Sea Freight from China to Cavite, Philippines — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Cavite · via MNL air / MICT sea · clearance by Bureau of Customs (BOC)
Freight from China into Cavite clears through MNL air / MICT sea. Cavite is industrial estates and export processing zones south 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.
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.
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.
| Sea gateways used | Manila (MICT and South Harbor), Cebu, Davao |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 5–10 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Cavite | MNL air / MICT sea |
| Inland leg to Cavite | 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
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA licence for food, cosmetics and devices; NTC for radio equipment.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Philippines duty rate against it yourself.
- Confirm the consignee in Cavite can act as importer of record — Bureau of Customs (BOC) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Check the de-minimis position (PHP 10,000) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Cavite take?
China to the Philippines gateway is 5–10 calendar days. On top of that, allow 4–9 days of clearance with Bureau of Customs (BOC) and a same-day inland leg to Cavite.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Cavite?
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 Cavite.
Which port or airport does cargo for Cavite clear through?
Cargo for Cavite is routed via MNL air / MICT 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.
What certification do I need for Philippines?
For regulated goods, plan for: BPS Import Commodity Clearance for regulated products; FDA licence 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Cavite?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres 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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Cavite?
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
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 Cavite
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.