How Much Does Shipping from China to the Philippines Cost?
Most quotes you'll find online aren't comparable, because forwarders include different things. Here's how to read them.
How LCL sea freight is priced
You're billed on volume (CBM) or weight, whichever is greater — the industry calls this chargeable weight. The allowance is 1 ton per CBM, and our limit is 500 kg per CBM, above which an overweight charge of ₱25 per excess kilogram applies.
This is why identical-looking shipments get very different quotes. A cubic metre of cushions is volume-limited; a cubic metre of tiles hits the weight ceiling. Same space, different price.
Angkat rates start from ₱350, with no minimum CBM — small parcels have flat rates.
How air freight is priced
Simply: rate per kg × total kg, with the rate varying by commodity. Minimum 1 kg. Faster (5–7 days) and better value than people assume for small, dense, valuable goods.
The part that makes quotes incomparable
A cheap headline rate often excludes customs duties and tariffs, VAT, port fees in China, port fees in the Philippines, warehouse and handling, and last-mile delivery.
Add those back and a “cheaper” quote frequently ends up higher. Angkat quotes all-in — taxes, tariffs, both ends' port fees, freight, warehouse fees, and free delivery within covered Metro Manila areas.
The question to ask every forwarder: “Is this all-in, or will customs bill me separately?”
Why to be careful with “7–15 day” transit claims
You'll see international forwarders advertise 7–15 days. That's port-to-port sailing time only. It excludes consolidation before departure and customs clearance after arrival.
Our 15–25 days is warehouse-to-warehouse — everything included, measured the way you actually experience it. Compare like with like, or you'll plan around a number that was never the full journey.
What changes your cost
- Density. Heavy-and-small vs light-and-bulky, as above.
- Commodity type. Different goods carry different duty rates (typically 3–30%).
- Accuracy of your details. Quotes assume the dimensions and weight you gave. If actuals differ, the price changes — measure properly.
- Season. Rates rise before Chinese New Year.
Related reading
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