Shipping from the Philippines to the USA: The Complete Guide

In most cases, shipping from the Philippines to the USA can be challenging without the right information.

That’s why this guide explores everything you need to know about shipping from the Philippines to the USA.

From the cost, mode of shipping, labeling requirements, documents to prohibited imports from the Philippines, you will find all information right here.

Keep reading to learn more.

Cheapest Way of Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

You can only use either air shipment or ocean shipment to transport goods from the Philippines to the U.S.A. because the Philippines is an island nation.

Consequently, ocean freight is cheaper than air freight by far.

Among air freight options, standard air freight is cheaper than express air freight.

Cost of Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

The cost of shipping goods from the Philippines to the U.S.A. depends on numerous factors.

The final freight you will pay for shipping your cargo using either air or ocean will depend on the following factors.

Type and Nature of Goods you are Shipping.

Some goods are more fragile or require special treatment to move than others.

Shipping high-value goods are more expensive because they require special handling and beefed up security compared to ordinary goods.

Similarly, shipping hazardous compounds and chemicals are also more expensive, given that they require additional handling infrastructure and skilled employees.

Mode of Shipment Selected

Selection of the type of shipment is a fundamental consideration, both in efficiency regarding product delivery and freight charges.

Generally, air freight will cost you approximately five times more money to ship goods to the U.S.A. compared to ocean freight.

However, moving a small number of goods are also cheaper for air freight than ocean freight, all factors considered.

Dimensions of Cargo

You will pay more to ship larger packages that occupier more space than for smaller packages occupying lesser space.

To avoid extra cost, select a packaging system that can hold all your products in the minimal space possible.

A tightly packed package will also prevent your products from damages caused by shaking while in transit.

Weight of Cargo

Weight is a significant determinant of the final price of your cargo.

You will pay more for bulkier goods than for lighter goods, especially when your cargo weighs 100 kg or more.

Ocean freight charges will be lower for cargo weighing 100 kg and over.

On the contrary, the differences between air and ocean shipment charges for goods weighing between 35 kg and 100 kg is minimal.

You should engage the services of international courier services for cargo weighing less than 35 kg as some freight forwards will decline shipping cargo below this weight.

Distance

The distance between the initial point of cargo collection in the Philippines and the final destination also greatly affects your shipment cost.

You can use the online calculators provided by some cargo forwarding companies on their website.

You should expect to pay more with increasing distance between the pick-up point and the final destination.

Service Type

There are two main types of services offered by most forwarding companies and service couriers.

These include port-to-port services or door-to-door services.

The port-to-port services will cost you less compared to the door-to-door services.

Port-to-port service only picks your goods at the Philippines’ departure point and delivers them at the U.S.A arrival port.

You have to organize additional transport systems to move your goods to the Philippines’ departure port and from the arrival port in the U.S.A.

In contrast, the door-to-door service offers additional logistic needs to move your cargo right from your doorstep and deliver it to the final destination in the U.S.A.

Though convenient, you will have to pay more because of the additional logistics needs.

Tracking and Insurance

Depending on the nature of the goods you are shipping, you may decide to engage in tracking and insurance services.

Insurance is vital for covering the risks of damage and theft of goods while in transit.

Some courier services offer complimentary shipping and insurance, but you can also engage third party insurance providers for more protection.

Tracking is also important for planning and sometimes even assuring the customer that you have sent the goods.

However, tracking comes with additional costs.

Customs and Duties

You have to pay customs and duties for your goods before delivering them to the U.S.A. if you are supplying for trade purposes.

The customs and duties vary from product to product and sometimes from state to state.

These charges are mandatory hence must be factored in before your shipment.

Sea Routes from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

The following are some of the sea routes from the Philippines to the U.S.A.:

• Manila – Chicago
• Manila – New Orleans
• Manila – Houston
• Manila- Seattle
• Manila – Portland
• Manila – Norfolk
• Manila – Memphis
• Manila – New York
• Manila – Oakland
• Manila – Savannah
• Manilla – Detroit
• Manilla – Charlotte

Transit Time from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

The following are the estimated cargo transit time for goods leaving the Philippines for the U.S.A. by either sea or air.

Transit time from the Philippines to the U.S.A. by Sea

Transit time for the Philippines to the U.S.A by air

List of International Airports in the Philippines

The Philippines’ airports are some of the busiest in Asia due to high commerce and tourism levels.

In total, the Philippines have 70 airports, both domestic and international.

