Freight forwarders in the Philippines: what they do and how to choose one

A freight forwarder organises how your cargo gets from one place to another. For businesses in the Philippines, that usually means imports arriving by air or sea, exports leaving the country, and the trucking that connects the port or airport to a warehouse or branch.

What a freight forwarder handles

• Booking: securing space with airlines or shipping lines for your cargo.
• Pickup and handling: collecting the cargo and coordinating it through to departure.
• Arrival and delivery: taking over when the cargo lands and bringing it to your address.
• One point of contact: a single team that knows where the shipment is from origin to door.

Air freight or sea freight

Air freight is the choice for urgent or high-value cargo, because transit is fast. Sea freight is the choice for volume and heavy cargo, where the cost per unit matters more than speed. Many businesses use both: sea for regular replenishment and air when something cannot wait.

Door to door versus port to port

Some forwarders stop at the port. Then you book a separate trucker, and each handoff adds cost and another party to chase. A door-to-door forwarder with its own trucks takes the cargo straight from the port or airport to your warehouse or branch.

What to send for a quote

To get an accurate rate, send:

1. Origin and destination
2. Cargo type
3. Weight and dimensions
4. When it must arrive

Questions to ask a forwarder

• Do you handle both imports and exports, by air and sea?
• Are you accredited with the Bureau of Customs?
• Who delivers after arrival: your own trucks or a subcontractor?
• Can you store the cargo if it is not needed right away?

How Impextic handles freight

Impextic has moved freight since 2009 and is accredited with the Bureau of Customs. We book air and sea freight in both directions, then deliver on our own trucks nationwide. Cargo that is not needed right away can go straight from the port into one of our warehouses in Pasig, Cebu, Davao or Iloilo. See import and export and warehousing.

Frequently asked questions

What does a freight forwarder do?

A freight forwarder arranges the movement of your cargo from origin to destination: booking space with airlines or shipping lines, coordinating pickup and handling, and arranging delivery at the other end.

Should I choose air or sea freight?

Air freight suits urgent or high-value cargo. Sea freight suits volume and heavy cargo where cost matters more than speed.

Is Impextic accredited with the Bureau of Customs?

Yes. Impextic is accredited with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Can Impextic deliver the cargo after it arrives?

Yes. Our own trucks deliver from the port or airport to your address, nationwide.