UK ⇆ Philippines Shipping Rates 2024

Commercial shipping

We offer bespoke prices and contract rates based on your consignment’s volume and regularity. We help you to understand your business needs and offer you a rate and service that suits your business.

Please feel free to contact us and discuss your commercial shipping needs:

Direct line:
020 8867 0904 option 1.

Direct email:
[email protected]

*** Prices shown on this page are for indication purposes only.

Sea Freight

FCL Rates

Philippines	20ft container	40ft container
Kaohsiung	£1238.00	£1378.00
Taipei (Keelung)	£905.00	£1440.00

LCL Rates

LCL shipping from our London office in Feltham TW14 post code to Philippines ports

Total Volume *	Cebu
1 CBM	£203.00
5 CBM	£491.00
10 CBM	£755.00

*Volumetric pricing

Destination	50 kilos	200 kilos	500 kilos
Cebu	£365:00	£783.00	£1546.00
Manila	£276:00	£436.00	£780.00

Air Freight

Delivery of cargo can vary from 3 - 7 working days form Door to airport
London Heathrow Airport to Cebu or Manila

Destination	50 kilos	200 kilos	500 kilos
Cebu (CEB)	£120.00	£220.00	£480.00
Manila (MNL)	£100.00	£240.00	£530.00

* Documentation surcharge applies to any shipping to Philippines.
* For an accurate price, please use our online quotation form above and provide detailed information about your shipment requirement to Philippines.

Exporting to Philippines

Doing business in Philippines: Philippines trade and export guide

1. Philippines export overview

The Philippines is one of the largest markets in south east Asia with an estimated 103 million people.

HSBC has forecasted that the Philippines could become the world’s 16th largest economy by 2050. The Philippines is now ranked 47th in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report. It has improved by 37 places in the last 5 years.

About 200 British companies are now doing business in the Philippines. They include well known brands such as Unilever, Shell, HSBC, Standard Chartered, AstraZeneca, Diageo, Arup, JCB, Marks and Spencer, River Island and Halcrow.

Benefits for UK companies exporting to the Philippines include:

one of the largest English speaking countries
Western goods and services are popular
expanding consumer base
gateway to other Asian markets, all within 4 hours flying time

Strengths of the Philippines market include:

12th largest country in the world in terms of population
economy boosted by over USD 24 billion in overseas remittances
strong services sector
skilled workforce and competitive wages
liberalised economy

2. Challenges

The Philippine market can present challenges for UK companies. The risks can be overcome, but they do require a commitment in time and resources.

Challenges include:

bureaucracy, as paperwork requires many signatures before final approval
corruption, which is improving, but remains a significant problem
restrictions on foreign ownership of companies, land and investment in certain sectors
restricted participation in public procurement
restrictions on ability of foreign individuals to practise in some professions

You should hire a broker or local lawyer to help you deal with the necessary formalities.

A local partner or distributor may also be necessary.

3. Growth potential

3.1 Economic growth

The Philippines economy grew by 5.8% in 2015 following year-end strong performance in the services sector. The forecast for 2016 is 6%, the best growth outlook in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The Philippines is a consumption driven economy. It has consistently positive economic growth and an expanding middle class who like foreign consumer goods.

Remittances play a major role in the Philippines economy contributing to growth. Almost a quarter of the country’s labour force works abroad, including an estimated 250,000 Filipinos now living and working in the UK.

4. UK and the Philippines trade

UK exports of goods and services in 2013 were about £510 million. Bilateral trade in 2014 was USD 1.2 billion with UK good exports to Philippines valued at USD 601.2. Latest available information shows that UK export of goods were up by 44% for the first half of 2015.

Top 10 UK exports of goods to Philippines (2014):

electrical, electronic equipment
nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc
pharmaceutical products
aircraft, spacecraft, and parts
vehicles other than railway, tramway
iron or steel products
optical, photo, technical, medical, etc apparatus
essential oils, perfumes, cosmetics, toileteries
organic chemicals
plastics and articles thereof

The UK is one of the largest European investors in the Philippines. Shell’s most recent investment was valued at USD 5 billion.

5. Opportunities for UK businesses in the Philippines

5.1 Infrastructure and Public Private Partnerships (PPP)

The Philippine government has identified PPP projects in:

rail
roads
airports
power
healthcare
agriculture infrastructure
education
tourism

The National Economic Development Authority approved 10 major infrastructure projects since its launch in 2010. 15 more are in project development or tender process.

There are opportunities for UK companies in areas such as:

advisory services
project management
engineering and design
provision of specialist equipment, machinery and technology
other supply chain requirements

5.2 Power and renewable energy

The electricity market is unsubsidised and privatised, with the second highest electricity in the region. There are opportunities for UK companies in:

oil and gas supply chain
wind
hydro
biogas
energy efficiency technology

5.3 Education

There are a range of opportunities in the education sector, including:

accreditation
vocational and continuing education
e-learning modules
software and hardware
partnerships with local educational institutions
business training courses

5.4 Pharmaceuticals and healthcare

There are a range of opportunities in the life sciences sector, including provision of:

medical equipment and supplies
health and wellness facilities
e-health solutions, particularly to private hospitals

5.5 Retail

The Philippines middle class is affluent and expanding. The last 3 years have seen a large number of well known British retail brands successfully launching in the Philippines.

