Countries · PH
Philippines: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 13 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Philippines.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Philippines in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Philippines may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
13 entries on the official lists name Philippines — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| UN Security Council Consolidated List | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Philippines recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Philippines: logistics and trade
Archipelago market with a focus on sea freight; electronics export hub and ASEAN gateway
The Philippines (PH) is an archipelago market of more than 7,600 islands in Southeast Asia where sea freight dominates; the country is an electronics exporter and an ASEAN member (ATIGA, RCEP). Customs clearance runs electronically through the e2m system and the National Single Window/TradeNet under the CMTA (RA 10863); import VAT is 12 percent, and shipments up to PHP 10,000 FOB are exempt from duty and VAT (CAO 02-2025). For Swiss exporters, the EFTA-Philippines free trade agreement has been in force since 1 June 2018. The main gateways are the Port of Manila (South Harbor/MICT, around 70 percent of foreign trade), complemented by Cebu, Davao, Subic Bay and Batangas, plus the air-cargo hubs Manila NAIA, Mactan-Cebu and Clark. On land, the Pan-Philippine Highway and the RoRo Nautical Highway link the main islands; there is little freight rail. Key exports are electronics and semiconductors, coconut products and nickel; the main trading partners are the United States, China and Japan.
- Capital
- Manila
- Population
- 112,729,484
- Area
- 300,000 km²
- Currency
- Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Southeast Asia / ASEAN
- Economic area
- ASEAN / AFTA
- Religions
- Christianity, Islam
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Inland waterway
- Current situation
- Manila with severe port congestion: vessel waiting times average about 4,5 days, off-window over 5 days, total delays 10-12 days after Typhoon Bavi; MICT yard utilisation 85-90 percent. Southwest monsoon worsens the situation; additional costs of about 50'000 PHP per container reported. (As of 2026-07-28)
- Seasonal conditions
- Typhoon season from June to November with heavy rain, storm surges and flooding; ports and roads may be temporarily closed or slowed.
Main seaports
- Manila
Manila (PH MNL): the Philippines' largest container port. ICTSI's MICT hit a record 3M TEU in 2025; South Harbor (ATI), customs, Berth 8 expansion.
- Cebu
Cebu (PH CEB): the Philippines' largest domestic port, close to 1M TEU, inter-island RoRo and international box services. New NCICP due 2028; Manila stays main gateway.
- Davao
Davao (PH DVO), Mindanao's busiest seaport: about 825,000 TEU, a reefer hub for banana and agri exports. Sasa and DICT terminals, customs, hinterland and alternatives.
- Subic Bay
Subic Bay (PH SFS), Philippines: Luzon container gateway (NCT-1/2, ICTSI) scaling toward 1M TEU, RoRo planned. Serves Clark; Manila as alternative.
- Batangas City
Batangas City (PH BTG): container and RoRo port south of Manila, the Calabarzon alternative; ATI/DP World, ~307,000 TEU in 2025, ferries to Mimaropa and Visayas.
- General Santos
General Santos/Makar (PH GES), Mindanao: container terminal (~250,000 TEU) and fish port for tuna and agribusiness exports. Alternatives: Davao, Manila.
Main cargo airports
- Ninoy Aquino International AirportMNL
Manila's Ninoy Aquino Airport (MNL): 616,478 t of air cargo in 2024, handled by Paircargo and Cargohaus, customs backlogs, alternatives Clark and Cebu.
- Mactan Cebu International AirportCEB
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) handled about 77,474 t of cargo in 2025, mostly belly freight. Customs, trucking and alternatives Manila and Clark.
- Clark International Airport / Clark Air BaseCRK
Clark International (CRK), Pampanga: 93,900 t of air cargo in 2025, up 60 percent. FedEx gateway, UPS from 2026, Clark Freeport Zone, second runway by 2029.
- Francisco Bangoy International AirportDVO
Francisco Bangoy Airport (DVO/RPMD), Davao: 49,755 t air cargo in 2025 (+2.8%), focus durian, bananas, flowers. New cargo centre from 2026, alternative Manila.
