Philippines
Air freight, sea freight and customs in General Santos
General Santos is the tuna capital of the Philippines, with fresh fish flown to Japan and the US.
Services in General Santos
- Air freight in General SantosAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in General SantosFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in General SantosImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in General Santos
- AirportGeneral Santos
GES - AirportManila
MNL - SeaportMakar Wharf
General Santos International Airport (GES) serves the city with domestic flights to Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB). Fresh tuna and other seafood exports therefore usually connect via Manila. Sea freight runs through Makar Wharf, the city's main port, which handles containers and domestic shipping. The General Santos Fish Port Complex is the landing point for the city's tuna fleet, so fresh catch, processing and export documentation are concentrated in one place. Davao's ports and airport, reached by road, are a further option.
The Pan-Philippine Highway connects General Santos with Davao City to the north-east and with Koronadal and Cotabato to the north-west. Roads lead to Polomolok and the pineapple plantations of South Cotabato. We arrange pick-up and delivery across General Santos and South Cotabato.
Industries in General Santos and how we support them
General Santos is known as the tuna capital of the Philippines, with a large fish port, tuna canneries and processing plants exporting canned, frozen and fresh tuna. South Cotabato also has major pineapple plantations and canning operations around Polomolok. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight for fresh seafood via GES and MNL on our own air waybills, reefer FCL via Makar Wharf for canned and frozen products, and Next Flight Out for urgent cannery spare parts. Our own customs team handles declarations in-house.
Operational logistics facts for General Santos
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| General Santos International Airport (GES) | Domestic air freight, fresh seafood | Airport for South Cotabato with flights to Manila |
| Makar Wharf | FCL and reefer containers | Main port for canned and frozen tuna exports |
| General Santos Fish Port Complex | Tuna landing and processing | Seafood exports with direct link to processors |
| South Cotabato plantations (Polomolok) | Pineapple and food products | Export flows via Makar Wharf |
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fly fresh tuna from General Santos to Japan or the US?
Yes. Fresh tuna is flown from GES to Manila and then on our own air waybill to the destination. The exporter needs the health certificates required by the destination, usually issued via BFAR, which we check before booking.
Can you send urgent spare parts to a cannery in General Santos?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to GES via Manila and arrange delivery to the plant. For critical cases an On-Board Courier carries the part all the way.
Do typhoons affect shipments from General Santos?
Mindanao is rarely hit directly by typhoons, but connections via Manila can be disrupted during the typhoon season. We monitor conditions and rebook where needed.
Can customs be cleared in General Santos?
Goods arriving directly at Makar Wharf can be cleared locally, while goods via Manila are usually cleared there. Our own customs team handles the declarations in-house, without outside brokers.
What documents do tuna exports need?
Tuna exports need health certificates, catch documentation for some markets and must meet the destination's import rules, such as EU or US requirements. Our customs team checks the requirements and prepares the export declaration.
Can you clear imports of cannery equipment?
Yes. Cannery equipment is declared like other imports, and some projects benefit from incentives that need supporting documents. Our customs team reviews the case and prepares the declaration.