✈️ Air Freight

Air Freight from China to Pampanga

China → Pampanga · via CRK air / Subic sea · clearance by Bureau of Customs (BOC)

Cargo handling on the China–Pampanga lane.

We move air freight cargo from South China into Pampanga through CRK air / Subic sea. Pampanga is Clark and Subic freeport corridor, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.

Clearance itself is handled by Bureau of Customs (BOC), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 4–9 days.

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.

Routing and transit on this lane

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

Air cargo build-up used on the China to Pampanga (Philippines) freight lane — Handling on the CRK air / Subic sea routing serving Pampanga.

Before you book: Pampanga checklist

Put the Pampanga delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Get the conformity paperwork moving early: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA license for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment.
Check the de-minimis position (PHP 10,000) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Philippines duty rate against it yourself.
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.

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.

Which port or airport does cargo for Pampanga clear through?

Cargo for Pampanga is routed via CRK air / Subic 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.

How is the chargeable weight calculated for Pampanga?

We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.

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.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Pampanga?

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 same-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: 8 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 139 industry guides →

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.

Get a rate for Pampanga

This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.

Request a quote → 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 →