Air Freight from China to Yangon, Myanmar — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Yangon · via RGN air / Thilawa sea · clearance by Myanmar Customs Department
Freight from China into Yangon clears through RGN air / Thilawa sea. Yangon is commercial capital and the main import gateway, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
The clearing authority is Myanmar Customs Department. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 7–14 days, and it lengthens in Oct–Dec.
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 0–40%; 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 licence 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 licence 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.
Routing and transit on this lane
Yangon is the only meaningful sea gateway, and the Muse–Ruili land border with Yunnan carries a large share of China–Myanmar 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 | 3–6 business days |
| Gateway serving Yangon | RGN air / Thilawa sea |
| Inland leg to Yangon | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 7–14 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Oct–Dec |
Pre-shipment checklist for Yangon
- Confirm the consignee in Yangon can act as importer of record — Myanmar Customs Department will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Oct–Dec, when space on this lane tightens.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Myanmar duty rate against it yourself.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Yangon.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Check the de-minimis position (No practical de-minimis) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Yangon take?
China to the Myanmar gateway is 3–6 business days. On top of that, allow 7–14 days of clearance with Myanmar Customs Department and a same-day inland leg to Yangon.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Yangon?
Myanmar Customs Department applies: Commercial tax 5%; duty 0–40%; 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 Yangon.
Which port or airport does cargo for Yangon clear through?
Cargo for Yangon is routed via RGN air / Thilawa sea. Sea gateways for Myanmar are Yangon (Thilawa and MITT); air gateways are RGN (Yangon), MDL (Mandalay). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Yangon?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 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.
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 licence 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 China–Myanmar lane?
Space and rates tighten around Oct–Dec, 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 Myanmar
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 — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Myanmar Customs Department or your broker before you ship.
- Myanmar Customs Department
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Yangon
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.