Which tariff line does a Taiwan importer declare for bulk shea butter?

Start from HS heading 1515.90. Taiwan extends that heading to the national line recorded on this page (Taiwan Customs Administration heading 1515.90). The importer, not the exporter's six-digit invoice code, confirms the full statistical number on the Taiwan tariff for the entry date.

Does TFDA make a Nigerian factory register before selling shea butter into Taiwan?

TFDA rules apply to the Taiwan responsible person or importer for finished cosmetics or food, as this guide states. A factory that only supplies bulk drums should not assume it must open a local portal account. Finished-product notification stays with the buyer in Taiwan.

Which documents travel with a Lagos container bound for Kaohsiung?

EMI Agro issues the commercial invoice, packing list and a Certificate of Analysis per batch. The carrier issues the bill of lading. Nigerian export files (certificate of origin and Form NXP) travel with the shipment. Taiwan import filings — the customs declaration and any TFDA notice — are the buyer's.

How long does a typical West Africa service take from Lagos to Kaohsiung?

Ocean time to Kaohsiung is shown on this page as a typical West Africa container range, not a booked schedule. Confirm the live ETD/ETA on the carrier tool when you book. Inland time from Kaohsiung to a warehouse in Taiwan is extra.

Is shea butter duty-free in Taiwan?

Duty follows the vegetable-fat / oils-and-fats bracket on heading 1515.90 in Taiwan, plus VAT or GST where charged. Some markets (for example a Free general rate on a nut-oil line) publish a zero Column 1 rate; others do not. Read the tariff note on this page and confirm on the entry date. EMI Agro does not compute landed duty.

What language belongs on a Taiwan shea butter label?

Traditional Chinese on consumer packs. Bulk industrial drums follow the language agreed on the contract. Finished consumer packs follow TFDA labelling rules in Taiwan.

Import guide

How to Import Shea Butter into Taiwan

Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for Taiwan — every fact sourced and dated.

Shea butter enters Taiwan under HS heading 1515.90 — Taiwan Customs Administration heading 1515.90. Confirm the national statistical line on the Taiwan tariff. in the national tariff — and is overseen by TFDA for cosmetic use. To import it, confirm the tariff line and duty, check registration requirements with TFDA, assemble the documents below, ship from Lagos to Kaohsiung (32–50 days) and clear customs with Taiwan Customs applies the Taiwan tariff.

Key facts for importing shea butter into Taiwan (sources and dates in References)

Customs authority: Taiwan Customs applies the Taiwan tariff. Shea butter is declared under heading 1515.90. This is not mainland NMPA/GACC.
Cosmetics authority: The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) regulates cosmetics. Finished cosmetics are notified on the TFDA system.
National tariff line: Taiwan Customs Administration heading 1515.90. Confirm the national statistical line on the Taiwan tariff.
Ports of discharge: Kaohsiung
Transit from Lagos: 32–50 days
Certification priority: TFDA notification, HACCP, ISO 22716 / GMP
Labelling language: Traditional Chinese on consumer packs
Specific to Taiwan: TFDA is the named Taiwan authority on this page.
Specific to Taiwan (2): Lagos boxes for Taiwan are planned for Kaohsiung (TWKHH).
Specific to Taiwan (3): Taipei is the named inland or port hub for Taiwan.

Nigerian shea butter for Taiwan

Taiwan is a destination market, not a shea-growing region. Drums arriving at Kaohsiung are West African origin. TFDA is not NMPA; Kaohsiung is the named container door for Taipei buyers. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Kaohsiung 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. TFDA filings sit with the Taiwan 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 Taiwan 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 Kaohsiung. Quotes are EXW, FOB or CIF; each term prices different services beyond the butter.

What are you buying shea butter for in Taiwan?

Two questions. We show the grade, the documents that usually apply and the next step — we do not invent a price.

Use

Quantity

Step 1 — Classify & tariff

Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; Taiwan extends it to the national line below.

Tariff classification for shea butter in Taiwan (sources and dates in References)
Item	Value	Source
HS heading	1515.90 — global	Harmonized System
National tariff line	Taiwan Customs Administration heading 1515.90. Confirm the national statistical line on the Taiwan tariff.	customs.gov.tw
Duty and tax note	Taiwan's MFN oils-and-fats rate under 1515.90 is the starting bracket.	customs.gov.tw
Preference scheme and proof of origin	Confirm on the Taiwan Customs tariff for the entry date. VAT is extra.	customs.gov.tw

Taiwan's MFN oils-and-fats rate under 1515.90 is the starting bracket. Confirm on the Taiwan Customs tariff for the entry date. VAT is extra.

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 Taiwan, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under TFDA.
TFDA cosmetic notification applies to finished products placed on the Taiwan market, not automatically to a bulk raw-material drum.
Finished cosmetics sold in Taiwan need Traditional Chinese particulars.
Buyers in Taiwan most often ask for TFDA notification, HACCP and ISO 22716 / GMP; status is on our certifications page. See TFDA notification, HACCP, ISO 22716 / GMP and our certifications page.

Step 3 — Required documents

The documents below are those TFDA lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.

Documents for importing shea butter into Taiwan (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
TFDA cosmetic notification (finished goods)	Buyer / importer	Before placing a finished cosmetic on the market

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 Taiwan discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to Taiwan (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking)
Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on
Kaohsiung TWKHH 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 Taiwan is handled through TFDA.
Kaohsiung (TWKHH) is the principal container gateway. Taipei-area buyers take the inland haul from Kaohsiung.

Typical sea transit from Lagos to Taiwan (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking)
Port	UN/LOCODE	Transit (days)	Schedules read on
Kaohsiung	TWKHH	32–50	September 2026

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 Taiwan buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in Taiwan.

For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.

How to import shea butter into China

How to import shea butter into Hong Kong

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.tw (accessed 13 September 2026)
fda.gov.tw (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 Taiwan

Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in Taiwan; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.

You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into Taiwan. 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.

Request an export quote