Philippine apparel sourcing guide
Import apparel from the Philippines to India
Buyers importing apparel from the Philippines to India can source blank shirts and custom OEM/ODM garments directly from PHShirt. We prepare commercial documentation for the agreed Incoterm and coordinate freight from the Philippines toward New Delhi and other commercial centers in India. Final duties, permits, labelling, and product-safety obligations should be confirmed with a licensed broker or competent authority before shipment.
Why source apparel from the Philippines?
PHShirt combines export-ready garment production with direct access to established blank-shirt brands. Buyers can source Yalex, A2Z, Crown, Softex, and Blackhorse blanks or commission OEM/ODM runs with custom fabric, sizing, labels, printing, embroidery, and packaging.
- Flexible productionBlank-stock fulfillment and custom manufacturing from one supplier.
- Document coordinationCommercial invoice, packing list, and origin documents prepared to the agreed shipment.
- Human export supportOne sales contact from specification review through dispatch.
- Mindanao export baseProduction and consolidation run out of the Davao del Norte corridor beside the Hijo Industrial Estate and Special Economic Zone in Tagum City, next to the Hijo International Port with its 13 meter draft, two berths, cold chain, and clean energy grid.
Shipping routes and cargo gateways to India
Apparel moving from the Philippines to India travels by containerized ocean freight into west coast gateways such as JNPA (Nhava Sheva) and Mundra or east coast gateways such as Chennai, by air cargo into Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Bengaluru, and by rail on India's Dedicated Freight Corridors once a container is discharged. Final routing depends on volume, Incoterm, carrier space, and the buyer's nominated forwarder.
Major international seaports (ocean container gateways)
Containerized FCL and LCL garment cargo leaves Philippine container terminals, transships at a Southeast Asian or South Asian relay hub, and enters India at a major container port on the west coast (JNPA and Mundra) or the east coast (Chennai and Cochin).
Philippines departure seaports
Origin ports- Port of Manila (MICT & South Harbor) PHMNL
The primary container gateway in the Philippines, with scheduled feeder and mainline services linking Luzon production to Southeast and South Asian transshipment hubs.
- Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) PHDVO / PHDIC
Modern deepwater terminal in Panabo City on the Davao Gulf, with a 15 meter natural draft and dedicated quay cranes serving Southern Philippine and Mindanao apparel exports.
- Cebu International Port (CIP) PHCEB
Central Visayas maritime terminal connecting Cebu apparel exporters with international feeder vessels bound for regional transshipment.
India arrival seaports
Destination ports- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA / Nhava Sheva) INNSA
India's largest container port, near Navi Mumbai, with five terminals and capacity of more than 10 million TEUs. Direct on dock rail links to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor serve Delhi, North India, and the western industrial belt.
- Mundra Port INMUN
India's largest commercial port, in Kutch, Gujarat, with multiple container terminals and deepwater berths handling a large share of national container traffic, with rail and road links across Gujarat and North India.
- Chennai Port INMAA
India's main east coast container gateway and the closest major Indian port to Southeast Asia, with two container terminals serving the Chennai and South India manufacturing belt.
- Cochin Port INCOK
Southwest coast port with a dedicated international container transshipment terminal, useful for consignments destined for Kerala and the southern west coast.
Major international airports (air cargo gateways)
Air freight suits time sensitive, high value, or sample consignments. Cargo departs Philippine international airports and arrives at India's main cargo airports, where clearance is handled by a licensed broker.
Philippines departure airports
Origin airports- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) MNL / RPLL
The Philippines' primary international air gateway, in Metro Manila, with the widest choice of regional and long haul cargo capacity.
- Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) CEB / RPVM
Central Visayas international airport with belly and freighter capacity, convenient for Cebu and Visayas production.
- Francisco Bangoy International Airport DVO / RPMD
Davao's international airport serving the Mindanao production corridor, with domestic connections to Manila for onward international uplift.
India arrival airports
Destination airports- Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) DEL
India's busiest cargo airport, at Delhi, with dedicated cargo terminals and temperature controlled zones for general, pharma, and perishable freight.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport BOM
Mumbai's commercial air cargo gateway, serving Maharashtra and the western India consumer and retail market.
- Chennai International Airport MAA
Fast growing cargo airport serving the South India automotive, electronics, and textile manufacturing belt and the closest major Indian cargo airport to Southeast Asia.
- Kempegowda International Airport BLR
Bengaluru's air cargo gateway, handling electronics, engineering goods, and high value consignments for South India.
Rail cargo and intermodal corridors
On the origin side the Philippines has no through freight railway for export containers, so cartons move by truck to a loading port. On the destination side India's Dedicated Freight Corridors and Container Corporation of India depots move containers inland from the gateway ports by rail.
Philippine rail and road drayage
Origin inland leg- Road drayage to the container terminal
The Philippines has no through freight railway network for export containers, so finished cartons move by truck from the production floor to DICT, Manila, or Cebu for loading. This is the standard first leg for Mindanao apparel.
Production and consolidation can run from the Davao del Norte corridor beside the Hijo Industrial Estate and Special Economic Zone in Tagum City, next to the Hijo International Port with its 13 meter draft, two berths, cold chain infrastructure, and clean energy grid.
