Philippine apparel sourcing guide
Import apparel from the Philippines to Ivory Coast
Buyers importing apparel from the Philippines to Ivory Coast 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 Yamoussoukro and other commercial centers in Ivory Coast. 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.
Shipping routes and cargo gateways to Ivory Coast
Apparel moving from the Philippines to Ivory Coast travels by containerized ocean freight into the Ivorian seaports, by air cargo into Abidjan and the regional airports, or by rail inland along the Abidjan to Ouagadougou corridor once a container is discharged. Final routing depends on volume, Incoterm, carrier space, and the buyer's nominated forwarder.
Major seaports (ocean container gateways)
Containerized FCL and LCL garment cargo leaves the Philippine container terminals, transships through an Asian, Middle Eastern, or European relay hub, and enters Ivory Coast at Abidjan or San-Pédro. Ocean is the lowest cost mode and the default for volume apparel orders.
Philippines departure seaports
Origin ports- Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) PHDVO / PHDIC
Modern deep water container terminal in Panabo City on the Davao Gulf, beside the Hijo Industrial Estate and Special Economic Zone. This is the closest loading point for PHShirt production in the Davao and Tagum corridor, with regular feeder services feeding the trunk lines that sail toward West Africa.
- Port of Manila (MICT and South Harbor) PHMNL
The flagship Philippine container gateway, handling several million TEUs a year. High frequency feeder loops connect Luzon garment factories with the trunk services that sail toward West Africa and the Atlantic coast.
- Subic Bay International Container Port PHSFS
Deep water Freeport container terminal serving Central and Northern Luzon industrial estates, with dedicated expressway access and streamlined customs export dispatch.
- Batangas International Port PHBTG
Alternative deep water container terminal in Southern Luzon serving the Calabarzon export manufacturing zone, with expressway links that bypass Metro Manila traffic.
- Cebu International Port (CIP) PHCEB
Central Visayas container consolidation hub linking garment plants in Mactan and the Cebu export zones with international feeder loops.
Ivory Coast arrival seaports
Destination ports- Port of Abidjan (Port Autonome d'Abidjan) CIABJ
Ivory Coast's principal seaport and the largest container gateway in West Africa, handling about 85 percent of national trade. Total cargo reached 34.7 million tonnes in 2023, with container traffic of about 1.24 million TEU. The Vridi Canal gives the newest terminal an 18 meter draft, and the port also serves landlocked Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
- Port of San-Pédro (Port Autonome de San-Pédro) CISPY
Ivory Coast's second port, on the southwestern coast about 368 kilometers from Abidjan by the coastal highway. It is the world's leading cocoa export port, moving over a million tonnes a year, and more than six million tonnes of goods passed through it in 2021. A new container loading station opened in 2022.
Major airports (air cargo gateways)
Air freight suits urgent season launches, pre production samples, and time sensitive restocks. Air is far costlier than ocean by weight, but it cuts transit from weeks to days. Shipments connect through Asian, Middle Eastern, or European hubs before landing at Abidjan or a regional airport.
Philippines departure airports
Origin air cargo- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA cargo) MNL / RPLL
Primary air cargo gateway of the Philippines. Scheduled widebody freighters and passenger bellyhold capacity connect to Ivory Coast directly or through Asian, Middle Eastern, or European transshipment points.
- Clark International Airport (CRK) CRK / RPLC
Central Luzon express air logistics center with integrator hubs for express courier networks and round the clock customs export processing.
- Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA cargo) CEB / RPVM
Central Visayas air cargo gateway supporting garment exporters across Cebu and the neighboring islands through Asian transshipment connections.
- Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao cargo) DVO / RPMD
Southern Mindanao air cargo facility providing bellyhold transfers that feed international flights departing from Manila or Cebu.
Ivory Coast arrival airports
Destination air hubs- Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport ABJ / DIAP
Ivory Coast's main international gateway, about 16 kilometers southeast of Abidjan at Port-Bouët and the hub of Air Côte d'Ivoire. Managed by Aeria, it served about 2.52 million passengers in 2025 and connects directly to Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of Africa. Cargo carriers including Cargolux, Ethiopian Cargo, and Swiftair call here.
- San Pédro Airport SPY / DISP
Regional airport at San-Pédro in the southwestern cocoa belt, about 90 minutes from Abidjan by air, with onward road links along the coastal highway.
- Bouaké Airport BYK / DIBK
Ivory Coast's second largest airport, in the central highlands at Bouaké, serving the interior with domestic connections and road links toward the north.
Cargo rail and intermodal corridors
On the Philippine side, cartons reach the terminal by road because the country has no through freight railway for export containers. On the Ivorian side, a single metre gauge line runs from the Port of Abidjan to the northern border and on to Ouagadougou, carrying regional and transit freight.
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, Batangas, or Cebu for loading. This is the standard first leg for apparel produced in the Davao and Tagum corridor.
Where a buyer forwarder prefers rail or combined transport on the export side, PHShirt coordinates with the nominated carrier. Review the freight options on the rail transport services page.
Ivory Coast rail and intermodal corridors
Destination inland leg- Abidjan to Ouagadougou line (Sitarail)
Ivory Coast's only freight railway is a 660 kilometer metre gauge line running north from the Port of Abidjan through Bouaké and Ferkessédougou to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, operated under concession by Sitarail, part of the Africa Global Logistics group. It moves general cargo and containers between the port and the interior and is the main rail link for landlocked Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
- San-Pédro to Mount Nimba proposed line
A railway linking the Port of San-Pédro to the iron ore deposits around Mount Nimba has been proposed since 2010 but is not built. There would be no immediate connection with the existing metre gauge network at Abidjan.
Landed-cost & Trade Framework for Ivory Coast
A reliable landed-cost estimate needs the final garment specification, quantity, packing dimensions, HS classification, Incoterm, destination, and delivery mode.
- Trade Framework
- Standard WTO Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Tariff Schedule
- Duty & Customs Guide
- Duties assessed according to destination MFN tariff rates for HS Chapter 61 (Knitted) and Chapter 62 (Woven). Commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading/AWB required.
- Recommended Fabrics
- 160-200 GSM premium cotton blanks, custom cut-and-sew apparel, and custom brand packaging.
- Destination currency
- CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF)
- Freight variables
- Chargeable weight or cubic volume, fuel and security surcharges, terminal fees, brokerage, insurance, and inland delivery.
Compliance checkpoints for Ivory Coast
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.
- Destination-country textile labelling rules
- General product-safety and consumer protection requirements
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 - knitted or crocheted apparel
- HS Chapter 62 - woven apparel
- Confirm the 6–10 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
- 3–6 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 Ivory Coast: 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 Ivory Coast?
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 Ivory Coast take?
The planning estimate for sea freight is 25–50 days. Production normally takes 3–6 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 Ivory Coast?
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 Ivory Coast?
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.
What rail or inland transport options serve Ivory Coast?
Ivory Coast's main freight railway is the 660 kilometer metre gauge line from the Port of Abidjan to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, operated by Sitarail under concession. It carries container and general cargo toward the interior and is the principal rail link for landlocked Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Most final delivery within Ivory Coast is by road, and a proposed line from San-Pédro toward Mount Nimba is not yet built.
Discuss a shipment to Ivory Coast
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
- Port Autonome d'Abidjan
Last reviewed: 2026-09-28. Requirements change; verify current rules before contracting freight or producing labels.