Specifically, it has the following international airports.

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
• Bacolod-Silay International Airport
• Clark International Airport
• Francisco Bangoy International Airport
• General Santos International Airport
• Iloilo International Airport
• Bicol International Airport
• Kalibo International Airport
• Laoag International Airport
• Zamboanga International Airport
• Davao International Airport
• Mactan-Cebu International Airport
• Diosdado Macapagal International Airport

List of International Airports in the U.S.A.

Generally, the U.S.A. has the highest number of international airports worldwide, which stands at 102 as of 2020.

The following are some of the busiest international airports in the U.S.A. as classified through international cargo throughput.

• Louisville international airport
• Memphis international airport
• Miami international airport
• Ted Stevens Anchorage international airport
• O’Hare international airport
• Indianapolis international airport
• Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati international airport
• Los Angeles international airport
• Fort Worth/Dallas international airport
• Ontario international airport
• John F. Kennedy international airport
• Metropolitan Oakland international airport
• Newark liberty international airport
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airport
• Seattle-Tacoma international airport
• Daniel K. Inouye international airport
• Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport
• Denver international airport
• Philadelphia international airport
• Portland international airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport
• Rockford/Chicago international airport

Main Sea Ports in the Philippines

The Philippines has a total of 821 commercial seaports.

Whereas most of the ports serve the domestic markets, some ports listed below are vital for international trade.

• Port of Manila
• Port of Cebu
• Port of Davao
• Port of Batangas
• Port of Subic
• Port of Cagayan de Oro

Sea Ports in the U.S.A.

The United States of America has approximately 360 commercial ports that provide direct and indirect employment to more than 13 million citizens.

In recent years, the U.S.A. government has enhanced the infrastructural capacity of more than 60 ports to improve international trade efficiency.

Some of the busiest cargo shipment ports include:

• Port of Los Angeles
• Port of Long Beach
• Port of New Jersey and New York
• Ports of Georgia
• Port of Seattle-Tacoma
• Port of Virginia
• Port of Houston
• Port of Miami
• Port of Oakland

Duty to Pay when Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Shipping duty is the tax or tariff that the government of the U.S.A. on goods you are exporting across the U.S.A. border.

The amount of customs duty significantly varies to the following factors; the Country of origin, the material used to manufacture the product/ material of content, etc.

Normally, the amount you will pay as custom duty is a percentage of the purchase value you paid for the goods at their Country of origin.

The U.S.A. customs officers will use the Harmonized Tariff System (H.T.S.) to determine how much you are supposed to pay for your goods at the border.

The C.B.P. officers will determine whether you need to pay duty for your goods and how much to pay after liquidating the entry and entry documents filed.

If you require advance information and your shipment’s dutiable status, you can contact the port director where your goods will harbor.

You can also write to the national commodity and specialist division director or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In case you disagree with the duty demanded by the U.S.A. customs for your goods, then you can file a protest and apply for further review.

If the C.B.P. upholds its earlier decision, then you can appeal for a better review in the U.S Court of International Trade.

Ocean Freight from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Ocean freight refers to the shipment of large cargo by sea from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Ocean freight is the most common method of transporting heavy and bulky cargo and accounts for more than 90% of international shipments.

However heavily used, ocean freight has its benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits of Ocean Freight from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Shipping your goods by sea has numerous advantages as opposed to air shipment.

These benefits include:

Cost

Shipping your goods from the Philippines to the U.S.A. by sea is way cheaper compared to air freight.

Ocean freight is approximately five or six times cheaper compared to air freight.

Convenience for Heavy Goods

Ocean freight is ideal for shipping heavy and bulky goods, unlike air freight with a weight limit.

You cannot ship certain types of bulky goods such as steel, grains, etc., using air freight.

Even if it were possible to ship such bulky goods, the cost would be beyond reasonable business profit thresholds.

Safety

Ocean freight is ideal for the shipment of chemicals and hazardous materials compared to air freight.

The shipping industry has well-trained employees for the safe handling of such materials.

Similarly, some policies ensure safe and secure cargo movement from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Environmentally Friendly

Sea shipment emits the least amount of carbon per unit weight of material shipped from the Philippines to the U.S.A. compared to air freight.

Ships also use lesser fuel per unit ton of material transported compared to air freight.

Efficiency

You can transport any type of good of any dimensions and weight.

You pull resources, arrange the tinier goods in a single container and transport them as a unit through a shared cot.