Road corridors
- Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika)
- Strong Republic Nautical Highway (RoRo)
- NLEX/SLEX corridor, Metro Manila
Main trade lanes
- Philippines-China
- Philippines-USA
- Philippines-Japan
- Philippines-ASEAN (Singapore)
Customs and import
Customs authority Bureau of Customs (BOC)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic clearance via the e2m Customs System (Electronic-to-Mobile) and the Philippine National Single Window/TradeNet. The legal basis is the CMTA (Republic Act 10863).
- Export customs system
- Electronic export declaration via e2m and the National Single Window/TradeNet; accredited exporters and customs brokers lodge the Export Declaration before shipment.
- Import VAT
- 12 percent VAT on the sum of customs value, duty and any excise tax. De minimis threshold 10'000 PHP FOB exempt from duty and VAT (CAO 02-2025, valid from 7.5.2025).
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- PH-EFTA FTA (in force for Switzerland since 1.6.2018): certificate of origin or EUR.1. For trade within ASEAN, Form D (ATIGA); other proofs depending on the agreement.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Goods subject to import restrictions or prohibitions include weapons and explosives, drugs and precursors, certain chemicals, used vehicles, and certain agricultural and health products (licence required).
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Import Declaration (e2m/TradeNet)
- Proof of origin for FTA
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Export Declaration (e2m/TradeNet)
- Certificate of Origin
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium to high
- Customs delays
- Medium to high
- Port congestion
- Medium to high
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- High
- E-commerce relevance
- High
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Petroleum products
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Chemicals
Top export goods
- Electronics
- Machinery
- Coconut products
- Nickel. Textiles
Typical cargo
- Electronics and semiconductors
- Machinery and vehicles
- Mineral oil products
- Agricultural products (coconut, fruit, tuna)
- Consumer goods
Upcoming public holidays
- Bonifacio DayMon, 30 Nov 2026 · businesses closed
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (special non-working day)Tue, 8 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Christmas Eve (special non-working day)Thu, 24 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Rizal DayWed, 30 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Last Day of the Year (special non-working day)Thu, 31 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Philippines: Hapag-Lloyd Suspends Bookings Due to Container Congestion6 Oct 2026
Brokers and truckers protest against empty container congestion. Hapag-Lloyd halts new bookings to Manila, Batangas, and Subic Bay through end of 2026.
- EU and Philippines Make Progress on Free Trade Agreement29 Sept 2026
The EU and the Philippines are largely in agreement. However, new tariff benefits will not take effect until the contract text is finalized, signed, and ratified.
- China Opens New Waterway: Pinglu Canal Shortens Route to Southeast Asia10 Sept 2026
The new Pinglu Canal connects China's hinterland directly to the Gulf of Beibu. Transports toward Southeast Asia are expected to become shorter and more cost-effective as a result.
Logistics questions
What is the import value-added tax (VAT) in the Philippines?
Import VAT is 12 percent and is levied on the sum of customs value, duty and any excise tax. Shipments up to 10'000 PHP FOB have been exempt from duty and VAT since CAO 02-2025.
Which customs authority and system apply to imports?
The competent authority is the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Clearance is carried out electronically via the e2m Customs System and the Philippine National Single Window/TradeNet, based on the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA, RA 10863).
Do Swiss exporters benefit from a free trade agreement?
Yes. The free trade agreement between EFTA and the Philippines has been in force for Switzerland since 1. June 2018. A certificate of origin or an EUR.1 allows preferential duty rates to be used.
Which ports are most important for container cargo?
Manila (South Harbor and MICT) handles about 70 percent of international trade. Important complements are Cebu, Davao, Subic Bay, Batangas and General Santos.
Which airports are suitable for air freight?
The main hub is Manila NAIA (MNL). Mactan-Cebu (CEB), Clark (CRK), Davao (DVO) and General Santos (GES, tuna) are further relevant cargo airports.
What seasonal risks exist?
From June to November, typhoon season brings heavy rain and flooding, which temporarily affect ports and roads. In addition, Metro Manila may experience port congestion and traffic jams.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 28 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.