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Is there a phenomenon of unilaterally releasing goods in the Philippines?
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We have a shipment that needs to be delivered to Manila, Philippines. According to what we've heard from our peers, there have been cases of goods being released without shipping documents at Philippine ports, which has really got us worried. Could you please tell us if there is indeed a problem of goods being released without shipping documents in the Philippines? If this is the case, how should we, as exporters, prevent and mitigate these risks?
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
The phenomenon of releasing goods without a bill of lading does indeed exist in the Philippines，which is a serious violation of the law. According to the regulations of the Philippine Customs Bureau，goods must be cleared and picked up with the original bill of lading or a legally issued electronic bill of lading. However，due to port congestion，human intervention，and even corruption at the Manila Port (North/South Harbor)，some docks and freight forwarders may take risks and engage in illegal activities。
Core Risk Points: 1. The risk of less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo is more than three times higher than that of full-container-load (FCL) cargo. 2. Local small freight forwarders collude with consignees to forge documents or bribe customs officials. 3. The legal redress process is lengthy，and it's difficult to recover the goods or obtain compensation
Compliance Prevention Suggestions。- 務(wù)必堅持Original bill of ladingProcess and Frequently Asked Questions for Exporting Mining Machinery to Southeast Asia | Shanghai Import/Export AgentOriginal B/LTrade dispute settlement mechanismsand take a leading position in the輕易電放.IfIt's a must.電放，ensureReceivetoFullItemandthe ASEAN Single Window (ASW)船companyOfficial ChannelsOperation - ChooseInternational知名船companyProcess and Frequently Asked Questions for Exporting Mining Machinery to Southeast Asia | Shanghai Import/Export AgentMSK,CMA,COSCOTrade dispute settlement mechanismsandGood ReputationWe have obtained the business filing certificate. We are well aware that when importing medical devices，it is necessary to ensure that the products have the corresponding Chinese medical device registration certificates. Even if an enterprise has the business filing，if the product does not have the corresponding registration certificate，it still cannot be legally imported. In addition，the model and specifications of the imported product must be completely consistent with the information on the registration certificate. Any discrepancies may lead to import obstruction. We will ensure that your products meet all registration requirements and smoothly enter the Chinese market.Forwarding agent,拒絕ClientsdesignatedWe have obtained the business filing certificate. We are well aware that when importing medical devices，it is necessary to ensure that the products have the corresponding Chinese medical device registration certificates. Even if an enterprise has the business filing，if the product does not have the corresponding registration certificate，it still cannot be legally imported. In addition，the model and specifications of the imported product must be completely consistent with the information on the registration certificate. Any discrepancies may lead to import obstruction. We will ensure that your products meet all registration requirements and smoothly enter the Chinese market.smallForwarding agent - In theB/L上Specifydesignation“憑Original bill of ladingPick up goods”Terms - Consider purchasing“- Clearly defineSingle放貨Risk”orcredit insurance，keep itall溝通records from past three yearsTake備投訴
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
From the perspective of logistics practice, it's true that there have been cases of goods being released without shipping documents in Manila Port, Philippines. These cases mainly occurred in North Harbor and South Harbor, especially when clients designated freight forwarders under FOB terms, which posed the highest risk.
Operational risk characteristics: - PortEfficiencyLowUnder,平均Clear customs5-7 Days,Part of itForwarding agentfor“加快Pick up goods”Violation of regulations - small型船companyor駁船運營providersSupervision不嚴(yán) - Telex release bill of ladingProcess and Frequently Asked Questions for Exporting Mining Machinery to Southeast Asia | Shanghai Import/Export AgentTelex ReleaseTrade dispute settlement mechanisms被濫Use
Practical avoidance solutions: 1. We shall prioritize selecting the CIF clause, allowing us to control the freight forwarder and the shipping company. 2. Always use the master bills of lading (Master B/L) issued by major international shipping companies, and avoid accepting freight forwarder's bills of lading (House B/L). 3. Immediately send the original copy of the bill of lading to the consignee after the shipment, and at the same time, clearly inform them that "they can pick up the goods with the original copy", in order to create a psychological deterrent effect. 4. For new clients in the Philippines, it is recommended to use original bills of lading to control the goods for the first three orders 5. Consider...Sea freightThe "Sea Waybill" + 100% prepayment model simplifies the process while ensuring payment collection.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
From the perspective of business negotiations, the risk of releasing goods without a bill of lading can be completely avoided in advance through payment methods and contract terms, which is much more important than holding others accountable afterwards.
Core Strategy: 1. Payment method: We firmly require a 30% deposit and a 70% balance payment upon receipt of the bill of lading copy. The balance will be paid after the payment is received, and we will arrange for telegraphic transfer or sending the original documents at that time. For new clients, we recommend a 100% prepayment. 2. Contract terms: Add the clause "The seller reserves the ownership of the goods until full payment is received, and the delivery of the bill of lading does not constitute a transfer of ownership" to the Sales Contract, and stipulate that Chinese law shall apply. 3. Client Communication: Instead of directly accusing "your country has the practice of releasing goods without a bill of lading," it's better to say "our company's risk control policy requires that goods must be picked up with the original bill of lading, which is an international practice to protect the interests of both parties." This way, the risk is framed as a "rule" rather than a sign of "distrust". 4. Credit investigation: Conduct a credit investigation of the Philippine buyers through Sinosure and require high-risk clients to purchase insurance. 5. Long-term cooperation: After establishing trust, the terms can be gradually relaxed, but the first 3-5 orders must be strictly implemented.
Remember: Delivering goods without a shipping order is essentially a credit risk, not a logistics risk. By controlling the payment schedule, the risk can be reduced by 90%.