Alcoholic beverage makers urge BOC to regulate foreign shipping charges

The industry group of distilleries and alcoholic beverage producers is pushing for the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to immediately issue a separate order regulating foreign shipping lines/agents’ destination and origin charges, underscoring that Philippine importers pay more on destination charges compared with importers in other Asian countries.

Distilled Spirits Association of the Philippines president Olivia Limpe-Aw, in a presentation during the 7th Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC) general assembly and 13th Central CICAC meeting on November 5, claimed Philippine importers pay 3.5 to 9 times more destination charges than Singapore (3.5x), Japan (3.8x), Vietnam (4.9x), Malaysia (5.8x), Thailand (7x), South Korea (7.9x), China (8.2x), and Indonesia (9.1x).

“So we are paying $1,618 and typical in eight countries, nine countries that we studied, they would be paying only $177 to $458 for the same container, so that’s 3.5 to 9 times what other countries are paying,” Limpe-Aw said.

DSAP members include the country’s biggest industry players such as San Miguel Corporation; Tanduay Distillers, Inc.; Emperador Distillers, Inc.; and Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc.

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