Pacas de Ropa Americana: How the Latin American Used Clothing Trade Works

In Latin America, used clothing is sold by the paca, and a good paca of ropa americana can supply a market stall, a shop or a whole network of sub-dealers. This guide explains the vocabulary, how different markets buy, and how to import from Houston.

The words buyers use

• Paca (or fardo) means a bale. Pacas are the common word in Central America and Mexico, and fardos is common in countries such as Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
• Ropa americana means American clothing, a way of saying used clothing from the United States.
• Ropa de segunda means secondhand clothing.
• Ropa usada al por mayor means used clothing wholesale.
• Ropa credencial is unsorted, original-grade clothing, and ropa clasificada is clothing sorted by category.
• Zapatos usados and pacas de zapatos are used shoes and bales of shoes.

How the markets buy

Across Central America, used clothing is sold in markets, tianguis and shops, by the piece, by the pile and sometimes straight from the opened paca. In Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, tropical mix and sorted summer clothing do very well. In Mexico, pacas supply markets and shops in cities from the capital to the north. In the Andes, from Bolivia to Peru, winter clothing is in demand all year.

Matching the paca to the climate

1. Hot coastal markets: tropical mix, T-shirts, shorts and light everyday wear.
2. Highland and southern markets: jackets, knitwear and heavier clothing.
3. Retail shops: sorted item clothing in defined categories.
4. Traders with a sorting team: credential clothing, sorted at home for the best pieces.

Tell us your climate and your customers, and we will build your container around them.

Why Houston works well for Latin America

We load a short drive from the Port of Houston, a major export gateway with direct services to Latin America. That shortens the road leg at our end and keeps your costs clear. Our country pages list the main ports we ship to for buyers in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Shoes in the same container

Used shoes travel well alongside pacas. Sorted shoes come paired and banded in 50 lb bags or capsacks, and credential shoes ship as collected. Many Latin American buyers add a few capsacks of zapatos usados to every clothing container.

From first message to first paca

1. Send your country, product and volume.
2. Receive a written quote within one business day.
3. See photographs and video of the actual goods, or visit us in Houston.
4. Pay 50% to start processing and the balance at loading.
5. We load, seal and photograph the container, and send your documents.

Frequently asked questions

What does paca mean in used clothing?

A paca is a bale of used clothing. In some countries the word is fardo.

What is ropa americana?

It means American clothing, the common name for used clothing from the United States.

Which grade is best for my market?

Hot markets favor tropical and sorted summer clothing, and cooler markets favor jackets and knitwear. Our team will recommend a mix for your country.

Can I order shoes and clothing together?

Yes. Combined loads are available.

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