Shipping from Thailand to the Philippines is one of the more popular destinations for commercial and personal cargo. Whether you are shipping manufactured goods from your Thailand business or are moving personal items ahead of a move to the Philippines, there are a few important steps to consider before you ship.
Port of Manila
As you might imagine, with a country composed of over 7,000 islands, there are numerous ports capable of receiving containerized cargo, but the Port of Manila is the largest and most common destination for ocean freight. The Philippine Islands are located on the equator with a population that is the 12th largest in the world.
Additionally, there are several airports within the archipelago that handle air freight on a daily basis. The decision to ship via air or sea is one that is dependent on the time sensitivity of your cargo as well as financial and weight considerations. Your freight forwarder is an important part of the process of deciding which is the most economical and efficient way to ship your goods.
As you get ready to make a shipment from Thailand to the Philippines here are a few of the most important rules, regulations and requirements that you will need to consider:
- For household or personal goods you will need to have a residence visa and permit for the Philippines plus an inventory of your cargo.
- It is important to make sure that you’re your residence visa is approved before your shipment arrives.
- Personal items are duty free up to a maximum value of $7,800 USD, but you must have been in possession of them at least 6 months before they are shipped. Also, if you ship multiple items of the type (like 3 televisions) be prepared to pay duty on at least two of them.
- Some items such as plants, animals and medicine are restricted or may incur a duty fee. If you aren’t sure, it is best to depend on your freight forwarder for guidance on what is and isn’t allowed.
While there is certainly a lot of shipping activity both into and out of the Philippines, it is important to recognize that the Philippines is generally regarded as having a somewhat restrictive and unwieldy shipping infrastructure. Outdates rules and regulations that are sometimes vague or contradictory can create a nightmare for the inexperienced shipper. That’s why it is so important to work with a freight forwarder that is experienced and has a well-developed network of business partners within the Philippines logistics market.
At Eagles Air & Sea, we have partners located throughout the Philippine Islands that we work with to make sure every shipment is handled expeditiously and safely in the most economical way possible. If you have shipping requirements between the Philippine Islands and Thailand, we invite you to call us at+66 (02) 790 4599 or e-mail us at sales@eaglesthai.com with a description of your logistics requirements and we will be happy to work with you to identify the best means for handling your specific shipping needs.
Frequent Asked Questions
What is a “Balikbayan Box”?
Balikbayan boxes are sometimes used instead of regular shipping containers by Filipinos sending personal goods back to the Philippines. They are made of reinforced cardboard and can hold a maximum of about 130 lbs. They will travel with other Balikbayan boxes as LCL cargo.
How long will it take for my goods to reach its destination in the Philippines?
When shipping to the Philippines, there are a wide range of variables that can impact the transit time. As there are over 7,000 individual islands composing this nation, transit times can vary widely depending on the port of arrival and the end location address. For ocean freight from Thailand to The Philippines – expect a 3 week transit.
Will customs open my packaged freight?
Not likely, especially if you have an accurate and detailed packing list. Packages are scanned electronically and if your packing slip reflects what customs sees on the scan then there won’t be any problems.
