How to Import Shea Butter into Saudi Arabia
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for Saudi Arabia — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- Saudi Arabia applies the GCC Integrated Customs Tariff (12-digit codes on HS 1515.90). The importer confirms the full line on the national tariff system.
- Cosmetics authority
- SFDA decides whether a cosmetic product needs registration or a classification letter before mainland sale. Bulk industrial shea is usually treated as a raw material, not a finished cosmetic.
- National tariff line
- Heading 1515.90 under the GCC 12-digit tariff. The importer reads the full national line on the Central Customs Tariff / national portal.
- Ports of discharge
- Jeddah, Dammam
- Transit from Lagos
- 18–28 days
- Certification priority
- Halal, ISO 22716 / GMP, COSMOS
- Halal relevance
- strong
- Labelling language
- English or Arabic on supporting certificates
- Specific to Saudi Arabia
- SFDA is the named Saudi Arabia authority on this page.
- Specific to Saudi Arabia (2)
- Lagos boxes for Saudi Arabia are planned for Jeddah (SAJED).
- Specific to Saudi Arabia (3)
- Jeddah is the named inland or port hub for Saudi Arabia.
Nigerian shea butter for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia does not produce shea nuts. Gulf and Levant buyers import the fat as they do other tropical vegetable butters. SFDA and SABER are Saudi programmes; Jeddah and Dammam are the Red Sea and Gulf doors. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Jeddah 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. SFDA filings sit with the Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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 Jeddah. 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; Saudi Arabia extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in Saudi Arabia (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line Heading 1515.90 under the GCC 12-digit tariff. The importer reads the full national line on the Central Customs Tariff / national portal. zatca.gov.sa Duty and tax note GCC agro and vegetable-fat lines commonly carry a 5% customs duty unless a preference or exemption applies; some lines vary. zatca.gov.sa Preference scheme and proof of origin Confirm the 12-digit measure and any VAT on the entry date. This is the oils-and-fats bracket, not a shea-only surcharge. zatca.gov.sa GCC agro and vegetable-fat lines commonly carry a 5% customs duty unless a preference or exemption applies; some lines vary. Confirm the 12-digit measure and any VAT on the entry date. This is the oils-and-fats bracket, not a shea-only surcharge.
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 Saudi Arabia, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under SFDA.
Finished cosmetics placed on the Saudi Arabia mainland market follow SFDA product rules. A bulk drum that is not itself sold as a cosmetic is not notified as a finished product.
Supporting certificates for cosmetic classification are usually accepted in English or Arabic. Finished consumer packs follow the national labelling language.
Buyers in Saudi Arabia most often ask for Halal, ISO 22716 / GMP and COSMOS; status is on our certifications page. See Halal, ISO 22716 / GMP, COSMOS and our certifications page.
- 3
Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those SFDA lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into Saudi Arabia (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 Halal certificate (where the buyer or food use requires it) Third party Before mainland sale Product classification or registration (finished cosmetics) Buyer / importer Before mainland 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.
- 4
Step 4 — Shipping & Incoterms
EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for Saudi Arabia discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to Saudi Arabia (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Jeddah SAJED 18–28 September 2026 Dammam SADMM 18–28 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 Saudi Arabia is handled through SFDA.
Jeddah is the usual discharge. Free-zone and mainland clearances are separate procedures. SABER applies in Saudi Arabia only.
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 Saudi Arabia buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in Saudi Arabia.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into the United Arab Emirates
How to import shea butter into Qatar
How to import shea butter into Kuwait
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
- zatca.gov.sa (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 Saudi Arabia
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in Saudi Arabia; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into Saudi Arabia. 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.