Asia
Container Shipping from the UK to Philippines
Manila is the main gateway for the Luzon commercial centre, with domestic feeder connections onward to Cebu and the southern islands.
Container shipping from the UK to Philippines runs full container load to Manila (PHMNL). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Philippines at present. Sea transit is 30–36 days port to port and air freight 2–4 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Philippines are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Philippines
Full container load and groupage both go to Manila. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Manila
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Felixstowe.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Philippines at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say which option is genuinely cheaper.
Get a price for Philippines
The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.
Indicative pricing
Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Philippines are payable there and are not included.
| Service | From | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| FCL — 20ft General Purpose | £1,780.00 | per 20ft container |
| FCL — 40ft General Purpose | £2,870.00 | per 40ft container |
| LCL groupage | £95.00 | per cubic metre |
| Air freight | Please check with our team | per 100kg chargeable weight |
These are starting prices for the freight, not shipment totals. A groupage rate is what one cubic metre of cargo costs, so a 10 cubic metre consignment costs roughly ten times the figure shown. Figures are indicative, in GBP, and cover the sea freight from the UK only — customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included. Your firm quote depends on the exact route, the cargo and the sailing.
What can you ship to Philippines?
Industrial machinery and spares, electronics manufacturing equipment, construction plant, medical devices and general retail stock move through Manila as routine groupage cargo.
Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.
What tax and duty applies on import into Philippines?
Philippines charges VAT at a standard rate of 12%, charged on the dutiable value plus duty plus other charges. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0–15% on most manufactured goods, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
The consignee must be accredited with the Bureau of Customs before they can import at all, and accreditation is a process rather than a formality — it is the single most common reason a first Philippine shipment stalls. Manila's ports congest badly, so storage and demurrage accrue faster here than the transit time alone would suggest.
What are the import restrictions in Philippines?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Philippines?
These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.
What documents do you need in the UK to export?
A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.
Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .
Shipping to Philippines: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Philippines take?
Sea freight runs about 30–36 days port to port, and air freight 2–4 days airport to airport. Manila is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 30 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.
Which ports do you ship to in Philippines?
We move cargo through one port in Philippines: Manila (PHMNL). Full container load goes to Manila. We have no scheduled groupage service to Philippines at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for Philippines?
We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Philippines — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.
What should I know before shipping on the Philippines lane?
Manila's port sits inside a dense city and truck movements in and out are subject to local traffic restrictions at certain hours. That shows up as delivery-window variability rather than as a late vessel. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes machinery and industrial equipment, electronic components, food, drink and packaged goods.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Philippines — each one works as an origin or a destination.
China
Import & export · Shanghai
LCL from
£95.00
per cubic metre
32+ days
View lane
Singapore
Import & export · Singapore
LCL from
£90.00
per cubic metre
26+ days
View lane
India
Import & export · Nhava Sheva (JNPT)
LCL from
£72.00
per cubic metre
22+ days
View lanePlan the rest of the move
Shipping to Philippines? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.