Similarly, you can transport the bulkier, bigger, and heavier goods efficiently at a reasonable cost implication.

Disadvantages of Ocean Freight from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

The following are the shortcomings of ocean freight:

Slow Speed

Sea transportation consumes more time than air transport and therefore only suitable for use when the products have more lead time.

Whereas air transport can deliver your goods in a matter of 2 or 3 days, ocean freight may last even a whole month and over.

Also, unfavorable weather can cause further delays in ocean freight.

Risk

You risk delivery delays due to the amount of time needed to move goods from the Philippines to the U.S.A. by sea.

You may lose your shipment as a result of such delays or unfavorable weather conditions in the ocean.

Not suitable for Small Quantities of Goods

The pricing for small amounts of goods will not favor you when you ship them through ocean freight.

Insufficient Infrastructure

Not all ports have the necessary infrastructure required to harbor huge container ships.

Handling containers also require special equipment and facilities that may not be adequate for all incoming shipment.

Shipping Companies to Use when Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

You can use either of the following shipping companies to move your goods.

• P. Moller – Maersk Group
• CMA CGM Group
• Evergreen Marine
• Zim
• China Cosco
• Pacific International Lines
• Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (M.S.C.)

Air Freight from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Airfreight is the shipment of goods from one destination to the other by airplane.

The air carrier may be charter or commercial.

Though you can use air freight and air cargo interchangeably, the former refers to the amount paid for the shipment of goods, while the latter refers to the actual shipment without the price.

Some air freight follows the same gateways as a passenger or commercial planes, while others fly out of the gateways to any destination that a plane can land.

Benefits of Air Freight from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

The following are some of the advantages of moving your goods using air freight to any other transport system.

Faster

Airfreight is the fastest mode of shipping your cargo from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Unlike seas freight, which will take several weeks, air freight will only take a few days to deliver the goods to the U.S.A.

Airfreight is the best mode of transport for highly perishable goods or goods that should quickly reach consumers.

High reliability

You will achieve timely delivery of goods to your clients when you ship your cargo by air freight.

Reliability is critical if you are to maintain happy and loyal clients.

Airfreight specifically works on schedule departure and arrivals.

You can Ship Anywhere in the U.S.A. by Air Freight.

You can deliver your cargo to almost any destination in the U.S.A. directly from the Philippines without hustle.

The leading airlines operating the Philippines-USA route schedule their flights to almost all major cities in the U.S.A.

Secure Shipment

If you are shipping high-value goods, then airfreight is the way to go.

Unlike ocean freight, the incidences of damaged or stolen goods are sporadic.

The management and handling of cargo at the airport are usually very secure, and clearance is done in a matter of hours.

This tight procedure significantly reduces theft and damage incidences.

Lower Operational Cost

You don’t need to lease or own a warehouse at the airport because air freight is speedy.

Henceforth, you don’t have to stock goods locally.

The faster cargo movement also results in a total lower insurance premium.

Goods transported by air also require less packing material compared to ocean freight.

Therefore, you will save on cash that would have otherwise gone to additional packaging, insurance, and warehousing.

Ease of Tracking

You can easily track your goods while on the flight using the flight number and scheduled departure and landing.

Some freight forwarders also provide you with website tracking options to monitor your goods’ status while on transit.

Limitations of Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

High Prices

Though faster, air freight is the most expensive mode of transporting cargo to any destination.

Shipping your goods through air costs five or six times more than standard ocean freight for a given unit of commodities.

The high costs of prices make air freight only ideal for shipping high-value goods that pay back the hefty investment.

Risky

Air transport is very risky because any mechanical complications can cause catastrophic losses.

Similarly, a change in weather conditions can significantly affect the flight schedule causing a terrible delay in product delivery.

Limited Capacity

Airfreight can only handle a given quantity or weight of cargo, limiting shipment for exporters with voluminous or bulky products.

Airlines to use when Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

Some of the airlines you can use to ship your products to the U.S.A. from the Philippines include:

• Ari Asia
• Air China
• Cathay Pacific
• British Airways
• Eva Airways
• Fed Ex Express
• Emirates Airline
• China Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Asiana Airlines etc.

Using Courier Services to Ship from the Philippines to the USA

A carrier service provider is a company that offers transportation of goods using either ship, planes, and lorries to deliver your products from the Philippines to the U.S.A.

You can use courier services to ship small quantities of goods or goods that are not considered heavy.