India rail cargo network
Destination inland leg- Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (JNPA to Dadri)
The Western DFC runs about 1,506 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port to Dadri, near Delhi, and carries double stack container trains on dedicated track, moving import containers from the west coast toward North India depots.
- Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (Ludhiana to Dankuni)
The Eastern DFC runs about 1,337 km from Ludhiana to Dankuni, linking the northern industrial belt with the Kolkata area, and supports containers moving to and from east coast gateways.
- CONCOR inland container depots
The Container Corporation of India operates inland container depots and container freight stations, including ICD Tughlakabad and ICD Dadri near Delhi, where containers clear customs and are delivered inland rather than at the port.
Landed-cost & Trade Framework for India
A reliable landed-cost estimate needs the final garment specification, quantity, packing dimensions, HS classification, Incoterm, destination, and delivery mode.
- Trade Framework
- ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) / Regional Economic Trade Frameworks
- Duty & Customs Guide
- Preferential tariff treatment may apply for ASEAN trade routes with Form D / origin certificates. Fast direct sea freight routes from Manila or Davao ports.
- Recommended Fabrics
- Lightweight 150-160 GSM combed cotton and Active-Dry polyester mesh recommended for tropical and humid climates.
- Destination currency
- Indian Rupee (INR)
- Freight variables
- Chargeable weight or cubic volume, fuel and security surcharges, terminal fees, brokerage, insurance, and inland delivery.
Compliance checkpoints for India
These checkpoints are planning prompts, not a substitute for a binding tariff ruling or legal advice. Confirm the exact product scope before production labels and packaging are approved.
- BIS requirements where a notified textile standard applies
HS classification starting points
Most apparel begins in Chapter 61 or 62. Fiber composition, knit versus woven construction, gender, garment type, and intended use determine the final tariff line.
- HS Chapter 61 covers knitted or crocheted apparel
- HS Chapter 62 covers woven apparel
- Confirm the 6 to 10 digit tariff line with a licensed customs broker
Documents commonly prepared
Document requirements vary by buyer, carrier, bank, customs authority, and trade arrangement.
- 01Commercial invoiceSeller, buyer, goods, values, currency, Incoterm, and payment details.
- 02Packing listCartons, quantities, sizes, net and gross weight, and dimensions.
- 03Transport documentBill of lading, sea waybill, or air waybill issued for the shipment.
- 04Supporting certificatesOrigin, testing, inspection, or preferential documents when required.
MOQ, timing, and payment
Production starts after specification, sample or artwork, price, payment, and delivery terms are approved in writing.
- Minimum order
- 50 pieces per design for custom production; blank-stock MOQs depend on brand, color, and size mix
- Production lead time
- 3 to 6 weeks after sample, artwork, and payment approval; shipping time is additional
- Typical payment structure
- Bank transfer; documentary collection or letter of credit may be agreed for qualified larger orders
Importing from the Philippines to India: FAQ
Answers for early-stage sourcing. Your quotation will state the commercial terms that apply to the actual order.
What is the minimum order for shipping apparel to India?
50 pieces per design for custom production; blank-stock MOQs depend on brand, color, and size mix
How long does shipping from the Philippines to India take?
The planning estimate for sea freight is 7 to 18 days. Production normally takes 3 to 6 weeks after sample, artwork, and payment approval; shipping time is additional. Carrier schedules, customs, transshipment, and inland delivery can change the final timeline.
Which HS codes commonly apply to apparel imported into India?
Knitted or crocheted apparel generally begins in HS Chapter 61, while woven apparel generally begins in Chapter 62. A licensed customs broker should confirm the final tariff line from the garment construction, fiber content, use, and destination tariff schedule.
Can PHShirt supply custom labels and packaging for India?
Yes. OEM/ODM orders can include buyer-approved size labels, care labels, brand labels, hangtags, folding, polybags, and carton marks, subject to the destination's current labelling and packaging rules.
Which Incoterms can be quoted?
PHShirt can discuss common Incoterms such as EXW, FCA, FOB, CFR, or CIF depending on the route and forwarder arrangement. The final quotation identifies the named place and Incoterms 2020 rule.
Which seaports, airports, and rail corridors handle apparel shipments to India?
Ocean containers leave Philippine terminals such as Davao International Container Terminal (DICT), the Port of Manila, and Cebu, and arrive at Indian gateways including JNPA (Nhava Sheva), Mundra, Chennai, and Cochin. Air cargo flies from Manila, Cebu, or Davao into Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Bengaluru. Inland, containers move by road or by rail on India's Dedicated Freight Corridors and through CONCOR inland container depots. Final routing depends on your forwarder and Incoterm.
Discuss a shipment to India
Send your garment type, quantity, sizes, decoration method, target delivery date, and destination city.
Reference sources
- UN M49 country and region reference
- ISO 3166 country-code reference
- ISO 4217 currency reference
- WTO tariff information
- World Customs Organization Harmonized System overview
- Country Codes dataset provenance
Last reviewed: 2026-07-18. Requirements change; verify current rules before contracting freight or producing labels.