Magento – Magento 2 How to Change Estimate Shipping Default Country

You can:

1) copy file app\code\core\Mage\Checkout\Block\Cart\Shipping.php in the app\code\local\Mage\Checkout\Block\Cart\Shipping.php

2) define method

protected function _getQuote()
{
    return Mage::getSingleton('checkout/cart')->getQuote();
}

3) in the function getEstimateRates add

$this->_getQuote()->getShippingAddress()
        ->setCountryId($country)
        ->setCity($city)
        ->setPostcode($postcode)
        ->setRegionId($regionId)
        ->setRegion($region)
        ->setCollectShippingRates(true);
$this->_getQuote()->save();

where $country and other variables are you pre-defined values.

4) copy the template app\design\frontend\base\default\template\checkout\cart\shipping.phtml into your custom theme and adjust if if needed.

I used this method just so I could change the css on the <select> element but it makes it easier to "filter" countries and what not as well, which could help you.

Go to /app/design/frontend/THEME_NAME/default/template/checkout/cart/shipping.phtml

Try replacing:

<?php echo Mage::getBlockSingleton('directory/data')->getCountryHtmlSelect($this->getEstimateCountryId()) ?>

With this:

<?php $_countries = Mage::getResourceModel('directory/country_collection')->loadByStore()->toOptionArray(false) ?>
<?php if (count($_countries) > 0): ?>
    <select name="country_id" id="country" class="validate-select">
        <option value="GB">United Kingdom</option>
        <?php foreach($_countries as $_country): ?>
            if($_country['value']=="GB")
            {
                continue
            }
            else
            {
                <option value="<?php echo $_country['value'] ?>">
                    <?php echo $_country['label'] ?>
                </option>
            }
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    </select>
<?php endif; ?>