When thinking about shipping from China to the Philippines, most importers only focus on cost. But what really matters is choosing the right port and the right shipping method.

Sea and air freight rates from China to the Philippines depend on your shipping method, volume, and destination port. Here’s what you need to know.

If you’re planning to import goods from China via sea, you usually have three main destination ports to choose from: Manila, Cebu, and Davao. These are the key gateways for Chinese products entering the Philippine market. Choose the one closest to your final delivery point. In China, the main departure ports are Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

When you import goods from China to the Philippines by air, the typical route is a direct flight from either Shenzhen or Hong Kong airport to Manila Airport, followed by domestic delivery to your warehouse.

Let’s dive deeper into each shipping route.

Shipping from China via sea

Shipping from Guangzhou to Manila

Trying to decide if Guangzhou to Manila is the best route for your shipment?

More than 50% of containers entering the Philippines go through Manila port—making it the busiest and most efficient destination for sea freight from China.

Why Guangzhou to Manila is the Most Popular Route

Strategic Port Locations

Manila is the capital of the Philippines and has two major ports: Manila North Harbor and Manila South Harbor. These two handle more than half of the country’s incoming containers. Guangzhou’s Nansha Port, one of the largest in South China, is ideally located for fast and cost-effective sea shipping to Manila.

Transit Time and Reliability

The sea freight route from Guangzhou (Nansha Port) to Manila North Harbor usually takes just 7 days. This makes it one of the fastest regular LCL (Less than Container Load) and FCL (Full Container Load) routes. Shipping schedules are also more stable and frequent due to high demand.

Estimated Freight Rates

Prices include port-to-port transport but exclude customs clearance, duties, and local delivery—unless you use a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) service.

Shipping from Guangzhou to Cebu

Many importers ask whether Cebu is a good port to choose. The answer is yes—especially if you’re targeting the Visayas or Mindanao region.

Compared to Manila, Cebu is less congested and more reliable, often allowing container pickup within 1-2 weeks after departure.

Why Cebu Stands Out

Cebu is one of the three major ports in the Philippines. It serves as a central hub for the Visayas region, and often even parts of Mindanao. Based on my experience, shipments from Guangzhou to Cebu by sea are smoother and faster compared to Manila—especially during peak seasons.

Here’s why:

• Less Port Congestion: Manila often faces delays due to customs backlogs or high volume. Cebu is less busy, which means your container doesn’t sit at the port for days.
• Direct Access to Central Philippines: If your end customers are in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, or even northern Mindanao, it makes more sense to unload in Cebu.
• Reliable Timelines: With regular vessels from Guangzhou to Cebu, containers are usually ready for pickup within 2–3 weeks after sailing.

Shipping Rates Comparison Table (Guangzhou to Cebu)

Best Practices for Shipping to Cebu

1. Use DDP if you want hassle-free delivery. It covers customs clearance, duties, and even final delivery to your warehouse in Cebu.
2. Label your goods properly to avoid customs issues.
3. Work with a forwarder who has experience with Cebu port, not just Manila.

Shipping from Guangzhou to Davao

Importers often struggle to find fast and affordable routes from southern China to Mindanao. If you’re targeting markets like Davao or Cagayan de Oro, the choice of route makes a big difference.

Davao is one of the three major seaports in the Philippines. It’s the southernmost hub, and cargo heading to Cagayan usually passes through Davao.

Why Davao Makes Sense for Southern Shipments

Davao’s port is not just convenient for Mindanao-based businesses—it’s also more efficient for distributing goods throughout the southern region of the Philippines. When I started shipping small agricultural machines like rice mills and heat press units, most of my customers in Cagayan requested direct shipments through Davao because it reduced inland trucking costs and time.

Typical Transit Time

• Direct shipping route from Guangzhou to Davao: around 7 days sailing time
• Container release after vessel arrival: typically 2–3 weeks post-departure

This means you can expect your goods to be ready for pick-up or delivery roughly 2 to 3 weeks after departure from Guangzhou.

Cost Comparison Table

Tips for Guangzhou-Davao Shipments

• Plan early. Most forwarders have weekly schedules for this route.
• Use DDP if you’re not familiar with customs clearance. This includes taxes and final delivery.
• Bundle shipments. If you’re not full container yet, consider combining goods with other importers.

For example, one of my clients—a seller of vacuum sealers—used to ship through Manila and truck to Mindanao. After switching to Davao, he cut delivery time by 4 days and saved over $200 per shipment.

Shipping from China via air

Need your goods fast but don’t know how to handle customs in the Philippines? Air freight might be the solution—but only if you choose the right kind.

Air freight from China to the Philippines is fast, but traditional options don’t include customs clearance. That’s why many choose DDP air freight, which simplifies everything.

If your product is urgent, air freight can save your business. But not all air services are the same. Some can cause delays or even extra costs you didn’t plan for. Let’s dig in.

What is air freight and how does it work?

If speed matters more than cost, air freight is often the best shipping method from China to the Philippines.

Air freight means shipping your cargo by air, usually using commercial or cargo airlines. It’s faster but more expensive than sea freight.

Two types of air freight services

Most people think air freight is just dropping cargo on a plane. But there are many steps:

1. Cargo is picked up from supplier.
2. It is brought to an airport in China.
3. It goes through export customs clearance.
4. It is loaded on the airplane.
5. Once in the Philippines, it must clear customs again.
6. Finally, it is delivered to your location.

Where problems usually happen

The biggest headache in this process is Philippine import customs. Without help, many packages get stuck because:

• You don’t have an import license.
• You can’t provide product certificates.
• You don’t understand the duties and taxes.
• Your broker disappears when problems arise.

This is why even big-name express services like DHL or UPS don’t guarantee final delivery, unless you can handle clearance yourself.

Why is DDP air freight a better option?

Most business owners don’t have the time or knowledge to handle Philippine customs. DDP air freight solves this by doing it for you.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) air freight includes customs clearance, tax payment, and final delivery in the Philippines—all in one price.

Real problem: When customs charges more than the goods

I’ve seen many first-time importers shocked by unexpected costs. One of our clients ordered thermal label printers worth around $200. But when the box arrived, customs asked for $300 in clearance and taxes. Why?

Because they couldn’t show a company ID, or proper invoices. Customs assumed it was for commercial use, and applied high duties.

They called us in panic. But it was too late.

What DDP really includes

Who should use DDP air freight?

This method is perfect for:

• Small e-commerce business owners in the Philippines
• People importing machinery like rice mills or label printers
• Brands testing new products or samples
• Anyone without import clearance experience

It’s not the cheapest, but it avoids the risk of customs problems that can cost you even more.

How much does air freight cost from China to the Philippines?

For regular air cargo, you might pay $5–$12 per kg. For DDP air freight, expect $8–$15 per kg, depending on cargo type.

How pricing works

Let’s look at an example of 50 kg normal cargo:

It might seem that DDP is more expensive. But wait—remember that DHL still requires you to pay duties and find a broker. That can add $200–$300 or more.

With DDP, you avoid:

• Extra customs charges
• Delays
• Risk of cargo being returned

Tips to reduce your DDP cost

• Consolidate packages into one shipment
• Choose non-hazardous, small-volume items
• Talk to your supplier about lighter packaging

We always suggest comparing DDP to express before you decide. For urgent items under 100kg, DDP air freight is usually worth the money.

Conclusion

Choosing the right port and route from China to the Philippines helps save time and money—especially for destinations like Cebu and Davao.