Cebu, Philippines
Customs clearance in Cebu
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Cebu. Customs clearance in the Philippines is handled by our own in-house customs team.
Industries in Cebu and how we support them
Metro Cebu combines export manufacturing in the Mactan Economic Zone, including electronics, semiconductors, precision parts and garments, with Cebu's long-standing furniture industry in Mandaue, fashion accessories and processed food such as dried mangoes. Shipbuilding is present on the west coast at Balamban. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight via CEB on our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for line-down parts, On-Board Couriers for critical components and FCL or LCL sea freight via the Port of Cebu or Manila. Our own customs team handles import and export declarations in-house, including clearances for PEZA-registered companies in the Mactan Economic Zone.
Operational logistics facts for Cebu
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) | Electronics, garments, food products, spare parts | Direct international flights from the Visayas without routing via Manila |
| Mactan Economic Zone (PEZA) | Electronics, semiconductors, precision manufacturing | Export zone directly next to the airport |
| Port of Cebu (Cebu Port Authority) | International containers and domestic inter-island shipping | Main domestic shipping hub of the Philippines |
| Mandaue furniture and manufacturing area | Furniture, home decor, fashion accessories | Export consolidation by sea or by air |
| Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) | Road link between Mactan and southern Cebu City | Alternative to the two older bridges for airport trucking |
Airports, seaports and connections in Cebu
- AirportMactan-Cebu International
CEB - SeaportPort of Cebu
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB), on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City, is the second-largest international airport of the Philippines and the main air gateway of the Visayas. It has direct international flights to several Asian destinations, carrying cargo in passenger aircraft, and domestic flights across the islands; other lanes connect via Manila (MNL). The Mactan Economic Zone sits right next to the airport, so export cargo has a short first mile. Sea freight runs through the Port of Cebu, managed by the Cebu Port Authority, which is the country's main hub for domestic inter-island shipping and also handles international containers.
Mactan Island is linked to mainland Cebu by three bridges: the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), which lands in the south of Cebu City. On the mainland, the coastal roads run north through Mandaue and Consolacion and south to Talisay and Minglanilla, and a transcentral highway crosses the island to the west coast. Fast craft and ro-ro ferries link Cebu with Bohol, Leyte, Negros and Mindanao. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Metro Cebu.
Clearance by our own team in the Philippines
In the Philippines our own customs team files the declarations. Questions about classification, valuation or missing documents are answered directly by the people who prepare the entry, without a third party in between.
Customs clearance in the Philippines
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in the Philippines is handled by our own in-house customs team.
For air freight to and from the Philippines we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the Philippines need accreditation as an importer with the Bureau of Customs.
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in the Philippines can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
Can customs be cleared directly in Cebu?
Yes. Our own customs team files declarations with the Bureau of Customs for goods arriving at Mactan-Cebu International Airport or the Port of Cebu, in-house and without outside brokers. There is no need to route goods via Manila for clearance.
How do you handle shipments for PEZA-registered companies in Cebu?
PEZA-registered companies in the Mactan Economic Zone can import qualifying goods under zone incentives, and goods moving in and out of the zone need the corresponding PEZA permits. Our customs team prepares the declarations and permits based on your registration, so we need it on file before the first shipment.
Can you clear furniture exports from Cebu?
Yes. Our customs team prepares the export declaration, and we arrange certificates of origin or phytosanitary certificates where the destination requires them. Wooden furniture may need fumigation, which we coordinate before the container is loaded.