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🚢 Sea Freight

Sea Freight from China to Iloilo

China → Iloilo · via ILO air / Iloilo sea · clearance by Bureau of Customs (BOC)

Sea Freight from China to Iloilo, Philippines — cargo handling at the departure terminal
Cargo handling on the China–Iloilo lane.

Freight from China into Iloilo clears through ILO air / Iloilo sea. Iloilo is Western Visayas regional distribution center, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.

The clearing authority is Bureau of Customs (BOC). Historical dwell on this gateway is around 4–9 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.

How this lane actually runs

Manila port congestion is the defining risk on this lane — dwell can double during the Q4 retail build-up. Cebu and Davao are viable direct calls for Visayas and Mindanao consignees and often clear faster than Manila, so it is worth quoting the regional port rather than trucking from MICT.

Sea gateways usedManila (MICT and South Harbor), Cebu, Davao
Sea transit, China to gateway5–10 calendar days
Gateway serving IloiloILO air / Iloilo sea
Inland leg to Iloilo+1 day from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell4–9 days
Peak season to plan aroundSep–Nov

Import duty and tax position for Iloilo

Imports into Philippines are cleared by Bureau of Customs (BOC). The headline position is: VAT 12%; duty 0–30%, with ACFTA preference available on a Form E. The de-minimis threshold is PHP 10,000.

Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA license for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.

Restrictions and known friction points for Philippines: Consolidated 'balikbayan'-style mixed cargo attracts extra scrutiny. Used clothing is prohibited. Alert Orders and physical examination are common, so allow buffer days on any deadline-driven shipment.

Container terminal operations used on the China to Iloilo (Philippines) freight lane
Handling on the ILO air / Iloilo sea routing serving Iloilo.

Before you book: Iloilo checklist

  • Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
  • Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Philippines duty rate against it yourself.
  • Check the de-minimis position (PHP 10,000) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
  • Get the conformity paperwork moving early: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA license for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment.
  • Budget for the inland leg: +1 day beyond gateway clearance to reach Iloilo.
  • Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Iloilo take?

China to the Philippines gateway is 5–10 calendar days. On top of that, allow 4–9 days of clearance with Bureau of Customs (BOC) and a +1 day inland leg to Iloilo.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Iloilo?

Bureau of Customs (BOC) applies: VAT 12%; duty 0–30%, with ACFTA preference available on a Form E. The de-minimis position is PHP 10,000. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Iloilo.

What documents does Bureau of Customs (BOC) 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 (BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA license for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment). We prepare and file these as part of the service.

Which port or airport does cargo for Iloilo clear through?

Cargo for Iloilo is routed via ILO air / Iloilo sea. Sea gateways for Philippines are Manila (MICT and South Harbor), Cebu, Davao; air gateways are MNL (Manila), CEB (Cebu), CRK (Clark). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.

Can you deliver door-to-door in Iloilo?

Yes. Delivery to a Iloilo address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the +1 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.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Iloilo?

Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 5–10 calendar days by sea versus 3–5 business days by air to the Philippines gateway, before clearance and the +1 day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.

Other delivery cities in Philippines

All Philippines freight information →

References & official sources

Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Philippines 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 Bureau of Customs (BOC) or your broker before you ship.

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.

All 60 industry guides →

Checking the Philippines duty position yourself

We publish these figures so you can budget, but the assessment that binds is the one Philippine Bureau of Customs makes on your declaration. Where a shipment is large enough that a percentage point matters, check their current tariff guidance rather than ours.

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.

If this is your first shipment into Philippines, the Philippines Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.

Watch: the process behind this route

This guide covers routing and clearance for Iloilo. 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.

Get a rate for Iloilo

This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a rate card: the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we price it properly.

Answer these and you get a real price, not a range. These are the exact figures a carrier needs before it will quote. Fill them in once and we can price your cargo the same day — leave them out and we have to come back and ask, which is what turns an hour into a week.

kg
ctn
Carton sizeoptional
× × cm
m³
ctr
Built-in battery?* Lithium cells are dangerous goods.
Someone else's brand?* Logos you are not authorised to ship.
Magnetic product?* Speakers, motors, magnets.
Why these three decide everything

They determine whether your cargo can fly, and on which service. A declared battery changes the price; an undeclared one grounds the shipment at the airport and you pay storage while it sits. Unauthorised brands are seized at customs and the freight is lost with them. Magnetic goods need a field test — routine, but it has to be booked ahead. Telling us now costs a click; telling us later costs the shipment.

Sea or air?*
Tick both and we quote both.
When should it move?optional
Photographs of the goodsoptional
    Your details are used to prepare this quotation and nothing else.

    See the Philippines route page →

    Customs clearance in Philippines

    Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.

    Philippines clearance requirements →

    Priced routes to Philippines