Some of the leading courier service providers you can use include; FedEx, DHL, U.P.S., etc.

There are different types of courier services.

They include:

• Express courier service
• Standard courier service
• Freight courier service

To ensure the safe delivery of your goods using courier services, consider the following:

• Have standby personnel at the pick-up point and delivery point
• In case you need help, then communicate to the courier services before the scheduled date.
• Arrange all the documents required for custom clearance
• Ensure that you appropriately pack your goods as specified by the relevant regulations

How to Drop Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A. Works

Dropshipping is an online business where the seller does not need to stock the goods they are selling online.

When you supply your customer through drop shipping, you won’t have to pay for the goods until they pay for them.

You can easily drop ship from the Philippines to the U.S.A. For successful drop shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A, you can follow these easy steps.

• Develop an online marketing website
• Conduct an online search and find an online supplier who manufactures or supplies the products you want to sell.
• Post the products on your website with marked price tags.
• The customer places an order on your website, paying directly to you.
• Redirect your customer’s order to the supplier and pay them the original price, keeping the surplus/profit for yourself. The supplier will also charge you the shipment cost and any other customs or duty fee.
• The supplier will ship the product directly to the client with your branding.

However, you will have to adhere to the following rules and regulations when drop shipping to the U.S.A.

These rules vary depending on whether you are a citizen of the United States or not.

For Citizens of the U.S., you have to

• Register your business’s official trademark
• Follow the anti-spam law to the latter.
• Pay your taxes as required by law, which varies from one state to another and from product to product.

For non-U.S. citizens that want to start drop-shipping to the U.S.A., the following conditions apply.

They complement the ones mentioned above.

• You will need to get the U.S.A. Reseller Permit
• You will not benefit from credit from U.S.A. based suppliers if you are not based in the U.S.
• You will pay higher taxes for drop shipping to the U.S.

How Door to Door Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A. Works

Door to door shipment from the Philippines to the U.S.A. is where you engage in a courier company or freight forwarding.

The shipping companies move your good from the point of origin to the final destination

It is a comprehensive type of service that factors in all the costs involved in moving the products.

The forwarding or courier services company follows the procedures below to transport/handle your good.

Picking up your Goods and Moving them to and from the Ports of Origin.

The freight forwarding companies will pack and transport your goods to the port of origin.

They will also pick the goods and transport them to the final destination once they have been cleared at the custom.

Custom Clearance

The freight forwarding company you select will handle all the custom related paperwork on your behalf in both the Philippines and U.S.A.

Shipping your Goods

The freight forwarding company will advise you appropriately on the shipping port and carrier to use.

They will liaise with the shipping carrier on your behalf and ensure that your products are loaded on the plane or ship as scheduled.

The freight forwarder you have engaged will continuously provide you with your shipment status once it is en-route.

The freight forwards will organize to move goods from the point of origin to the final destination in such a way as to ensure that the total shipment cost is at its minimum.

How L.C.L. Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.A. compares to F.C.L. Shipping from the Philippines to the USA

LCL Shipping from the Philippines to the USA

L.C.L. shipping refers to Less than Container Loads.

You can use L.C.L. when shipping a small number of goods that cannot fill an entire container.

L.C.L. shipping offers an option of shipping your goods in a shared container together with shipment from other shippers.

Less than Container Load shipping option is ideal for use under the following conditions:

• Goods that can share a container with goods from other shippers
• A Consignment that is not suitable for air freight
• A Consignment that is not urgently needed in the U.S.A.
• A small quantity of consignment

Don’t use L.C.L. to move the following categories of goods.

• Goods that must be delivered to the U.S.A. urgently
• Bulky, large, or heavy goods
• High value or perishable goods
• Fragile goods

F.C.L. Shipping from the Philippines to the USA

F.C.L. shipping refers to the Full Container Load type of shipping.

Under this shipping agreement, you rent the whole container to transport your goods to the U.S.A, exclusively.

F.C.L. is ideal when you are shipping voluminous goods that can fill at least half the full container’s capacity, that is, a load capacity above 14 C.B.M.

You should also select this shipping option for goods that meet the following criteria:

• A Consignment that must arrive at its final destination by a specific date.
• High value, and fragile goods that can break easily
• Bulky or heavy goods
• When the shipments have to remain sealed until it reaches the final destination.

F.C.L. is the most cost-effective option for voluminous goods because you will pay a flat rate no matter the number of goods you load into the container.

Product to Ship from the Philippines to the U.S.A.