Shipping from China to Bulacan, Philippines — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Bulacan · via MNL air / MICT sea · clearance by Bureau of Customs (BOC)
Freight from China into Bulacan clears through MNL air / MICT sea. Bulacan is light manufacturing and warehousing province north of Manila, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by Bureau of Customs (BOC), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 4–9 days.
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 |
| Sea gateways used | Manila (MICT and South Harbor), Cebu, Davao |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 5–10 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Bulacan | MNL air / MICT sea |
| Inland leg to Bulacan | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4–9 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Philippines
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 licence 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.
Air, sea or overland into Bulacan?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 3–5 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 5–10 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Philippines gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Bulacan and 4–9 days of clearance.
Before you book: Bulacan checklist
- Check the de-minimis position (PHP 10,000) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Bulacan.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA licence for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment.
- Confirm the consignee in Bulacan can act as importer of record — Bureau of Customs (BOC) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
Mode guides for Bulacan
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Bulacan take?
China to the Philippines gateway is 3–5 business days by air, 5–10 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 4–9 days of clearance with Bureau of Customs (BOC) and a same-day inland leg to Bulacan.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Bulacan?
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 Bulacan.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Bulacan?
Yes. Delivery to a Bulacan 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 fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
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.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Bulacan?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via MNL (Manila), CEB (Cebu), CRK (Clark). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
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 licence for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
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: July 2026.
Get a rate for Bulacan
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.