🇵🇭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 door-to-door quote covers the full 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 + all-in 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 coordination 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 timeline. We consolidate weekly, so small first orders move fast.
What does DAP shipping mean for my order?
DAP (Delivered at Place) means TY delivers to the agreed place in the Philippines — pickup in Korea, export clearance, ocean or air freight and final delivery are all on us. Import clearance, duty and taxes are settled by the importer of record, because only a locally registered importer may clear customs there. We prepare the clearance documents and quote our side in full up front, so the only open variable is the duty your HS code attracts.
More import guides for the Philippines
Ready to source and ship from Korea?
Tell us your product and market — we reply with a matched Korean supplier and an all-in landed-cost quote within one business day. 0% commission: we make money on shipping, not on you.