How much does it cost to ship a container to Philippines

Ocean freight shipping from the port of Manila in the Philippines begins at $396 and ranges anywhere up to $6,000 varying by shipping destination and container size. With its large population of 100 million people, the Philippines is classified as a middle power in its economic standing. They have the 37th largest export economy in the world with the US being one of their biggest trading partners. The country is known for its exports in fruit, electronics, clothing, and semiconductors.

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Historical ocean freight rates from the USA to Philippines

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This historical chart includes details on the average prices for shipments from the USA to Philippines during the past 18 months. These figures don’t cover supplementary or unanticipated costs that the whole booking and shipping process may entail.
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Main ports in Philippines

Deciding on which port to ship your container to in Philippines is no easy task. Luckily, iContainers offers 9 ports in Philippines for ocean freight transport from the United States and 8 ports in Philippines to ship your container to from Spain. Cebu, Manila… take your pick!

FAQs about shipping your container to Philippines

What is the estimated transit time for shipping a container to Philippines?

Unfortunately, transit time can’t be predicted with full accuracy since there are several factors that can affect it, but the chosen route is definitely one of the most important ones. As such, the longest transit time to ship a container to Philippines is the route Bilbao - Manila (63 days on average) whereas the shortest is the route Memphis – Manila, with an average of 18 days.

What type of cargo can be sent in a container?

You will find a number of suitable containers according to the nature of your goods. However, shippers often find in dry shipping containers the perfect solution for their sea freight since they come in several sizes and dimensions and are convenient for transportation of dry bulk – e.g., non-perishable cargo like manufactured goods. Although hermetically sealed, they don’t offer air-flow or temperature control so they may not be the best choice for sensitive cargo.

How do you figure out shipping cost to Philippines?

There are some fixed costs in international shipping that you will be sure to encounter and that are determined by your choice of container, your cargo’s dimensions, the selected Incoterm for your transaction and the ocean freight route you go for. Furthermore, your shipping costs will most likely also depend on the kind of services you require for your goods so if you’re dealing with, say, sensitive cargo, that will increase the price.

What container capacity do I need for my cargo?

If your shipment is low-volume, you may want to consider using a Shared Container (LCL) for your ocean freight, a budget-friendly option that will allow you to only pay for the space your goods take up. However, if you require an entire container (FCL), you will have a wide range of sizes to choose from, the smallest (20ft) offering 1,172 CFT / 33.2 CBM volume capacity and the largest (45ft), 3,122 CFT / 88.4 CBM.

FOB vs CIF: What´s the difference?

Incoterms are complex commercial agreements made up of a long list of essential details that can easily be overlooked, which is why FOB and CIF sometimes lead to misunderstandings. The main difference between the two is simple: with CIF, the seller is responsible for the freight until it reaches its destination port while with FOB, liability only lies with the seller until the cargo is loaded and in transit, at which point responsibility is conveyed to the buyer.

What paperwork is needed for international shipments to Philippines?

There is no such thing as a set list of documents needed in ocean freight (sorry!). This is mainly because there are different requirements based on aspects such as the countries involved in the shipping or the kind of goods being shipped. However, you should expect to have to provide certain documents regardless of the nature of your transaction: a Bill of Lading, a packing list or a commercial invoice, to name a few.

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Discover how to import or export from/to China, India or Vietnam and avoid delays on your cargo. Includes Incoterms and documents.

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Klaus Lydsal

"Customs duties play an important role in your international shipment. How they're determined and calculated varies from country to country"

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