Philippine apparel sourcing guide

Import apparel from the Philippines to Syria

Buyers importing apparel from the Philippines to Syria 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 Damascus, Aleppo, and other commercial centers in Syria. Ocean containers discharge at the Mediterranean ports of Latakia and Tartus, air cargo lands at Damascus, and inland freight moves by road and on the state railway network, which is under reconstruction after the civil war. Confirm current port and airport status, insurance, and inland delivery with a licensed forwarder before shipment. Final duties, permits, labelling, and product-safety obligations should be confirmed with a licensed broker or competent authority.

Email export sales Message on WhatsApp Chat on Viber

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 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 and two berths.

Shipping routes and cargo gateways to Syria

Apparel from the Philippines reaches Syria by sea or by air, then travels inland by road and, where the network allows, by rail. Ocean containers leave Philippine terminals such as Davao, Manila, and Cebu, transit the Malacca Strait, the Indian Ocean, and the Suez Canal, and are discharged at Latakia, the main commercial seaport, or at Tartus, the second port, both on the Mediterranean coast. Air cargo connects through a Gulf or Turkish hub and arrives at Damascus, the main international gateway, or at Aleppo, Latakia, or Qamishli where service is available. Syria is rebuilding its ports, airports, and railway after the civil war, and most international sanctions were lifted during 2025, so confirm current port and airport status, insurance, and inland delivery with a licensed forwarder. Final routing depends on volume, Incoterm, carrier space, and the buyer's nominated forwarder.

Major international seaports (ocean container gateways)

Containerized full container load and less than container load garment cargo leaves Philippine container terminals and is discharged at a Syrian Mediterranean seaport. Latakia is the primary commercial gateway and handles the largest share of containerized cargo, Tartus is the second port and is being redeveloped, and Baniyas handles oil and bulk. Both Latakia and Tartus signed long term redevelopment agreements in 2025, so confirm berth availability, terminal handling, and inland clearance with a licensed forwarder before contracting.

Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) PHDVO / PHDIC
Modern deep water container terminal in Panabo City on the Davao Gulf, in the same Davao del Norte corridor as the Hijo Industrial Estate and Special Economic Zone. Feeder services link Mindanao apparel production to the trunk lines that cross to Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean by way of Suez.
Region: Davao del Norte / Mindanao • Draft: 15 meter deep water
Port of Manila (MICT and South Harbor) PHMNL
The flagship Philippine container gateway, handling over 4.5 million TEUs a year, with the widest choice of feeder and regional services for Luzon garment factories.
Region: Metro Manila / Luzon • Terminals: ICTSI MICT and ATI South Harbor
Cebu International Port (CIP) PHCEB
Central Visayas container consolidation hub linking garment plants in Mactan and the Cebu export zones with international feeder loops.
Region: Cebu City / Central Visayas • Terminals: OPASCOR and CPA
Batangas International Port PHBTG
Alternative deep water container terminal in Southern Luzon serving the Calabarzon export manufacturing zones with expressway links that bypass Metro Manila traffic.
Region: Batangas / Southern Luzon • Terminal: Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI)
Subic Bay International Container Port (NCT) PHSFS
Deep water Freeport container terminal serving Central and Northern Luzon industrial estates with dedicated highway access and streamlined customs export dispatch.
Region: Zambales / Central Luzon • Terminal: SBITC / ICTSI

Port of Latakia SYLTK
Syria's main seaport, on the Mediterranean coast at Latakia and opened in its modern form in 1950. It has 32 wharves, a natural harbour of about 135 hectares, and a channel depth of about 14.5 meters, and historically handled about 8 million tonnes of cargo a year, including clothing imports. In May 2025 the port signed a 30 year redevelopment agreement with the shipping group CMA CGM, worth about 230 million euro and covering a new berth. Inland freight runs to Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs by road and rail.
Location: Latakia / Mediterranean coast • Terminals: 32 wharves, about 14.5 m depth
Port of Tartus SYTTS
Syria's second port city, on the Mediterranean coast south of Latakia and linked to it by an 80 km coastal railway. The commercial port handles container, general, and bulk cargo for the coastal governorates and the Homs corridor. In January 2025 the post war government cancelled the previous Russian operator's commercial port contract, and in July 2025 it signed an about 800 million dollar redevelopment agreement with DP World. A separate Russian naval facility operates alongside the commercial port.
Location: Tartus / Mediterranean coast • Role: second commercial port
Port of Baniyas SYBAN
An oil and bulk terminal on the Mediterranean coast between Latakia and Tartus, best known as the terminus of the Iraq to Baniyas pipeline and as a petroleum and bulk export point. It is not a general container gateway, so it is listed for completeness rather than as a routing for apparel.
Location: Baniyas / Mediterranean coast • Role: oil and bulk terminal

