I I Cortez Brokerage and Logistics

02/07/2026

Your device's classification isn't something you look up. It's something that gets decided — and the decision isn't always yours.

Every medical device imported into the Philippines is sorted into one of four risk classes, and that class sets everything downstream: which certificate you need, how long it takes, what it costs, and how many agencies get involved. Importers tend to treat this as a box to tick on a form. It isn't. Two people can look at the same monitor and land on different classes — and if Customs lands higher than you did, your cargo waits while it gets sorted out.

Most of the time it does get sorted out. A device that never breaks the skin shouldn't carry the burden of one that does; a built-in camera that neither records nor transmits isn't telecom equipment. But making that case is a lot easier when it's done early — as a question you raise before shipping, not a problem you inherit at the port.

That's the part first-time importers rarely know to ask about. It's also the part we're here for.

👉 Swipe through for how device classes actually work — and where the line gets drawn.

Consultations are always free — we only charge when your shipment is ready to move.

26/06/2026

Medical equipment is an importer’s dream life hack – why?

High value. Low weight.

Meaning you pay less on shipping, storage, and port charges but can sell them for higher value.

Surgical equipment? 10 kilos, costs P100k landed – sells for P150k. For delivery? Kaya ng isang motor.

That gap between what it costs to move and what it's worth when it lands — that's the opportunity.

We've been clearing medical equipment for years. It's one of those imports na talagang worth it pag alam mo kung pano gawin ng tama.

Applicable sa negosyo mo? Usap tayo.

18/06/2026

Did you know?

A lot of the coffee beans your favorite local café serves come from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil.

And some come from right here: Benguet Arabica from the Cordillera highlands, and Batangas barako, one of the most sought-after beans in the country.

11/06/2026

Two businesses can buy the same coffee from the same supplier and face two completely different rulebooks at the border — because one of them ordered it roasted.

The Philippines drinks far more coffee than it grows, and that gap is a genuine opening for cafés, roasters, and the suppliers who serve them. But coffee is also one of the most closely regulated products on the water — and the preparation starts long before anything is loaded, with some of the paperwork sitting on your supplier's side of the ocean.

Swipe through for the full picture 👉

Not sure which rules apply to the coffee you have in mind? That's exactly the conversation to have at step zero. Consultations are always free — we only charge when your shipment is ready to move.

03/06/2026

Auto parts is one of the broadest import categories there is — and the first question that shapes everything isn't the brand or the price.

Each part carries its own tariff classification and its own duty. Where it's sourced can lower that duty, sometimes to zero — but only if the right certificate of origin travels with the shipment. The document IS a percentage of the profit

Most of what trips up first-time importers happens long before the shipment arrives. 👉

Talk to us before you order. Consultations are always free — we only charge when your shipment is ready to move.

29/05/2026

27/05/2026

Motorcycle parts is one of the broadest import categories there is.
An engine, a brake pad, a tire, and a headlight all go into the same trade — but each one has its own tariff classification, its own duty rate, and sometimes its own paperwork requirements.

That's why "how much will it cost to import?" almost never has a single answer until we know the specific items, the origin, and the order size.

We cover here what every motorcycle parts importer should know before placing their first order. Swipe through 👉

Got questions about a specific item? Message us. Consultations are always free — we only charge when your shipment is ready to move.

21/05/2026

Kita kits bukas sa 18th Philippine SME Business Expo in SMX Manila. 👋

We'll be attending the Expo — so kung may tanong kayo sa importation, customs, or just curious kung pano gumagana ang proseso — hanapin nyo lang kami don. Libre ang usap.

Where every shipment is personal.

19/05/2026

We've handled telecom infrastructure for some of the biggest names in the industry. The process doesn't get simpler at scale — it gets more precise. Whether you're building a network or expanding one, the clearance requirements are the same. They start earlier than most people expect.

And as the world moves toward a more connected future, the infrastructure behind it has to move too — through ports, through customs, through regulatory clearance. We can help make sure it gets here the right way.

So you want to import: Telecom infrastructure.
Let's talk before the shipment moves.

14/05/2026

I want to stress the importance of DOCUMENTATION.

If there's anything you can't neglect as an importer, it's documentation.

The Bureau of Customs can audit your business for the last 3 years through the Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG).

And when you’re being audited — your documentation could be the difference between staying in business or closing down.