ASAPRA - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMS BROKERS

What ASAPRA - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMS BROKERS does

ASAPRA - International Association of Professional Customs Brokers (Asociación Internacional de Agentes Profesionales de Aduana) is an international, private-law, non-profit corporation founded in 1969 in Viña del Mar, Chile, by eight national associations of Professional Customs Brokers. The association serves as the unified international representative body for these national member associations, which collectively represent customs brokers across Latin America and the Caribbean. ASAPRA's core function is advocacy and international coordination: it holds an official seat on the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council via its President, participates as a Private Sector Consultative Group member, and engages in WCO Policy Commission and Regional Private Sector Group meetings. It also collaborates with regional partners such as the Caribbean Customs Brokers Association (CACUB) on joint forums and biennial conferences.

ASAPRA's commercial activity is limited to a single digital product offering: Aduanapp (Clasificador Arancelario Digital), a web-based tariff classification tool that allows users to compare tariff classifications without cost. The association also operates a 'Customs Academy' educational section and distributes doctrinal, comparative law, and normative documentation through its website. Technology delivery is described as 'Digital customs classification tools and web-based platform for member services' with no disclosed AI/ML components, proprietary models, or technical architecture detail. Distribution is primarily direct-to-member-association, supported by international events (e.g., WCO Global Forum, SIL Barcelona, ADAA International Congress, ASAPRA General Assemblies) and the institutional website.

The revenue model is subscription/recurring membership fees from the eight founding national associations, supplemented by event participation fees and educational services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is member-governed, with no parent company, private equity backing, or venture capital investment indicated. Headcount sits in the 11-50 employee range. The 2025 Agenda reflects continued operational stability across Latin America, the Caribbean, and selective European WCO engagement, with no disclosed expansion in member count, headcount, or revenue base since the original 1969 founding cohort.

Name

ASAPRA - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMS BROKERS

Legal name

ASAPRA - Asociación Internacional de Agentes Profesionales de Aduana

Website

https://asapra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASAPRA is a non-profit international association founded in 1969 in Chile, representing eight national associations of Professional Customs Brokers across Latin America and the Caribbean. It advocates at the World Customs Organization and offers Aduanapp, a free digital tariff classification tool.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customs Classification & Valuation (HS/HTS, Origin, Duty Optimization) (TLACAFAC), Interagency/International Information Exchange & Cooperation (BPAIADAN), Sanctions, Embargo & Export Controls (EAR/ITAR) Compliance Tools (TLAEAOAI)

Keywords

• Customs broker association
• International trade representation
• Tariff classification services
• Customs professional advocacy
• Trade compliance coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Montevideo

HQ country

Uruguay

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Association Membership: ASAPRA operates as an international association representing national associations of Professional Customs Brokers. Revenue is generated through membership fees from its eight national member associations, along with event participation fees and potentially publication/educational services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

ASAPRA is an international non-profit association founded in 1969 that represents national associations of Professional Customs Brokers across Latin America and the Caribbean. The association provides international representation, advocacy on customs matters, professional development, coordination with the World Customs Organization, and operates Aduanapp, a free digital tariff classification tool for customs brokers.

Product overview

ASAPRA operates as a professional association representing national customs broker associations internationally. The organization offers a single digital product: Aduanapp (Clasificador Arancelario Digital), a digital tariff classification tool. This application enables users to compare tariff classifications without cost, serving as the primary technological service offering of the association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aduanapp – Clasificador Arancelario Digital A free digital tariff classification tool that allows professional customs brokers to compare and determine tariff classifications for customs purposes without cost.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• World Customs Organization (WCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1969ASAPRA maintains an official relationship with the World Customs Organization as a Private Sector Consultative Group member. The association participates in WCO Policy Commission meetings, Regional Private Sector Group meetings, and the WCO Council. ASAPRA's President holds a seat at the WCO Council, representing the interests of professional customs brokers globally.
• National Member AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASAPRA was founded by eight national associations of Professional Customs Brokers who joined efforts to form a single international entity. These member associations form the core membership base and represent professional customs brokers in their respective countries across Latin America.
• Caribbean Customs Brokers Association (CACUB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASAPRA collaborates with CACUB on joint events such as the 4th Joint Customs Forum and participates in CACUB's Biennial Conference, representing the interests of professional customs brokers across the Americas and Caribbean region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA): Global umbrella federation of national freight forwarder and logistics associations, with consultative status at WCO and UN bodies. Comparable to ASAPRA as an international association of trade-logistics intermediaries, but with a far larger and more geographically diverse membership.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): World business organization with broad trade-facilitation, customs, and origin-rule activities (Incoterms, ATA Carnet, WCO Private Sector Consultative Group). Overlaps with ASAPRA's advocacy and standards role but at a much broader trade-policy scope.
• Descartes Systems Group (Visual Compliance): Logistics and trade compliance technology vendor offering classification, denied-party screening, and customs filing tools. Comparable to ASAPRA/Aduanapp at the product layer (HS classification, compliance content) but as a global commercial platform rather than an association offering.
• World Customs Organization (WCO): Intergovernmental body that sets global customs standards and convenes the very forums (Council, PSCG, Regional Private Sector Groups) in which ASAPRA participates. Comparable as the institutional counterparty whose policy agenda ASAPRA helps shape, but vastly larger and authoritative.
• Thomson Reuters (ONESOURCE Global Trade): Major commercial vendor of trade compliance and HS classification software widely used by customs brokers globally. Comparable to ASAPRA's Aduanapp in the HS/tariff classification domain, but as a large commercial SaaS incumbent rather than a member-benefit tool.

Direct peers

• National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA): U.S. national association representing licensed customs brokers and freight forwarders. Directly comparable to ASAPRA as a membership-based national/regional customs broker association, though with a U.S.-centric remit rather than Latin American.
• Caribbean Customs Brokers Association (CACUB): Caribbean regional association of customs brokers that is both a partner and structural peer of ASAPRA — organizes its own biennial conference and represents customs brokers across Caribbean jurisdictions in a similar manner to ASAPRA's Latin American remit.
• Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB): National association of licensed customs brokers in Canada. Direct peer in the form of a country-level customs broker association; comparable governance, dues, advocacy, and professional standards mission, but serving a single national market rather than a region.

Regional players

• British International Freight Association (BIFA): U.K. trade association representing freight forwarders and customs brokers. Comparable membership-based association model and customs-trade advocacy mission, but focused on U.K./European markets rather than Latin America.

Emerging players

• Avalara (Vista Equity Partners): Tax and trade compliance SaaS provider expanding into HS classification, duty calculation, and cross-border compliance. Comparable to ASAPRA/Aduanapp in addressing the same customs broker pain points but with private-equity-backed commercial scaling.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASAPRA - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMS BROKERS