RIBEX Int'l.

Advisory on Delivery Delays Due to Severe Weather Conditions

Dear Valued Clients,

We wish to inform you that due to the recent severe weather conditions affecting the Visayas and Mindanao regions, delivery and transfer operations are currently experiencing unavoidable delays.

Most of Central Visayas, Palawan, and parts of Northern Mindanao are severely flooded, and several areas are without electricity. These conditions have greatly affected our trucking and delivery partners on the ground. In addition, local shipping vessels and barges were temporarily prevented from crossing ports during the typhoon, resulting in vessel congestion and long queues at major ports.

We are also closely monitoring another super typhoon named UWAN expected to affect Luzon this coming weekend, which may further disrupt land and sea transport schedules.

Please be assured that RIBEX Int’l. is doing everything possible to move shipments at the soonest time once it is safe and feasible to do so. However, as this situation is beyond our control, we seek your kind understanding and patience during this time.

Our operations and coordination teams are continuously monitoring updates and will provide further advisories as necessary.

Thank you for your continued trust and understanding.

Dear Valued Clients,

We would like to kindly remind everyone that only personal effects are allowed in balikbayan boxes. The inclusion of prohibited items may result in delays, penalties, or even confiscation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which will implement stricter inspection procedures on all incoming shipments.

STRICTLY PROHIBITED items include:

Commercial goods (items intended for resale)
Furniture or large household fixtures
Agricultural products (grains, seeds, soil, live plants, etc.)

ALLOWED PERSONAL EFFECTS refer to:

Used clothing and footwear
Toiletries and personal care items
Small household items
Gifts intended for family or personal use

Note: Importations of up to 2 litres (2000 ml) of wine and liquor, 2 reams of ci******es and 50 sticks of ci**rs shall be subject to
payment of excise tax only. Any excess is subject to duty, VAT and excise tax.

We highly encourage all our clients to comply with these regulations to ensure smooth and timely delivery of your balikbayan boxes.

Thank you for your continued trust and cooperation.

RIBEX Int’l.

December 19, 2023

Dear Clients,

Container vessels from Europe to Asia are sailing through the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for the simple reason that this route is shorter and quicker but all major shipping lines announced that it would pause all vessels bound for the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden over the highly escalated security situation in the area. This decision was taken to ensure the safety of crew, vessels and cargo onboard.

Having monitored developments closely and retrieved all available intelligence, most shipping lines has decided that all vessels previously paused and due to sail through the region will now be re-routed around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope for safety reasons. They will continue their voyages on the diverted routes as soon as operationally feasible and they will update us on the latest details when they know more.

For all future vessels planned to sail through the area, a case-by-case assessment will take place by shipping lines to determine whether adjustments need to be made – including diversions via the Cape of Good Hope and further contingency measures. Shipping lines will continue to provide all information to affected customers on a vessel-by-vessel basis as soon as possible.

We have faith that a solution enabling a return to using the Suez Canal and transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will be introduced in the near future, but at this time it remains difficult to determine exactly when this will be. According to shipping lines getting vessels moving via the Cape of Good Hope will ultimately be a faster and more predictable outcome.

We hope that you understand which impact this may have on our logistics operations, but please rest assured that all decisions have been carefully considered by shipping lines and only implemented in the name of safety.

RIBEX Int'l.

Alle grote rederijen mijden Rode Zee na aanvallen: 'Het loopt uit de hand' Aanleiding zijn de vele aanvallen door Houthi-rebellen in de Rode Zee. Rederijen wachten nu af hoe de situatie zich verder ontwikkelt of varen om via de Kaap de Goede Hoop.