Air Freight from China to Pampanga
China → Pampanga · via CRK air / Subic sea · clearance by Bureau of Customs (BOC)
Freight from China into Pampanga clears through CRK air / Subic sea. Pampanga is Clark and Subic freeport corridor, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Bureau of Customs (BOC) handles clearance; budget 4–9 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Import duty and tax position for Pampanga
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.
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.
| Air gateways used | MNL (Manila), CEB (Cebu), CRK (Clark) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3–5 business days |
| Gateway serving Pampanga | CRK air / Subic sea |
| Inland leg to Pampanga | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–9 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Confirm the consignee in Pampanga can act as importer of record — Bureau of Customs (BOC) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- 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 Philippines duty rate against it yourself.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Philippines lane.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Pampanga.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Pampanga take?
China to the Philippines gateway is 3–5 business days. On top of that, allow 4–9 days of clearance with Bureau of Customs (BOC) and a same-day inland leg to Pampanga.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Pampanga?
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 Pampanga.
What certification do I need for Philippines?
For regulated goods, plan for: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA license for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment. 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 deliver door-to-door in Pampanga?
Yes. Delivery to a Pampanga address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Bureau of Customs (BOC), 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.
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.
When is the busiest time on the China–Philippines lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, 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.
Other delivery cities in Philippines
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.
- Bureau of Customs
- Bureau of Product Standards
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
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.
- 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
- Flexible Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Decor Furniture & Home Products
- Technical Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
Checking the Philippines duty position yourself
Every duty and tax figure quoted on this page is our working estimate for planning, not a ruling. The binding rate for your consignment is whatever Philippine Bureau of Customs applies against your declared HS code on the day of entry, and their published guidance is the source to check before you commit stock.
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.
On the air side, anything with a cell or a battery in it, plus liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols, is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those articles are not refused outright, but they need to be declared at booking so the shipment is built correctly — declaring them late is the single most common cause of an air consignment being offloaded.
For a wider view of how importing into Philippines actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Philippines 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 Pampanga. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
4 Key Stages to US Customs Clearance — USA Customs Clearance. 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 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
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