How to Import Shea Butter into South Korea
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for South Korea — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- Korea Customs Service takes the entry on UNI-PASS. Shea butter is declared under heading 1515.90; the importer confirms the 10-digit HSK line on the KCS tariff / UNI-PASS.
- Cosmetics authority
- The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) administers the Cosmetics Act. A person who distributes or sells imported cosmetics must register as a responsible cosmetic distributor. Functional cosmetics need a separate MFDS examination or report.
- Food authority
- MFDS also regulates imported food. Food-use shea butter is entered as a vegetable fat and needs the importer's food-import filings, not a finished-food approval for the Nigerian plant.
- National tariff line
- Korea Harmonized Tariff heading 1515.90
- Product notification
- Each cosmetics import is preceded by a standard customs-clearance advance report (전자 표준통관예정보고) filed with the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association before UNI-PASS release. Bulk raw-material drums follow the raw-material path on that report, not a finished-product functional-cosmetics file.
- Ports of discharge
- Busan, Incheon
- Transit from Lagos
- 32–50 days
- Certification priority
- HACCP, ISO 22716 / GMP, COSMOS
- Labelling language
- Labelling in Korean
- Specific to South Korea
- MFDS is the named South Korea authority on this page.
- Specific to South Korea (2)
- Lagos boxes for South Korea are planned for Busan (KRPUS).
- Specific to South Korea (3)
- Buyers in South Korea also search the local name 시어버터.
Nigerian shea butter for South Korea
South Korea does not grow shea as a commercial crop. Drums arriving at Busan are West African origin — a South Korea formulator is buying an imported fat, not a domestic oilseed. MFDS registers the responsible cosmetic distributor; UNI-PASS clears Busan or Incheon. Seoul buyers haul from Incheon. Buyers also search 시어버터. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Seoul buyers usually take the inland haul from Incheon.
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. MFDS filings sit with the South Korea 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 South Korea 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 Busan. 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; South Korea extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in South Korea (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line Korea Harmonized Tariff heading 1515.90 — other fixed vegetable fats and oils. Confirm the full 10-digit HSK statistical line on UNI-PASS for the entry date. unipass.customs.go.kr Duty and tax note Vegetable fats under 1515.90 typically follow Korea's MFN oils-and-fats bracket plus VAT. customs.go.kr Preference scheme and proof of origin Nigeria is not treated here as an FTA partner. Confirm the HSK line on UNI-PASS for the entry date. This is not a shea-only surcharge. customs.go.kr Vegetable fats under 1515.90 typically follow Korea's MFN oils-and-fats bracket plus VAT. Nigeria is not treated here as an FTA partner. Confirm the HSK line on UNI-PASS 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.
- 2
Step 2 — Regulatory registration
In South Korea, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under MFDS; food-grade under the food authority.
Finished cosmetics placed on the Korean market follow the Cosmetics Act. The responsible cosmetic distributor, not the Nigerian factory, holds the MFDS registration and the raw-material list report.
Each cosmetics import is preceded by a standard customs-clearance advance report (전자 표준통관예정보고) filed with the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association before UNI-PASS release. Bulk raw-material drums follow the raw-material path on that report, not a finished-product functional-cosmetics file.
Food-use drums follow MFDS imported-food controls. The Korean importer is the food business operator.
Finished cosmetics sold in Korea need Korean-language particulars after batch quality testing. Bulk drums follow the contract language. (locally 시어버터)
Buyers in South Korea 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.
- 3
Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those MFDS lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into South Korea (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 UNI-PASS import declaration Buyer / importer Before release to home consumption Standard customs-clearance advance report (cosmetics) Buyer / importer Before each cosmetics import 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 South Korea discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to South Korea (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Busan KRPUS 32–50 September 2026 Incheon KRINC 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 South Korea is handled through MFDS.
Boxes discharge at Busan (KRPUS) or Incheon (KRINC). Seoul-area buyers usually haul from Incheon. The importer lodges UNI-PASS; cosmetics lots also need the KPTA advance report.
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 South Korea buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in South Korea.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into Japan
How to import shea butter into the United States
How to import shea butter into the European Union
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.go.kr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- elaw.klri.re.kr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- mfds.go.kr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- unipass.customs.go.kr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- kpta.or.kr (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 South Korea
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in South Korea; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into South Korea. 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.