How to Import Shea Butter into Hong Kong
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for Hong Kong — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- Hong Kong is a separate customs territory. Hong Kong Customs applies its own tariff. Clearing in Hong Kong is not an import into mainland China.
- Cosmetics authority
- The Department of Health oversees cosmetic product safety in Hong Kong. This is not NMPA mainland filing.
- National tariff line
- Hong Kong Harmonized System heading 1515.90. Confirm the 8-digit Hong Kong line on the Hong Kong Customs tariff.
- Ports of discharge
- Hong Kong
- Transit from Lagos
- 32–50 days
- Certification priority
- ISO 22716 / GMP, HACCP, COSMOS
- Labelling language
- English or Chinese
- Specific to Hong Kong
- DH is the named Hong Kong authority on this page.
- Specific to Hong Kong (2)
- Lagos boxes for Hong Kong are planned for Hong Kong (HKHKG).
- Specific to Hong Kong (3)
- HKD is the invoice currency buyers in Hong Kong usually name.
Nigerian shea butter for Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a destination market, not a shea-growing region. Drums arriving at Hong Kong are West African origin. Hong Kong Customs is not mainland China Customs; a Hong Kong discharge is not an NMPA entry. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Hong Kong 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. DH filings sit with the Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong. 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.
- 1
Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; Hong Kong extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in Hong Kong (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line Hong Kong Harmonized System heading 1515.90. Confirm the 8-digit Hong Kong line on the Hong Kong Customs tariff. customs.gov.hk Duty and tax note Most Hong Kong imports, including vegetable fats, are duty-free; a declaration and any trade-specific control still apply. customs.gov.hk Preference scheme and proof of origin This is not the mainland China MFN rate. customs.gov.hk Most Hong Kong imports, including vegetable fats, are duty-free; a declaration and any trade-specific control still apply. This is not the mainland China MFN rate.
Why the first six digits are the same everywhere is explained in the exporting and importing shea butter guide.
- 2
Step 2 — Regulatory registration
In Hong Kong, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under DH.
Hong Kong does not use mainland NMPA cosmetic filing. Finished cosmetics follow Hong Kong consumer-goods rules.
English or Chinese is accepted on Hong Kong consumer packs. Bulk drums follow the contract language.
Buyers in Hong Kong 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.
- 3
Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those DH lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into Hong Kong (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 Nigerian export-side documents are explained in how to import shea butter from Nigeria; the COA format is on the certificate of analysis page.
- 4
Step 4 — Shipping & Incoterms
EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for Hong Kong discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to Hong Kong (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Hong Kong HKHKG 32–50 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.
- 5
Step 5 — Customs clearance & inspection
Clearance in Hong Kong is handled through DH.
Boxes discharge at the Port of Hong Kong (HKHKG). A subsequent mainland entry still needs a separate GACC / NMPA file.
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 Hong Kong buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in Hong Kong.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into China
How to import shea butter into Taiwan
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
- customs.gov.hk (accessed 13 September 2026)
- dh.gov.hk (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 Hong Kong
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in Hong Kong; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into Hong Kong. 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.