There are opportunities for UK companies in the following subsectors:

fashion
footwear
beauty and wellness products
household goods
food and drink

5.6 Financial and professional services

The banking sector is strong and open to companies supplying technology and services. Many of the largest Philippine conglomerates use UK financial markets to raise funds.

UK financial services including accountancy, advisory, and investment services are in high demand.

There are also opportunities for the supply of applied technology for the sector.

6. Start-up considerations

UK companies can approach the Philippine market in several ways, including:

exporting direct
appointing an agent or distributor
partnering with a franchisee
forming a joint venture
setting up a local office (sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations)
selling to the government as specified by the Republic Act (RA) No 9184

Appointing an agent or distributor is the most common method. However, partnering with a franchisee is becoming increasingly common.

A company may also choose to set-up a local office in the Philippines. Foreign ownership is generally allowed, although limited in selected sectors.

You can register a company through the Securities and Exchange Commission.

There are incentives if you are operating in sectors that are investment priorities for the Philippine government.

You should conduct due diligence checks once you have chosen your method of entry into the market. If your sole interest is in exporting, the best proof of a Philippine company’s ability to pay is whether it is able to raise a letter of credit from the bank. If so, you do not need to check the company’s financial standing as the bank will have already done so.

If you want to establish a business relationship that goes beyond exporting, you will need to carry out further research. A thorough evaluation of your potential partner may be time consuming and expensive, but doing so will greatly reduce the risk of serious problems in the future.

7. Legal considerations

The Philippines legal system largely follows the US model. The legal process can be very slow and bureaucratic. A small typographical error on a formal document can lead to disqualification or voiding. Foreign lawyers are forbidden to practice, but can act as advisers.

Resolving matters through the courts is frequently an extremely lengthy and expensive process. Court decisions have often been tarnished with accusations of corruption. Foreign businesses or individuals can feel under pressure to settle as the only way to get an acceptable outcome.

International arbitration can be an alternative outcome, if specified as a contractual option.

7.1 Standards and technical regulations

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is the lead government agency responsible for product standards and consumer safety. Imported goods must clearly state the country of origin in English. According to the Consumer Act of the Philippines, all consumer products sold domestically should generally include the following information:

registered brand name
registered trade mark
registered business name
address of the manufacturer, importer or repacker in the Philippines
general make or active ingredients
net quantity of contents
the country of manufacture, if imported
if a consumer product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under licence from a principal

Mislabelling, misrepresentation or misbranding may subject the entire shipment to seizure and disposal.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responsibility for registration of drugs, processed foods, cosmetics and hazardous household substances.

7.2 Intellectual property (IP)

The Philippines is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is also a party to the Berne Convention, an international agreement governing copyright. Good IP protection laws exist, but there are concerns about the level of consistent, effective and sustained enforcement.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has responsibility for patents, design, trademarks and copyright.

Counterfeiting is large scale and organised. Pirated computer games, business software, DVDs are readily available in both legitimate and illegitimate outlets. The same applies to:

counterfeit clothing
high value consumer goods
pharmaceuticals
industrial products

In October 2011 the Supreme Court cleared guidelines for special commercial courts to hear both civil and criminal cases involving violation of rights under the Intellectual Property Code. The new rules, which came into effect in November 2011, form part of the government’s plan to strengthen IP protection and enforcement.

8. Tax and customs considerations

The UK has signed a double taxation convention with the Philippines.

8.1 Value Added Tax (VAT)

VAT is applied at 12%. Excise tax is additionally imposed on cigarettes, alcohol and motor vehicles.

A stock transaction tax of half of one per cent of gross selling price is imposed on the sales of shares through the Philippines Stock Exchange. Documentary stamp tax at different rates is applied to bond and loan agreements, to deeds of sale and to other documents.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue provides information on VAT rates and filing procedures.

8.2 Corporate and income tax

Domestic corporations are those incorporated under Philippine laws. They are taxed on the basis of net worldwide income. The corporate income tax rate in the Philippines is 30% of the net taxable income.

Non-resident foreign corporations are taxed on gross Philippine source income.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue provides information on corporate and personal income tax rates.

8.3 Customs

Goods imported into the Philippines are subject to customs duties as set out in the Philippine Tariff and Customs Code, and regulated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Tariffs are being implemented to conform with:

the import liberalisation programme
commitments under WTO / General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Duties range from 1 to 50% depending on the type of goods imported.

8.4 Documentation

Regulated commodities need clearance from appropriate government departments. Banned items are specified in section 101 of the Philippines’ Tariff and Customs Code.

You can find details of both regulated and banned commodities on the DTI website.

A release certificate or export declaration form, signed by an authorised bank, is needed before goods can be cleared through Customs. Any product clearance or registration is usually handled by the local importer.

Imports into the Philippines are no longer subject to Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI). All are now processed by Customs in accordance with the Automated Customs Processing System.

Low risk products, which are not subject to physical and documentary checks, are processed under an advanced processing facility. This is known as Super Green Lane (SGL) and allows for ‘ship to truck’ release. Such shipments are pre-processed and cleared before they arrive in the country.

9. Business behaviour

English is one of the Philippines’ 2 official languages and is widely used in business and government circles.

A formal introduction by a trusted third party is almost always the best way to enter this market.

Filipinos do business with people more than companies. If you change representatives during negotiations, you may have to start over.

Present and receive business cards with 2 hands so that it is readable to the recipient. Examine the card briefly before putting it in your business card case.

Sending short messages through mobile telephones has now because a routine and favoured medium of communication.