Is it cheaper to ship swag from the US to Brazil or to produce it in Brazil?
Producing in Brazil is usually cheaper once import taxes are counted. A parcel sent to Brazil by courier pays 60% import duty on the value of the goods plus freight, and then state tax (ICMS) of 17% to 20% on top; together they add roughly 93% to 100% to that value. Swag made inside Brazil is not an import, so none of these charges apply, and Yoobe Inc. invoices it in US dollars.
As of November 11, 2026, a welcome kit produced in Brazil costs about $86.80 per person at 50 units and $82.76 at 250 units, before customization and shipping.
Ship from the US vs Produce in Brazil with Yoobe
| Ship from the US | Produce in Brazil with Yoobe | |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 60% of the customs value (goods + freight + insurance) for courier parcels up to US$3,000 | None: the order is not an import |
| State tax at customs (ICMS) | 17% to 20% depending on the state, charged on the value with the duty included | None at customs |
| Taxes on a US$100 parcel | About US$93 to US$100 on top of the US$100 | US$0 in import taxes |
| Who is charged | Taxes are collected before delivery, often from the recipient | Nothing is collected from the recipient |
| Paperwork | The carrier needs each recipient's CPF (Brazilian tax ID) to clear the parcel | No customs clearance |
| Timing | International transit plus customs clearance, which varies | About 15 business days from artwork approval to delivery |
| Payment | Your US vendor, plus taxes paid in Brazil | One invoice in US dollars from Yoobe Inc. |
Rates in force in November 2026 under Brazil's simplified taxation regime for courier shipments. ICMS is calculated as (customs value + import duty) ÷ (1 − rate) × rate, which gives US$32.77 at 17% and US$40 at 20% on a US$100 parcel. A law passed in September 2026 allows the government to change these rates, so check the official page before you ship.
Price per unit in US dollars, by quantity
Typical (median) price per unit across the catalog on November 11, 2026, with the lowest price in parentheses. Estimates: the final price, with customization, service and shipping, is the one in the proposal.
| Item | 20 units | 50 units | 100 units | 250 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop backpack | $56.13(from $29.62) | $52.34(from $26.13) | $51.45(from $24.84) | $50.26(from $23.86) |
| Insulated bottle | $23.71(from $17.71) | $19.67(from $13.93) | $18.88(from $13.43) | $18.77(from $13.35) |
| A5 notebook | $12.18(from $10.09) | $7.31(from $6.26) | $7.13(from $6.08) | $6.58(from $5.45) |
| Metal pen | $9.74(from $3.51) | $7.48(from $1.24) | $7.28(from $1.04) | $7.15(from $0.90) |
| Kit per person (backpack, bottle, notebook, pen) | $101.76 | $86.80 | $84.74 | $82.76 |
How it works
- Choose the items or start from a ready-made kit, and tell us how many people are on your Brazil team.
- Send your logo and approve the artwork preview on each product.
- Yoobe produces the items in Brazil and delivers them there: to an event venue, to your office or to each person's home.
- Yoobe Inc. invoices your company in US dollars.
What to check before you order
- Add freight to the value of the goods before estimating taxes: the 60% duty applies to both.
- Ask your US vendor whether they ship duties-paid. If not, your employee is the one asked to pay before the parcel is released.
- Count the people, not the parcels: taxes and clearance repeat for every address.
- Get a local quote for the same items and compare the total per person, including delivery.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax does a US$100 swag parcel pay in Brazil?
Under the general rule, import duty is 60% of the customs value, so US$60. ICMS is then charged on the value with the duty included: about US$33 at a 17% rate and US$40 at 20%. The total is about US$93 to US$100, before courier fees.
Is a company gift exempt from import tax in Brazil?
As a rule, no. A courier parcel sent by a company is taxed whether the recipient is a person or a company, and calling it a gift does not change that.
When does shipping from the US still make sense?
For a single item you already have in stock and need to send once. For a team of 20 or more people, producing in Brazil avoids repeating taxes and clearance for every address.
How do we pay if the swag is produced in Brazil?
Yoobe Inc., a US company, sends the invoice in US dollars, so you do not need a Brazilian entity or a local bank account to buy.