How to Import Shea Butter into India
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for India — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- Indian Customs (CBIC) clears entries on ICEGATE. Shea butter is declared under heading 1515.90; the importer confirms the eight-digit Indian Tariff line.
- Cosmetics authority
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) regulates finished cosmetics under the Cosmetics Rules. Bulk shea butter as a raw material is not itself a registered cosmetic.
- Food authority
- FSSAI regulates edible fats. Food-use shea butter is entered as a vegetable fat and needs the importer's food-import filings.
- National tariff line
- Indian Customs Tariff heading 1515.90
- Ports of discharge
- Nhava Sheva, Mundra
- Transit from Lagos
- 18–30 days
- Certification priority
- HACCP, ISO 22716 / GMP, COSMOS
- Labelling language
- Labelling in English and/or Hindi
- Specific to India
- CDSCO is the named India authority on this page.
- Specific to India (2)
- Lagos boxes for India are planned for Nhava Sheva (INNSA).
- Specific to India (3)
- Mumbai is the named inland or port hub for India.
Nigerian shea butter for India
India does not grow shea as a commercial crop. A formulator in Mumbai or a soap plant in Gujarat is buying a Nigerian or West African fat landed at Nhava Sheva. CDSCO watches finished cosmetics; FSSAI watches edible fats. Nhava Sheva and Mundra are the usual West Coast doors for Mumbai and Delhi buyers. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Nhava Sheva 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. CDSCO filings sit with the India 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 India 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 Nhava Sheva. 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.
Why India buys Nigerian shea butter
India does not grow shea as a commercial crop. A Mumbai formulator, a Delhi distributor or a Bengaluru personal-care plant is buying Nigerian or West African fat landed at Nhava Sheva or Mundra. English-language specifications and a NIS 571:2013 COA are what the purchase order should carry.
CDSCO watches finished cosmetics under the Cosmetics Rules. FSSAI watches edible fats. Bulk shea as a raw material is not itself a registered Indian cosmetic. The Indian importer lodges the ICEGATE bill of entry and any FSSAI food-import file. EMI Agro issues the invoice, packing list and batch COA.
Nhava Sheva serves Mumbai and most South India hauls, including Bengaluru. Mundra is the Gujarat and North India alternative; Delhi-area warehouses usually take inland rail from either West Coast port. Typical ocean time from Lagos is about 18–30 days. Confirm the live schedule when you book.
India extends HS heading 1515.90 on the Customs Tariff. Duty follows the vegetable-fat / oils-and-fats bracket plus GST — confirm the eight-digit line on ICEGATE for the entry date. EMI Agro does not invent a shea-only Indian surcharge or compute landed duty.
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Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; India extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in India (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line Indian Customs Tariff heading 1515.90 — other fixed vegetable fats and oils. Confirm the full eight-digit line on ICEGATE for the entry date. icegate.gov.in Duty and tax note Vegetable fats under 1515.90 typically follow India's oils-and-fats MFN bracket plus GST. icegate.gov.in Preference scheme and proof of origin Confirm the line and any preference for Nigerian origin on the tariff for the entry date. This is not a shea-only surcharge. icegate.gov.in Vegetable fats under 1515.90 typically follow India's oils-and-fats MFN bracket plus GST. Confirm the line and any preference for Nigerian origin on the tariff for the entry date. This is not a shea-only surcharge.
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 India, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under CDSCO; food-grade under the food authority.
Finished cosmetics placed on the Indian market follow CDSCO and the Cosmetics Rules. The Nigerian plant does not hold that local file.
Food-use drums follow FSSAI import rules. The Indian importer is the food business operator.
Finished cosmetics sold to Indian consumers need English and/or Hindi particulars as the Cosmetics Rules require. Bulk drums follow the contract language.
Buyers in India most often ask for HACCP, ISO 22716 / GMP and COSMOS; status is on our certifications page. See HACCP, ISO 22716 / GMP, COSMOS and our certifications page.
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Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those CDSCO lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into India (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 ICEGATE / Bill of Entry Buyer / importer Before release to home consumption FSSAI import clearance (food-use only) Buyer / importer Before edible-fat release 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 India discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to India (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Nhava Sheva INNSA 18–30 September 2026 Mundra INMUN 18–30 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 India is handled through CDSCO.
Boxes discharge at Nhava Sheva or Mundra. Mumbai buyers haul from Nhava Sheva; Delhi-area warehouses usually take inland rail from either West Coast 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 India buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in India.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into the United States
How to import shea butter into the European Union
How to import shea butter into Germany
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
- icegate.gov.in (accessed 13 September 2026)
- cdsco.gov.in (accessed 13 September 2026)
- fssai.gov.in (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 India
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in India; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into India. 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.