance (FDA, CPSC, FCC), (2) language barriers with US logistics providers, (3) US delivery speed expectations (2-3 day shipping), (4) tariffs and duties (8% for Mexico to 33% for Brazil), and (5) marketplace complexity (Amazon, Shopify, Walmart requirements). A bilingual Miami 3PL with LATAM experience solves all five.
Do I need a US business entity to use a Miami 3PL?
Not necessarily. Amazon allows international sellers to create US Seller Central accounts with foreign business registration. However, for optimal tax treatment and banking, most LATAM brands form a US LLC (typically in Florida). A Florida LLC costs $125 in filing fees, does not require US residency, and takes 3-5 business days. Miami Alliance 3PL can connect you with Spanish and Portuguese-speaking attorneys who specialize in LATAM business formation.
Ready to Bring Your Latin American Brand to the US Market?
Get a free, no-obligation quote for container receiving, Amazon FBA prep, Shopify fulfillment, and full US distribution — all from a bilingual Miami warehouse. Zero minimums. Hablamos espanol. Falamos portugues.