🇵🇭Import Korean Cosmetics to the Philippines
Registration, duties and freight — what a distributor needs to bring K-beauty into the Philippines, with vetted Korean suppliers at 0% commission and one logistics partner from supplier to shelf.
Why the Philippines
The Philippines is one of the most K-culture-friendly markets in the world — Korean beauty rides Hallyu demand across drugstores, malls and fast-growing e-commerce. Manila-based importers supply both retail chains and online sellers nationwide.
Product registration in the Philippines
Importer LTO
The importer must hold a License to Operate (LTO) as a cosmetic importer/distributor issued by the Philippine FDA.
Product notification
Each cosmetic is notified to the FDA under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive before import and sale.
English labelling
English labels are accepted nationwide; standard Korean export packaging usually complies with minor additions.
Typical lead time: With an LTO in place, product notification typically takes 2–3 weeks per SKU.
Duties & taxes
Korean-origin cosmetics qualify for AKFTA preferential duty with a certificate of origin; MFN rates for cosmetics are typically 3–15%.
Philippine VAT is 12%, applied at import on the landed value.
Estimate your landed cost per HS code with our free import duty calculator. Open the import duty calculator
Regulations, duty and tax information is general guidance and may change. We confirm the exact requirements for your product and HS code before every shipment.
Shipping from Korea to the Philippines
We consolidate LCL and FCL cargo from Busan every week. Below are indicative LCL rates from our internal tariff — the same data our freight team quotes from.
| Destination port | LCL rate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| MANILA | $1 / CBM | 5 days |
| CEBU (VIA SINGAPORE) | $35 / CBM | 21 days |
| MANILA(SOUTH) | $1 / CBM | 5 days |
Indicative LCL ocean rates from Busan, Korea — from TY's internal tariff, updated regularly. Ocean freight portion only; your final DDP quote covers the full door-to-door cost.
How importing with TY works
Tell us your product
Send your category, target price and market — the matching form takes 3 minutes.
Supplier match + DDP quote
Within one business day we propose a vetted Korean supplier and a total landed-cost quote.
Samples & first order
We arrange sample shipping and consolidate small first orders with weekly LCL departures.
Ship, clear, deliver
TY handles export docs, ocean or air freight, customs and duty, and final delivery — tracked on our portal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need product registration to import Korean cosmetics to the Philippines?
Yes, two layers: your importer needs a Philippine FDA License to Operate (LTO), and each SKU needs a product notification before import. TY works with your licensed importer and supplies the Korean manufacturer documents needed for both.
How long does shipping from Korea to the Philippines take?
LCL from Busan to MANILA takes about 5 days port-to-port. Add customs clearance and inland delivery for the full door-to-door DDP timeline. We consolidate weekly, so small first orders move fast.
What does DDP shipping mean for my order?
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means one all-in price to your door: pickup in Korea, ocean or air freight, customs clearance, import duty and taxes, and final delivery. You see your total landed cost before you commit to the order.
Ready to source and ship from Korea?
Tell us your product and market — we reply with a matched Korean supplier and an all-in DDP quote within one business day. 0% commission: we make money on shipping, not on you.