Sea Freight from China to Kandal, Cambodia — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Kandal · 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 Kandal through PNH air / Phnom Penh river port. Kandal is garment factory belt surrounding the capital, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 3–7 days.
Duty, tax and clearance into Kandal
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 licence, so the consignee's status changes the landed cost materially. Used goods and secondhand electronics face restrictions.
What the routing looks like in practice
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 Kandal | PNH air / Phnom Penh river port |
| Inland leg to Kandal | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–7 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: CamControl inspection for regulated goods; Form E for duty preference.
- Check the de-minimis position (No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Kandal.
- 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 Kandal 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 Kandal.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Kandal?
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 Kandal.
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 deliver door-to-door in Kandal?
Yes. Delivery to a Kandal 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 fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
Which port or airport does cargo for Kandal clear through?
Cargo for Kandal 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.
When is the busiest time on the China–Cambodia 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 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: July 2026.
Get a rate for Kandal
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.