Major international airports (air cargo gateways)

Air freight suits urgent season launches, pre production samples, and time sensitive restocks. Cargo departs a Philippine international airport, connects through a Gulf or Turkish hub such as Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, or Sharjah, and arrives at Damascus, the main functioning international gateway, or at Aleppo, Latakia, or Qamishli where service is available. Syrian airports were damaged during the civil war and are being rehabilitated, so confirm current flight availability, cargo capacity, and customs hours with the forwarder before booking.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA cargo) MNL / RPLL
Primary air cargo gateway of the Philippines. Scheduled widebody freighters and passenger belly cargo connect to Gulf and Turkish hubs for onward service to Damascus and the other Syrian airports.
Location: Metro Manila • Role: primary air gateway
Clark International Airport (CRK) CRK / RPLC
Central Luzon air logistics center with integrator hubs for express courier networks and round the clock customs export processing.
Location: Pampanga / Central Luzon • Role: express courier and freighter hub
Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA cargo) CEB / RPVM
Central Visayas air cargo gateway supporting garment exporters across Cebu and the neighboring islands through hub connections toward Syria.
Location: Lapu Lapu City / Cebu • Role: Visayas air export hub
Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao cargo) DVO / RPMD
Southern Mindanao air cargo facility providing domestic bellyhold transfers that feed international flights departing from Manila.
Location: Davao City / Mindanao • Role: Mindanao air cargo feeder

Damascus International Airport DAM / OSDI
Syria's busiest airport and main international gateway, about 30 km southeast of Damascus and linked to the city by the M5 motorway. It has two parallel 3,600 meter runways, two terminals, and is a hub for Syrian Air. International flights resumed on 7 January 2025 for the first time since the fall of the Assad regime, and renovation and a new terminal programme are under way.
Location: Damascus / Rif Dimashq • Runways: two at 3,600 m
Aleppo International Airport ALP / OSAP
Syria's second international gateway, serving Aleppo and northern Syria with a single 3,110 meter runway and a terminal of about 38,000 square meters. It reopened for air traffic on 18 March 2025 with the first commercial flight since the fall of the Assad regime, has been refurbished with Qatari assistance, and is a secondary hub for Syrian Air.
Location: Aleppo • Note: reopened March 2025
Latakia International Airport LTK / OSLK
International airport serving the coastal city of Latakia, adjacent to the Khmeimim air base. It is a secondary gateway for the coastal governorates and handles civil and military traffic.
Location: Latakia • Role: coastal gateway
Qamishli International Airport KAC / OSKL
International airport at Qamishli in the northeast, in Al-Hasakah governorate, serving the Jazira region. It is the air gateway for the far northeast, away from the coastal and central hubs.
Location: Qamishli / Al-Hasakah • Role: northeast gateway

Rail cargo and inland corridors

On the origin side the Philippines has no through freight railway for export containers, so finished cartons move by truck to a loading port. On the destination side Syria has a standard gauge national network operated by Syrian Railways (CFS), but the civil war paralysed it from 2012 and much of the infrastructure was destroyed. About 1,052 km of the 2,750 km network was back in operation by October 2025, and test running resumed on the Aleppo to Hama line in August 2025. Rail is therefore a real but still recovering option, and the main inland leg is road. Treat rail availability, gauge, and border connections as variables to confirm with the forwarder.

