Latin America

Chemicals shipped to Guatemala

Guatemala's chemical demand comes mainly from agriculture and consumer goods. Sugar and ethanol mills in Escuintla, coffee and agro-processing, and agrochemical formulation need process chemicals, inorganic salts and solvents. Generic pharmaceutical producers in Guatemala City, Villa Nueva and Mixco buy APIs and lab reagents, while textile and apparel plants and food and beverage manufacturers add specialty chemical requirements. Quetzaltenango hosts smaller industrial and research activity. Zemixal ships sea freight from Nhava Sheva or Mundra to Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific, or to Santo Tomás de Castilla and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean, with transit of about 35 to 50 days. Air cargo to Guatemala City La Aurora usually takes 4 to 7 days. Every lot comes with a COA and a 16-section GHS SDS.

Guatemala Logistics facts Documents

VapiNhava Sheva / MundraPuerto Quetzalsea 35–50 daysGuatemala City La Aurora (GUA)air 4–7 days

Guatemala at a glance

Logistics facts for Guatemala
Capital	Guatemala City
Currency	Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages	Spanish
Discharge seaports	Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomás de Castilla, Puerto Barrios
Arrival airports	Guatemala City La Aurora (GUA)
Sea transit from India	35–50 days port to port
Air transit	4–7 days
Chemical regulator	MARN (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources)
Pharma regulator	MSPAS – Department of Regulation and Control of Pharmaceutical Products (DRCPFA)

Transit timeline by sea

1–2 daysQuote and document set agreed
Price, pack sizes, Incoterm and the paperwork list are confirmed in writing.
3–7 daysPacking for export
Stock items are packed in UN-rated drums or cartons. Made-to-order material adds its own lead time.
1–3 daysExport clearance at Nhava Sheva or Mundra
Shipping bill filed, dangerous goods declared under IMDG where needed.
35–50 daysOcean transit to Puerto Quetzal
Port-to-port time depends on the vessel schedule and any transhipment.
2–5 daysImport clearance
Your broker clears the goods against local rules. Chemical oversight: MARN (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources).

Indicative door to door by sea: 42–67 days

By air the same journey usually takes 8–17 days from order to delivery.

Importing chemicals into Guatemala

Pharmaceutical products and APIs generally need sanitary registration or import authorisation from MSPAS, through its department for the regulation and control of pharmaceutical products. Importers of precursor and controlled chemicals need prior licensing from the health ministry. Imports clear through SAT customs, with Central American customs harmonisation (SIECA) rules applying. MARN covers environmental aspects of chemical handling. Hazardous cargo must be packed and declared to IMDG or IATA rules. Your local broker can confirm which permits apply to each product before booking.

Main buying sectors

Sugar & ethanolCoffee & agro-processingGeneric pharmaceuticalsTextiles & apparelFood & beverageAgrochemical formulation

Industrial hubs we deliver to

Guatemala City · Escuintla · Villa Nueva · Mixco · Quetzaltenango

Document checklist

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Certificate of Origin
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Safety Data Sheet (16-section GHS)
MSPAS import permit or sanitary registration for pharmaceutical products where required
Controlled-chemical import licence where applicable
Dangerous Goods Declaration (IMDG/IATA) where applicable

The exact set depends on product, quantity and end use. We confirm it in writing with every quotation.

Why buyers in Guatemala order from Zemixal

Zemixal serves Guatemala's sugar, agro and generic pharma buyers on either coast, with document sets that support MSPAS permit applications.

By division

What we supply to Guatemala

Ordered by how often buyers in Guatemala ask for them.

Specialty Chemicals

Polymers, monomers, dyes, flavours, essential oils, water treatment and process chemicals for…

876 products

APIs

Bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients across anti-infective, CNS, cardiovascular, metabolic,…

385 products

Lab Reagents

Reagent-grade salts, acids, indicators, titrants, standard solutions and synthesis reagents fo…

3,487 products

Solvents (HPLC & GC)

HPLC, LC-MS, GC, spectroscopy, anhydrous and bulk solvents in bottles to drums, packed for saf…

590 products

Pharmaceutical Intermediates

Organic and heterocyclic building blocks, key starting materials and API process intermediates…

14,468 products

Inorganics & Metals

Inorganic salts, rare earths, high-purity metals, nanomaterials, sputtering targets, optics an…

5,293 products

Biochemicals

Amino acids, buffers, carbohydrates, enzyme substrates, nucleotides, media, stains and natural…

2,841 products

Impurity Reference Standards

Pharmacopoeial impurities, nitrosamines, metabolites, labelled internal standards and API work…

20,060 products

Specialty Chemicals: a sample for Guatemala

Specialty Chemicals for Guatemala

4-Chloro-α-methylstyrene, 90%

CAS: 1712-70-5
Formula: C₉H₉Cl
MW: 152.62 g/mol

ZX-018061

4-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene, 95%

CAS: 60705-62-6
Formula: C₄₄H₅₆O₄
MW: 648.9 g/mol

ZX-018062

4-Vinylpyridine, 95%

CAS: 100-43-6
Formula: C₇H₇N
MW: 105.14 g/mol

ZX-018063

Acrylic acid, 99%

CAS: 79-10-7
Formula: C₃H₄O₂
MW: 72.06 g/mol

ZX-018064

Azelaic acid, 98%

CAS: 123-99-9
Formula: C₉H₁₆O₄
MW: 188.22 g/mol

ZX-018065

Azelaic acid, ≥95%

CAS: 123-99-9
Formula: C₉H₁₆O₄
MW: 188.22 g/mol

ZX-018066

Benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 99%

CAS: 2421-28-5
Formula: C₁₇H₆O₇
MW: 322.22 g/mol

ZX-018067

Butyl acrylate, 99%

CAS: 141-32-2
Formula: C₇H₁₂O₂
MW: 128.17 g/mol

ZX-018068

Questions

Shipping to Guatemala

Is Puerto Quetzal or Santo Tomás better for Guatemalan buyers?

Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific is often closer for Guatemala City and Escuintla, while Santo Tomás de Castilla on the Caribbean can suit some routings. Sea transit from India is roughly 35 to 50 days. We quote whichever port works best for your site.

Can sugar mills order process chemicals in bulk?

Yes. The Inorganics & Metals and Specialty Chemicals divisions include many clarification and process chemicals. Send product names and volumes through the RFQ page, and we quote container shipments with IMDG documentation where the products are dangerous goods. Small trial quantities can also be sent by air to Guatemala City.

What documents help with an MSPAS import permit?

Importers usually need the COA, SDS and product specification, and for APIs, evidence of the manufacturer's GMP status. Raise your MSPAS requirement in the enquiry and we confirm which documents are available for that product before you apply. Allow time for the permit when planning your first order.

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