You Googled "ship to Philippines from Spain" and still don't know what to do
You've got ten tabs open. UMAC. JRS. Forex. LBC. Every page claims to be "the best option," but none of them tell you the actual cost from Spain, the real timeline, or whether they have an office you can walk into.
Sound familiar? You end up in a Facebook group where everyone recommends something different.
We get it. We went through the same thing before starting Acacia Cargo. This article is the guide we wish we'd found: an honest comparison, with real data, of the main shipping companies to the Philippines available from Spain.
No bias. Real prices. And a clear recommendation based on what you need to send.
Why so many options and so little clarity
There are over 50,000 Filipinos living in Spain, and close to 800,000 across Europe. That's thousands of packages, documents and balikbayan boxes crossing the planet every month.
Within this industry, very different models coexist:
- Sea freight — slow and cheap, great for large boxes
- Air cargo — faster but pricier, for when time matters
- Informal services (pasabuy) — no guarantees, but deeply rooted in the community
- Agencies with physical offices — in-person service, customs handling included
The problem is most companies don't clearly explain these differences. They sell you "shipping to the Philippines" without mentioning that there's a massive gap between waiting 3 months and waiting 2 weeks.
Let's go company by company.
UMAC Express Cargo
What it is: One of the most recognized names among overseas Filipinos. UMAC specializes in sea cargo for balikbayan boxes — those large boxes filled with gifts, clothes, food and household items.
How it works: UMAC collects boxes (with pickup in some areas) and ships them by sea. They have agents and collection points in several European countries.
Timeline: Between 8 and 12 weeks by sea.
The good:
- Great for large, heavy shipments where time isn't a factor
- Established network with years of experience
- Competitive pricing per kilo for bulky cargo
The not so good:
- Sea freight only — no fast option
- No physical office in Barcelona or Madrid
- Tracking is basic: few updates during transit
- Not suitable for documents or urgent shipments
When to choose UMAC? When you have a large balikbayan box, no rush, and can wait 2-3 months.
JRS Express
What it is: JRS Express is a domestic Philippine courier with one of the largest delivery networks inside the Philippines. It's a household name for sending packages within the country.
How it works from Europe: JRS has no direct presence in Europe. International shipping depends on local agents and partners who consolidate shipments and hand them off to JRS for last-mile delivery in the Philippines.
Timeline: Variable. Depends on which agent you use in Europe. No standard guaranteed timeline from Spain.
The good:
- Excellent domestic delivery network in the Philippines, including rural areas
- Trusted, well-known brand in the Philippines
The not so good:
- No direct service from Spain or Europe
- You depend on intermediaries for the international leg
- No office in Spain
- Limited tracking for the Europe-to-Philippines segment
When to choose JRS? If your package is already in the Philippines and you need domestic delivery. For the international leg from Spain, you'll need another company.
Forex Cargo / Forex World
What it is: Forex Cargo (also known as Forex World) is popular among Filipinos in the UK and some European countries. They focus primarily on sea freight balikbayan boxes, with some air cargo options.
How it works: Similar to UMAC: box collection, consolidation, and sea shipment. In some markets they also offer air cargo at a higher price.
Timeline: Between 6 and 10 weeks by sea. Faster with air cargo, though it's not always available from every country.
The good:
- Strong presence in the United Kingdom
- Air cargo option in some markets
- Experience serving the Filipino community in Europe
The not so good:
- Coverage in Spain is limited or nonexistent
- Primarily oriented toward the UK market
- No office in Barcelona or Madrid
- Document shipping service is limited
When to choose Forex? If you're in the UK. If you're in Spain, options are scarce.
LBC Express
What it is: LBC is the largest Filipino logistics company in the world. With decades of history, they offer package shipping, money remittances and courier services both within the Philippines and internationally.
How it works: LBC has agents in various countries and offers both sea and air shipping. They're well known for their remittance (money transfer) service.
Timeline: Between 7 and 21 days depending on the service and country of origin.
The good:
- Massive domestic network in the Philippines: thousands of delivery points
- Combines package shipping and remittances
- Most recognized logistics brand in the Philippines
- Both sea and air options
The not so good:
- Limited presence in Spain
- No physical office in Barcelona
- Customer service in English and Filipino, not Spanish
- Air cargo prices aren't always the most competitive
- Documents from approximately €70-80
When to choose LBC? When you need to leverage their domestic Philippine network or combine shipping with money remittances.
Acacia Cargo (Barcelona)
What it is: Acacia Cargo is an international shipping agency with a physical office in Barcelona, specializing in air cargo and documents to the Philippines and over 50 countries.
How it works: Drop off your shipment at our office at Carrer de Pelai 9, Barcelona (or we coordinate pickup). We handle professional packaging, customs declarations and air cargo shipping. You get real-time tracking until delivery.
Timeline:
- Documents: 3–5 business days
- Packages and air cargo: 7–15 days
The good:
- Document specialist: from €39 (3–5 business days)
- Air cargo to the Philippines: from €90 (7–15 days)
- Physical office in central Barcelona — you can walk in
- Service in 3 languages: Spanish, English and Filipino
- Real-time tracking on every shipment
- Professional customs handling included
- Airborne balikbayan box service for larger shipments
The not so good:
- No sea freight (not the option for 50 kg boxes with no deadline)
- Office only in Barcelona (though shipments can be coordinated from anywhere in Spain)
When to choose Acacia Cargo? Urgent documents that need to arrive in days, not weeks. 1-20 kg packages via air cargo when you want real tracking and professional handling. Or simply when you want to talk to someone in person, in your language, in Barcelona.
The comparison: all options at a glance
| UMAC Express | JRS Express | Forex Cargo | LBC Express | Acacia Cargo |
| Speed (cargo) | 8-12 weeks | Variable | 6-10 weeks | 7-21 days | 7-15 days |
| Shipping type | Sea freight | Domestic PH | Sea / Air | Sea / Air | Air cargo |
| Barcelona office | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Documents | No | No | Limited | Limited | Specialized (3-5 days) |
| Tracking | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic | Real-time |
| Languages | EN / FIL | FIL | EN / FIL | EN / FIL | ES / EN / FIL |
| Document pricing | N/A | N/A | N/A | ~€70-80 | From €39 |
| Air cargo pricing | N/A | N/A | Varies | Varies | From €90 |
Which one should you choose? It depends on what you're sending
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. But after years in the industry, here's our honest recommendation:
You have a large balikbayan box and can wait 2-3 months
→ UMAC Express or a sea freight service. Most affordable per kilo for bulky shipments.
You need to send legal documents, contracts or deeds
→ Acacia Cargo. We're the only option specializing in documents with real-time tracking and 3-5 day delivery from Barcelona. From €39 — compared to the €70-80 others typically charge.
You want to send a 5-20 kg package via air cargo
→ Acacia Cargo. Air cargo with customs handling included, door-to-door tracking and 7-15 day delivery. From €90.
You're in Barcelona and want to visit a physical office
→ Acacia Cargo. We're the only company on this list with an office in Barcelona: Carrer de Pelai 9.
You need to send money along with packages
→ LBC Express offers combined remittance and shipping services.
You're in the UK, not Spain
→ Forex Cargo has good coverage there. From Spain, it's not your best bet.
The key is simple: don't use sea freight for something urgent, and don't pay air cargo rates for something that can wait 3 months. Choose based on your actual need.
Next step
If you need your shipment to arrive in days — not months — the choice is clear.
Request your quote in under 24 hours or visit us at Carrer de Pelai 9, Barcelona. We serve you in Spanish, English and Filipino.
Looking to send a balikbayan box by air? Check out our airborne balikbayan box service.