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.
Mode: truck drayage • Loading ports: DICT, Manila, Cebu
Hijo Industrial Estate and Special Economic Zone
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.
Location: Tagum City / Davao del Norte • Facility: Hijo International Port

Syrian Railways (CFS) network
The state railway, Syrian General Railway Corporation, is headquartered in Aleppo and operates the country's 1,435 mm standard gauge network, alongside a legacy 1,050 mm Hejaz narrow gauge. The network totals about 2,750 km, of which about 1,052 km was operational as of October 2025 after wartime damage, and diesel electric traction is used throughout. Test operations resumed on the Aleppo to Hama line in August 2025, and reconstruction is continuing.
Gauge: 1,435 mm standard • Status: about 1,052 km of 2,750 km operational
Coastal line, Latakia to Tartus
The 80 km coastal line linking Latakia and Tartus, opened in 1992, and the wider Aleppo to Latakia to Tartus to Akkari to Homs corridor connect the two Mediterranean ports with the northern and central interior. This is the natural rail leg for containers discharged at Latakia or Tartus.
Opened: 1992 • Corridor: Latakia to Tartus to Homs
Damascus to Aleppo main line
The principal north south main line runs from Damascus through Homs and Hama to Aleppo and on to the Turkish border at Meidan Ekbis, and the Homs to Damascus section opened in 1983. It is the backbone for inland distribution once the network is fully restored.
Route: Damascus to Homs to Hama to Aleppo • Note: test running resumed 2025
Homs to Palmyra freight line
A freight only line opened in 1980 running from Homs to Palmyra, built primarily to carry phosphates toward the port of Tartus. It shows the network's freight orientation, though general cargo routing still depends on the restoration programme.
Opened: 1980 • Role: freight only, phosphates
Border and regional rail links
Syria's network connects at the Turkish border at Qamishli to Nusaybin, at the Iraqi border at Al-Yaarubiyah, and toward Jordan, while the link to Lebanon was long defunct and in 2026 Syria and Lebanon agreed a joint plan to revive the Tripoli to Homs cross border line. Gauge changes at some borders and the condition of each crossing affect whether a through rail movement is practical.
Borders: Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon • Note: gauge and condition vary

Sea transport services Air transport services Rail transport services Philippines export sourcing hub

Landed-cost & Trade Framework for Syria

A reliable landed-cost estimate needs the final garment specification, quantity, packing dimensions, HS classification, Incoterm, destination, and delivery mode.

Trade Framework: GCC Customs Union & SASO / Saber Trade Compliance
Duty & Customs Guide: GCC unified tariff (typically 5% on apparel). Required GSO compliance, Saber portal registration for Saudi Arabia, and English/Arabic bilingual care labelling.
Recommended Fabrics: Lightweight 140 to 160 GSM combed cotton, high-breathability performance pique polo fabrics, and UV-protective sublimation fabrics.
Destination currency: Syrian Pound (SYP)
Freight variables: Chargeable weight or cubic volume, fuel and security surcharges, terminal fees, brokerage, insurance, and inland delivery.

Compliance checkpoints for Syria

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. Most United States and European Union sanctions on Syria were lifted during 2025, and the Caesar Act was repealed in December 2025, but some restrictions remain, so confirm routing, insurance, payment channels, and any remaining designations with a licensed forwarder and a compliance adviser before contracting.

Destination-country textile labelling rules
General product-safety and consumer protection requirements
Sanctions, export control, and payment channel screening

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 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 Syria: 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 Syria?

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 Syria take?

The planning estimate for sea transit is 28 to 45 days. Production normally takes 3 to 6 weeks after sample, artwork, and payment approval; shipping time is additional. Suez Canal routing, transshipment, port and terminal status, and inland delivery can extend the final timeline, so confirm the current schedule with the forwarder.

Which HS codes commonly apply to apparel imported into Syria?

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 Syria?

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 cargo rail corridors handle apparel shipments to Syria?

Ocean containers discharge at the Mediterranean ports of Latakia and Tartus, with Baniyas as an oil and bulk terminal. Air cargo arrives at Damascus, the main international gateway, or at Aleppo, Latakia, or Qamishli. Inland freight moves mainly by road, with rail on the recovering Syrian Railways network, including the Latakia to Tartus coastal line and the Damascus to Homs to Hama to Aleppo main line.

Discuss a shipment to Syria

Send your garment type, quantity, sizes, decoration method, target delivery date, and destination city.

Email requirements WhatsApp sales Viber sales

Reference sources

Last reviewed: 2026-09-28. Requirements change; verify current rules before contracting freight or producing labels.