Exporting to the Philippines is a great way to expand your business, but getting the process right is important. To succeed, you’ll need to carefully manage each stage – preparing your goods, handling all the required paperwork, and complying with both UK and Philippine regulations.
At SL Global Logistics, we have extensive experience in how to export from UK to the Philippines and can guide you through every step, helping your business thrive in this growing economy.
Philippines Market
The Philippines is a fast-growing market, and more people are buying imported goods every year. The UK’s top export goods to the Philippines include electronics, food, machinery, and pharmaceuticals.
In 2023, trade between the UK and the Philippines reached £2.8 billion, which was up by 8.1% or £212 million from the year before. This makes the Philippines a great place to consider exporting your products.
Preparing for Export to the Philippines
What documents are required to export to the Philippines?
Getting the paperwork right is one of the most important steps in the export process as missing or incorrect documents can cause delays or even fines.
Here are the main documents you’ll need:
- Commercial invoice: A detailed invoice showing the buyer, seller, description of goods, quantity, and value.
- Packing list: This outlines how your goods are packed, including dimensions and weight.
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill: Proof of shipment is required for customs clearance.
- Certificate of Origin: This verifies where your goods were produced and can impact import duties.
- Export Licence: Certain goods may need a licence from the UK government before they can be shipped, such as drugs or chemicals, technology that could be used for dual-use or military use, or objects of cultural interest.
UK Customs and Export Procedures
Before your goods can go overseas to the Philippines, they need to clear customs, which involves submitting an export declaration to HMRC and making sure your products meet all UK export regulations. If you’re exporting controlled goods, you’ll also need to secure an export licence from the UK government. Once your declaration is registered through the National Export System (NES) and approved, your goods will be cleared for shipment.
Philippines Import Procedures
Once your goods arrive in the Philippines, they must pass through local customs before they can be delivered to your buyer. The Philippine Bureau of Customs oversees this process, and you’ll need to have the right paperwork in place, including:
- Import Entry Declaration: This form is required to declare the goods to Philippine customs.
- Certificate of Origin: This helps determine if your goods qualify for any tariff reductions or exemptions.
- Proof of Payment of Duties and Taxes: Customs duties and taxes must be calculated and paid before the goods are released. Each product has its own tariff code, which affects the amount of duty to be paid.
Trade Laws and Regulations
Before sending your shipment, it’s important to have a good understanding of the Philippines Import Regulation that applies to your goods to avoid delays or unexpected costs. These rules affect things like tariffs and which products can be imported.
Packaging Requirements for an Exporter
You’ll need to think carefully about what protective packaging to use for your products to ensure they arrive in the Philippines in perfect condition. The packaging must be sturdy enough to protect your goods during long-distance shipping, especially given the tropical climate, which can affect certain packing materials. For regulated goods like hazardous materials, meeting specific packaging standards is crucial to avoid delays or penalties at customs. Having experts who are licensed to handle dangerous cargo, including UN classes 2-9, can make a big difference in ensuring your shipments meet all safety and regulatory requirements.
Products like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food will need to comply with Philippine National Standards (PNS), which guarantee that the products and packaging are both safe and suitable for the local market. For example, food packaging needs to keep the items fresh, protect them from humidity and heat, and meet safety regulations. It’s essential to work with an exporter experienced in shipping perishable cargo, with access to temperature-controlled environments and fast delivery options to guarantee your products arrive in optimal condition.
Labelling and Documentation
To keep things straightforward at the Philippines customs, you need to make sure that your products have the right labels and certification.
The Philippines has specific rules and regulations for labelling, especially for items like food, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Your labels should include key details like the product name, country of origin, ingredients (for food items), and any necessary safety warnings. In some cases, labels may also need to be in both English and Filipino.
It’s also a good idea to make sure that important documents like the commercial invoice, bill of lading, and certificate of origin travel with the shipment. These help customs officials calculate duties, verify the origin of your goods, and check that everything meets their standards.
Export Process from UK to Philippines
1. Choose a Cost-Effective Shipping Method
The type of shipping you choose is dependent on your timeframes and the size of your shipment. Air freight is fast and ideal for urgent or smaller shipments, while sea freight is more cost-effective for larger, bulk goods, though it takes longer.
2. Pick Your Freight Forwarder
Working with a reliable freight forwarder will make the entire export process easier for you. A good freight forwarder will handle everything from booking transport to troubleshooting logistics to managing customs paperwork.
3. Prepare Your Shipment
Following advice from your freight forwarding partner, get your goods ready for shipping with appropriate packaging and labels. Your freight forwarder will help prepare the documents that need to go with the shipment.
3. Export Clearance
Your Freight Forwarder will navigate customs clearance for you and submit the necessary paperwork to the appropriate government agencies.
4. Transportation of Shipment
Once your goods are cleared for export, it’s time to transport them to the Philippines. The goods will be securely loaded onto the ship or plane and then transported and tracked. During transit, it’s important that your goods are insured properly with freight cargo insurance and are monitored to prevent any issues during the journey.
5. Import Clearance in the Philippines
When your shipment arrives in the Philippines, it must pass through local customs. Customs officials will review your documentation, such as the commercial invoice, bill of lading, and certificate of origin, and calculate any applicable duties or taxes owed.
6. Delivery to Final Destination
After clearing customs, the final step is to make sure your goods reach their destination. Whether you’re delivering to a warehouse, business, or distribution centre, a reliable freight forwarder will coordinate the last leg of the journey to make sure your products are delivered safely and on time.
Start Exporting Your Goods From the UK to the Philippines
The Philippines could be a great market for your business to expand into, and with the right guidance, the process can be straightforward. Ready to get started? Get a quote for shipping from the UK to the Philippines, and let us make your export process simple and efficient.