How to Import Shea Butter into Ecuador
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for Ecuador — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- Ecuador declares shea butter under heading 1515.90 on the Andean NANDINA. The importer confirms the national statistical suffix.
- Cosmetics authority
- ARCSA regulates finished cosmetics. Bulk shea butter as a raw material follows the industrial-ingredient path, not automatically a finished-product sanitary registration.
- Food authority
- Edible-fat imports follow ARCSA / the national food authority. Food-use shea is entered as a vegetable fat.
- National tariff line
- Andean NANDINA heading 1515.90
- Ports of discharge
- Guayaquil
- Transit from Lagos
- 22–38 days
- Certification priority
- ISO 22716 / GMP, HACCP, COSMOS
- Labelling language
- Labelling in Spanish
- Specific to Ecuador
- ARCSA is the named Ecuador authority on this page.
- Specific to Ecuador (2)
- Lagos boxes for Ecuador are planned for Guayaquil (ECGYE).
- Specific to Ecuador (3)
- Guayaquil is the named inland or port hub for Ecuador.
Nigerian shea butter for Ecuador
Shea trees do not grow as a commercial crop in Ecuador; the fat is imported. West African Vitellaria paradoxa is the botanical source. Guayaquil is both the port and the buying city; ARCSA is the sanitary authority. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Guayaquil is the usual discharge.
Ask for a batch COA on a NIS 571:2013 basis: free fatty acid, peroxide value, moisture, colour and melting point. Reject lots that smell sharply rancid or pour like liquid oil at room temperature. ARCSA filings sit with the Ecuador importer — they do not replace a COA.
Trial lots start at 5 tonnes; standard orders start at 20 tonnes. Send the request even if you need less — EMI Agro reviews every Ecuador enquiry against current production of 40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter and can schedule rolling shipments. Lead time is Ibadan production plus ocean time to Guayaquil. Quotes are EXW, FOB or CIF; each term prices different services beyond the butter.
Two questions. We show the grade, the documents that usually apply and the next step — we do not invent a price.
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Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; Ecuador extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in Ecuador (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line Andean NANDINA heading 1515.90 — other fixed vegetable fats and oils. Confirm the full national code on the customs tariff. controlsanitario.gob.ec Duty and tax note Vegetable fats under 1515.90 typically follow the national or bloc MFN oils-and-fats rate plus VAT/IVA. controlsanitario.gob.ec Preference scheme and proof of origin Confirm the Ecuador line and any preference for Nigerian origin on the entry date. controlsanitario.gob.ec Vegetable fats under 1515.90 typically follow the national or bloc MFN oils-and-fats rate plus VAT/IVA. Confirm the Ecuador line and any preference for Nigerian origin on the entry date.
Why the first six digits are the same everywhere is explained in the exporting and importing shea butter guide.
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Step 2 — Regulatory registration
In Ecuador, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under ARCSA; food-grade under the food authority.
Finished cosmetics placed on the Ecuador market need the sanitary notification or registration ARCSA publishes. The Nigerian plant does not hold that local file.
Food-use drums need the importer's food-import licence where Ecuador requires one.
Finished cosmetics sold to consumers in Ecuador need the official language particulars.
Buyers in Ecuador most often ask for ISO 22716 / GMP, HACCP and COSMOS; status is on our certifications page. See ISO 22716 / GMP, HACCP, COSMOS and our certifications page.
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Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those ARCSA lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into Ecuador (sources and dates in References) Document Issued by When Commercial invoice EMI Agro At booking Packing list EMI Agro At stuffing Bill of lading Carrier On vessel departure Certificate of Analysis (per batch) EMI Agro With shipping documents Certificate of origin Nigerian agency Before shipment Form NXP Nigerian agency Before shipment Sanitary / import licence (as the national authority requires) Buyer / importer Before release or first sale Nigerian export-side documents are explained in how to import shea butter from Nigeria; the COA format is on the certificate of analysis page.
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Step 4 — Shipping & Incoterms
EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for Ecuador discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to Ecuador (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Guayaquil ECGYE 22–38 September 2026 - EXW: buyer arranges collection, freight and insurance from the factory.
- FOB: EMI Agro delivers on board at the named Lagos port; buyer arranges ocean freight.
- CIF: EMI Agro arranges freight and insurance to the named discharge port.
Container configuration is calculated separately — use the shea export container calculator and the container notes on the export overview.
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Step 5 — Customs clearance & inspection
Clearance in Ecuador is handled through ARCSA.
Boxes discharge at Guayaquil. Guayaquil buyers take the inland haul from that port.
Working with EMI Agro
- MOQ
- Standard orders start at 20 tonnes. Trial lots start at 5 tonnes. Smaller volumes can still be requested — we review every enquiry against current production.
- Lead time
- Lead time is Ibadan production time plus ocean time to the named port. EMI Agro produces 40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter and can schedule rolling shipments. Exact weeks depend on the quantity on the purchase order.
- Incoterms
- EXW, FOB, CIF
- Samples
- Trial lots start at 5 tonnes of the named grade. Send the request even if you need less — we review whether we can supply.
- Load ports
- Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos)
For Ecuador buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in Ecuador.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into Brazil
How to import shea butter into Mexico
How to import shea butter into Argentina
How to import shea butter from Nigeria
Nigerian export-side procedure before the container sails.
Shea export container calculator
How many drums fit a container.
Exporting shea butter from Nigeria
HS heading, load ports and the country-guide hub.
Certificate of Analysis
How a batch COA is reported.
Frequently asked questions
References & standards
- controlsanitario.gob.ec (accessed 13 September 2026)
- maersk.com (accessed 13 September 2026)
Last reviewed September 2026 by EMI Agro Industries QC team.
Manufacturer-direct from Ibadan, Nigeria
Get an export quote for Ecuador
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in Ecuador; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into Ecuador. The next step is a real lot from the factory that produces it — EMI Agro, with factory-direct pricing and a batch Certificate of Analysis.
Trusted manufacturer
EMI Agro Industries Limited (RC 9364495) presses the butter in Ibadan — we are not a trading company.
Competitive factory-direct prices
Quoted EXW, FOB or CIF — the buyer chooses. You pay the factory, not a chain of middlemen.
Export-ready supply
We ship to European Union, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Southeast Asia, China, India, Middle East, Latin America. Load ports: Apapa (Lagos) or Tin Can Island (Lagos).
Documented lots
40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter, a Certificate of Analysis on every batch, NAFDAC registered and SON approved.