Shipping from China to Myanmar
China โ Myanmar ยท clearance by Myanmar Customs Department
We move freight cargo from South China into Myanmar through RGN air / Thilawa sea. Myanmar is served through Yangon (Thilawa and MITT), which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
On the destination side, Myanmar Customs Department handles clearance; budget 7โ14 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Routing and transit on this lane
Yangon is the only meaningful sea gateway, and the MuseโRuili land border with Yunnan carries a large share of ChinaโMyanmar trade when it is open. Border status and banking channels change with little notice on this lane, so confirm both the crossing and the payment route at the time of booking rather than relying on last quarter's arrangement.
| Air gateways used | RGN (Yangon), MDL (Mandalay) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3โ6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Yangon (Thilawa and MITT) |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 7โ12 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Myanmar | RGN air / Thilawa sea |
| Inland leg to Myanmar | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 7โ14 days |
| Peak season to plan around | OctโDec |
Delivery cities in Myanmar
Principal delivery points: Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Bago. Pick a city for the gateway it uses and the inland leg beyond clearance.
What you will pay on arrival in Myanmar
Imports into Myanmar are cleared by Myanmar Customs Department. The headline position is: Commercial tax 5%; duty 0โ40%; advance income tax of 2% on imports. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Import license required for most commodity groups; FDA registration for food, drugs and cosmetics. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Myanmar: An import license is required for most commercial goods and must be issued before arrival. Foreign-currency and banking restrictions can delay duty settlement, which directly affects DDP feasibility. Confirm sanctions screening on the consignee before shipping.
Air, sea or overland into Myanmar?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Air Freight | 3โ6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| ๐ข Sea Freight | 7โ12 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Myanmar gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Myanmar and 7โ14 days of clearance.
Pre-shipment checklist for Myanmar
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Myanmar lane.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure โ it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (LรWรH รท 6000) โ the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Confirm the consignee in Myanmar can act as importer of record โ Myanmar Customs Department will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front โ retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Myanmar take?
China to the Myanmar gateway is 3โ6 business days by air, 7โ12 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 7โ14 days of clearance with Myanmar Customs Department and a same-day inland leg to Myanmar.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Myanmar?
Myanmar Customs Department applies: Commercial tax 5%; duty 0โ40%; advance income tax of 2% on imports. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Myanmar.
What documents does Myanmar Customs Department require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Import license required for most commodity groups; FDA registration for food, drugs and cosmetics). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
When is the busiest time on the ChinaโMyanmar lane?
Space and rates tighten around OctโDec, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Myanmar?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965โ970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via RGN (Yangon), MDL (Mandalay). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Myanmar?
Per kilo, yes โ usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 7โ12 calendar days by sea versus 3โ6 business days by air to the Myanmar gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Myanmar change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling โ confirm the current position for your own HS code with Myanmar Customs Department or your broker before you ship.
- Myanmar Customs Department
- WTO โ Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- WCO โ Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO โ IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA โ Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965โ970)
Page data last reviewed: 10 ๆ 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 โ these guides cover that by commodity.
- Prefabricated Building Building Materials & Construction Products
- Pallet Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Conveyor Belts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Hotel Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Restaurant Furniture Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Metal Fabrication Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Pressure Vessels Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Switchgear New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Doors & Windows Building Materials & Construction Products
- Corrugated Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Glass Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
Checking the Myanmar duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Myanmar Customs Department 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.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
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.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Myanmar. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
FCL vs LCL Shipping: When to Switch (Break-Even Point Explained) — Max Antonov. 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 Myanmar
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border โ plus who files the entry.
Myanmar clearance requirements →