Sea Freight from China to Phnom Penh
China → Phnom Penh · via PNH air / Phnom Penh river port · clearance by General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE)
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Phnom Penh through PNH air / Phnom Penh river port. Phnom Penh is capital, largest market and main clearance point, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE). Historical dwell on this gateway is around 3–7 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
What you will pay on arrival in Cambodia
Imports into Cambodia are cleared by General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE). The headline position is: VAT 10%; duty 7–35%, with ACFTA and RCEP preference on a Form E. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: CamControl inspection for regulated goods; Form E for duty preference. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Cambodia: Garment and footwear inputs move under specific duty-exemption schemes tied to the factory license, so the consignee's status changes the landed cost materially. Used goods and secondhand electronics face restrictions.
Routing and transit on this lane
Sihanoukville takes direct South China calls, while Phnom Penh is reachable by river barge from Cai Mep in Vietnam — often the cheaper option for LCL. Land trucking through the Bavet crossing from Ho Chi Minh City is a practical third route for urgent cargo that does not justify air.
| Sea gateways used | Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (river) |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 6–10 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Phnom Penh | PNH air / Phnom Penh river port |
| Inland leg to Phnom Penh | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–7 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Phnom Penh checklist
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Cambodia duty rate against it yourself.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: CamControl inspection for regulated goods; Form E for duty preference.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Put the Phnom Penh delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Phnom Penh take?
China to the Cambodia gateway is 6–10 calendar days. On top of that, allow 3–7 days of clearance with General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) and a same-day inland leg to Phnom Penh.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Phnom Penh?
General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) applies: VAT 10%; duty 7–35%, with ACFTA and RCEP preference on a Form E. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Phnom Penh.
What certification do I need for Cambodia?
For regulated goods, plan for: CamControl inspection for regulated goods; Form E for duty preference. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Phnom Penh?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (river). Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
Which port or airport does cargo for Phnom Penh clear through?
Cargo for Phnom Penh is routed via PNH air / Phnom Penh river port. Sea gateways for Cambodia are Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (river); air gateways are PNH (Phnom Penh), REP (Siem Reap). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Phnom Penh?
Yes. Delivery to a Phnom Penh address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
Other delivery cities in Cambodia
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Cambodia change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) or your broker before you ship.
- General Department of Customs and Excise
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
Page data last reviewed: 10 月 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Industrial Boilers General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Building Materials Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plumbing Products Building Materials & Construction Products
- Engineering Plastics Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Garden Products Furniture & Home Products
- Illuminated Signs Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Metal Products Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Storage Tanks Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Transformers New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Sanitary Ware Building Materials & Construction Products
- Cartons Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
Checking the Cambodia duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
For a wider view of how importing into Cambodia actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Cambodia customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Phnom Penh. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Ocean Freight 101 - What Is LCL Ocean Freight — Flexport. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Cambodia
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Cambodia clearance requirements →