en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Bureau of Customs at Clark Port (BOC-Clark) is drafting a Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) to establish rules for the transshipment sorting of air cargo, in response to the ongoing expansion of FedEx and UPS operations at their Clark hub in Pampanga, developments that are positioning Clark as a key sorting hub in Asia.
Chris David Demaro, Assistant Chief of the BOC-Clark Bonded Warehouse Division, announced this at the recently held 2026 4th Central Luzon Transport and Trade Conference and Exhibition. He stated that the proposed CMO will be submitted to the BOC Central Office for review and approval, and is expected to be signed before the new UPS hub becomes operational in September 2026.
Transshipment sorting is a specialized form of value-added transit, involving the unloading, sorting, and reloading of goods in a continuous process within the same port of entry. Unlike direct transshipment, sorting adds an intermediate step where goods are unloaded, sorted, or deconsolidated, then reloaded onto different outbound vessels or aircraft, commonly used for air express cargo, less-than-truckload shipments, and courier networks. CMO No. 15-2022, effective June 2022, formally recognized transshipment sorting as a special type of transit and provided relevant rules.
Demaro noted that the hub expansions of FedEx and UPS highlight the urgency of developing comprehensive transshipment sorting rules, a strategic move that will boost Clark's competitiveness as an international trade gateway. BOC-Clark is actively consulting with Air Express Operators (AECO) at Clark to gather recommendations on procedural rules, risk analysis, fees, localization processes, and digitalization. This initiative is part of BOC-Clark's reform efforts through its local customs industry consultation and advisory council.
In related moves, BOC-Clark last year approved a request allowing FedEx to use commercial flights to supplement its dedicated air carrier network in response to growing cargo volumes. Under CMO 09-2021, AECOs are required to operate dedicated air carriers, but may use commercial flights for time-sensitive deliveries with prior approval from the Commissioner. FedEx broke ground on May 18 to expand its Clark gateway facility, targeting operations by 2028; the new UPS Clark hub is scheduled to launch in September 2026, with new flights from Clark International Airport (CRK).
These developments align with broader infrastructure investments. CRK operator Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. is allocating 30 hectares within the Clark Freeport Zone for a proposed "Cargo City." The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is constructing new aprons and taxiways at CRK, expected to be completed by 2030, and awarded a contract worth PHP 206.9 million in April for the design of CRK's second runway. The government is also developing "Clark Aviation Capital," a 2,367-hectare aviation-centric commercial hub aimed at attracting domestic and foreign investment.
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