How to Import Shea Butter into the United States
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for the United States — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — entry via ACE. On January 26, 2009, the rule titled Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements (commonly known as "10+2") went into effect. This rule applies to import cargo arriving to the United States by vessel.
- Cosmetics authority
- The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) is the most significant expansion of FDA’s authority to regulate cosmetics since the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act was passed in 1938. Facility: any establishment (including an establishment of an importer) that manufactures or processes cosmetic products distributed in the United States.
- Food authority
- FDA CFSAN administers FSMA food-facility registration, Prior Notice and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program for food imported into the United States.
- National tariff line
- 1515 Other fixed vegetable or microbial fats and oils (including jojoba oil) and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. 1515.90 Other: 1515.90.21 Nut oils. Statistical reporting number 1515.90.21.00.
- Product notification
- Cosmetics Direct is an electronic submissions portal for the registration & listing of cosmetic product facilities and products. Section 607(c) of the FD&C Act requires that for each cosmetic product, the responsible person submit to FDA “a cosmetic product listing.”
- Ports of discharge
- New York/Newark, Savannah, Los Angeles, Houston
- Transit from Lagos
- 20–50 days
- Certification priority
- USDA NOP (Organic), FDA registration (MoCRA / food facility), HACCP, COSMOS
- Label language
- English label content
- Specific to United States
- CBP ruling N362222 classifies shea butter as HTSUS 1515.90.21.00 nut oils.
- Specific to United States (2)
- Vessel cargo needs an Importer Security Filing in ACE before loading at Lagos.
- Specific to United States (3)
- Cosmetics Direct is FDA's portal for MoCRA facility registration and listing.
Nigerian shea butter for the United States
Shea is not grown in the United States. A formulator in the US who wants bulk shea butter is buying a Nigerian or West African fat, not a domestic oilseed. A formulator in Ohio or a filler in New Jersey is still buying a West African fat — there is no domestic shea crush. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Chicago buyers usually take the inland haul from New York/Newark.
Ask for a batch COA on a NIS 571:2013 basis: free fatty acid, peroxide value, moisture, color and melting point. Reject lots that smell sharply rancid or pour like liquid oil at room temperature. FDA filings sit with the the US 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 United States 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 New York/Newark. 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 the United States buys Nigerian shea butter
The United States does not grow shea. Every drum of cosmetic or food-grade shea butter that a New Jersey filler, an Ohio formulator or a Texas distributor specifies is a West African fat — usually Nigerian — not a domestic oilseed. EMI Agro presses unrefined Grade A and refined N-RBD in Ibadan from wild-collected nuts gathered with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, and loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for New York/Newark, Savannah, Los Angeles or Houston.
US buyers treat shea as a specified vegetable fat, not a retail jar. The purchase order should name the grade, a NIS 571:2013 COA (free fatty acid, peroxide value, moisture, color, melting point) and the discharge port. FDA filings — MoCRA facility questions for finished cosmetics, Prior Notice and FSVP for food-use drums — sit with the United States importer. They do not replace the batch COA EMI Agro issues.
East and Gulf Coast boxes typically land at New York/Newark, Savannah or Houston (about 20–32 ocean days from Lagos). Los Angeles is the West Coast door and is a longer typical range (about 35–50 days). Chicago, Cleveland, Ohio and Atlanta take rail or truck from those coasts — there is no Great Lakes shea service. EMI Agro does not operate a US warehouse.
HTSUS 1515.90.21.00 (nut oils) is the line CBP ruling N362222 classifies for shea butter, Column 1 Free. Confirm the ten-digit statistical number on the entry date. EMI Agro does not compute landed duty or file the Importer Security Filing.
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Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; the United States extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in the United States (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line 1515 Other fixed vegetable or microbial fats and oils (including jojoba oil) and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. 1515.90 Other: 1515.90.21 Nut oils. Statistical reporting number 1515.90.21.00. hts.usitc.gov Duty and tax note Column 1 General for 1515.90.21.00 is Free; Column 2 is Free. rulings.cbp.gov Preference scheme and proof of origin CBP ruling N362222 (7 July 2026) classifies shea butter, whether or not refined but not chemically modified, under 1515.90.2100 as nut oils. Additional Chapter 99 measures, if any, must be read on the entry date; this note does not state an IEEPA add-on rate. rulings.cbp.gov Column 1 General for 1515.90.21.00 is Free; Column 2 is Free. CBP ruling N362222 (7 July 2026) classifies shea butter, whether or not refined but not chemically modified, under 1515.90.2100 as nut oils. Additional Chapter 99 measures, if any, must be read on the entry date; this note does not state an IEEPA add-on rate.
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 the United States, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under FDA; food-grade under the food authority.
Section 607(a) of the FD&C Act requires every person that owns or operates a facility that engages in the “manufacturing or processing of a cosmetic product for distribution in the United States” to register each facility with FDA. At this time, FDA expects owners or operators to register their facilities if the facilities manufacture or process the final formulation of cosmetic ingredients (including a final formulation that includes a single ingredient). This includes final formulations that have not yet been packaged.
Cosmetics Direct is an electronic submissions portal for the registration & listing of cosmetic product facilities and products. Section 607(c) of the FD&C Act requires that for each cosmetic product, the responsible person submit to FDA “a cosmetic product listing.”
Prior Notice of imported foods is required before the food arrives in the United States. Food Facility Registration and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program apply when shea butter is entered as a food.
Cosmetic ingredient declaration follows 21 CFR 701.3. FDA expects responsible persons to list cosmetic products that are marketed for users (e.g., consumers or professional use).
Buyers in the US most often ask for USDA NOP (Organic), FDA registration (MoCRA / food facility) and HACCP; status is on our certifications page. See USDA NOP (Organic), FDA registration (MoCRA / food facility), HACCP, COSMOS and our certifications page.
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Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those FDA lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into the United States (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 Importer Security Filing (10+2) Buyer / importer No later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port FDA Prior Notice Buyer / importer Before arrival 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 the United States discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to the United States (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on New York/Newark USNYC 20–32 September 2026 Savannah USSAV 20–32 September 2026 Los Angeles USLAX 35–50 September 2026 Houston USHOU 20–32 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 the United States is handled through FDA.
ISF Importers must submit seller, buyer, importer of record number, consignee number, manufacturer (or supplier), ship to party, country of origin, and commodity HTSUS number no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port. Entry of the merchandise is made to CBP; FDA-regulated lines are reviewed by FDA.
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 the United States buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in the United States.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into Canada
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
- cbp.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- fda.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- fda.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- hts.usitc.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- rulings.cbp.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- fda.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- fda.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- ecfr.gov (accessed 13 September 2026)
- ecfr.gov (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 the United States
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in the United States; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into the United States. 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.