BY AMIT MAHESHWARI
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is proposing a new Customs Administrative Order (CAO) aimed at addressing a long-standing concern among Philippine importers. One of the provisions of the draft order requires foreign shipping lines to refund container deposits within 15 days from the return of empty containers to the yard — a move intended to improve transparency and ease cash flow pressures.
For years, carriers have sat on these deposits for 60 to 90 days, effectively using your money as interest-free loans. This new rule, backed by the Department of Finance, finally puts a hard deadline on the “administrative delays” shipping lines use to justify holding your cash.
Why it matters
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any logistics operation in Manila, Cebu, or Davao. When a shipping line holds ₱10,000 to ₱30,000 per container, a medium-sized forwarder can easily have millions of pesos locked up in “pending” refunds.
The rule also kills a common bullying tactic: carriers can no longer hold a deposit hostage because of an unrelated dispute on a different shipment. If the box for Shipment A is back and clean, they must pay—regardless of what you supposedly owe them for Shipment B.
What it means for you
You now have a legal hammer to hit carriers that stall on payments. If the check isn’t ready in two weeks, you can escalate the matter to the BOC for enforcement.
What you should watch
- The 15-Day Trigger: The clock starts the moment the Equipment Interchange Report (EIR) is issued at the depot. Ensure your trucker sends a clear photo of the “MTY Return” EIR immediately.
- Published Rates: Check the Customs Memorandum Circulars (CMC). Carriers must now publish all local fees in newspapers. If a fee isn’t published and circularized by the BOC, they cannot deduct it from your deposit.
- Cleaning Charges: BOC is moving toward a standard tariff for container cleaning. Watch for “standard” deductions that exceed the new BOC-approved rates.
- Space Issues: If a carrier’s nominated yard is full and refuses your empty, they cannot charge you detention for the delay. Document the refusal with a timestamped photo or “Yard Full” notice.
What to avoid
- The “Offset” Trap: Do not allow carriers to deduct old, disputed detention charges from your current refund. The CAO explicitly prohibits this “indirect lien.”
- Friday Submissions: Some lines, like ONE, have strict cut-offs (e.g., no submissions on Fridays). Align your filing schedule so you don’t lose three days before the 15-day clock even starts.
- Loose Paperwork: Any error in the Bank Certification or BIR 2303 will be used by the carrier to reset the clock. Double-check the “Payable To” name against your bank records.
Stop treating container deposits as a lost cost; it’s your money, and it’s time to collect it on time.
About the Author
Amit Maheshwari is the CEO of Softlink Global. He built Logi-Sys, a freight platform now used in over 50 countries. With 30 years in the industry, he focuses on fixing operational bottlenecks through software. He writes “IT in Logistics” for PortCalls Asia to cut through the tech hype and address the reality of moving cargo.
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