Asia Pacific

Shipping from China to Kaohsiung

China → Kaohsiung · via KHH air / Kaohsiung sea · clearance by Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance

Cargo handling on the China–Kaohsiung lane.

For buyers shipping into Kaohsiung, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Kaohsiung is the island's main container port; cargo enters through KHH air / Kaohsiung sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.

The clearing authority is Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 1–3 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.

Duty, tax and clearance into Kaohsiung

Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Kaohsiung consignees. Current regime: Business tax 5%; duty 0–30% depending on commodity, with a de-minimis position of TWD 2,000, and only twice in any six-month window per consignee.

Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: BSMI commodity inspection mark for electrical and consumer goods; NCC approval for radio devices. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.

Restrictions and known friction points for Taiwan: Certain mainland-origin goods remain on Taiwan's restricted import list — check the commodity classification before booking. BSMI inspection applies to a wide range of consumer electronics and children's products.

What the routing looks like in practice

Taiwan is effectively an overnight air lane and a two-to-four-day sea lane from South China. The frequency-based de-minimis rule matters more than the value threshold: a consignee who receives more than two low-value parcels in six months loses the exemption entirely, which catches repeat e-commerce buyers.

Air gateways used	TPE (Taoyuan), KHH (Kaohsiung)
Air transit, China to gateway	1–2 business days
Sea gateways used	Kaohsiung, Taichung, Keelung
Sea transit, China to gateway	2–4 calendar days
Gateway serving Kaohsiung	KHH air / Kaohsiung sea
Inland leg to Kaohsiung	Same day from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell	1–3 days
Peak season to plan around	Sep–Nov

Air cargo build-up used on the China to Kaohsiung (Taiwan) freight lane — Handling on the KHH air / Kaohsiung sea routing serving Kaohsiung.

Pre-shipment checklist for Kaohsiung

Confirm the consignee in Kaohsiung can act as importer of record — Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
Put the Kaohsiung delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
Check the de-minimis position (TWD 2,000, and only twice in any six-month window per consignee) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Taiwan duty rate against it yourself.

Air, sea or overland into Kaohsiung?

Mode	Transit to gateway	Best suited to
✈️ Air Freight	1–2 business days	time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo
🚢 Sea Freight	2–4 calendar days	volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed

Transit shown is China departure to the Taiwan gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Kaohsiung and 1–3 days of clearance.

Mode guides for Kaohsiung

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Kaohsiung take?

China to the Taiwan gateway is 1–2 business days by air, 2–4 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 1–3 days of clearance with Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance and a same-day inland leg to Kaohsiung.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Kaohsiung?

Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance applies: Business tax 5%; duty 0–30% depending on commodity. The de-minimis position is TWD 2,000, and only twice in any six-month window per consignee. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Kaohsiung.

Which port or airport does cargo for Kaohsiung clear through?

Cargo for Kaohsiung is routed via KHH air / Kaohsiung sea. Sea gateways for Taiwan are Kaohsiung, Taichung, Keelung; air gateways are TPE (Taoyuan), KHH (Kaohsiung). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.

Can you deliver door-to-door in Kaohsiung?

Yes. Delivery to a Kaohsiung address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.

What certification do I need for Taiwan?

For regulated goods, plan for: BSMI commodity inspection mark for electrical and consumer goods; NCC approval for radio devices. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.

Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Kaohsiung?

Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via TPE (Taoyuan), KHH (Kaohsiung). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.

Other delivery cities in Taiwan

All Taiwan freight information →

References & official sources

Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Taiwan change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance or your broker before you ship.

Page data last reviewed: 10 月 2026.

Shipping by industry

This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.

All 60 industry guides →

Checking the Taiwan duty position yourself

Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.

Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.

For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.

For a wider view of how importing into Taiwan actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Taiwan customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.

Watch: the process behind this route

This guide covers routing and clearance for Kaohsiung. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.

FCL vs LCL Shipping: When to Switch (Break-Even Point Explained) — Max Antonov. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.

Get a rate for Kaohsiung

This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a rate card: the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we price it properly.

Answer these and you get a real price, not a range. These are the exact figures a carrier needs before it will quote. Fill them in once and we can price your cargo the same day — leave them out and we have to come back and ask, which is what turns an hour into a week.

What are you shipping?*

Destination*

Weight*

Cartons*

ctn

Carton sizeoptional

× × cm

Total volumeopt

m³

Containeropt

How manyopt

ctr

Built-in battery?* Lithium cells are dangerous goods.

Yes No

Someone else's brand?* Logos you are not authorised to ship.

Yes No

Magnetic product?* Speakers, motors, magnets.

Yes No

Why these three decide everything

They determine whether your cargo can fly, and on which service. A declared battery changes the price; an undeclared one grounds the shipment at the airport and you pay storage while it sits. Unauthorised brands are seized at customs and the freight is lost with them. Magnetic goods need a field test — routine, but it has to be booked ahead. Telling us now costs a click; telling us later costs the shipment.

Sea or air?*

Sea freight Air freight

Tick both and we quote both.

When should it move?optional

Not before Not after

Your name

Email*

Phone / WhatsApp

Photographs of the goodsoptional

Add images PNG or JPG · up to 5 · 10 MB each

Your details are used to prepare this quotation and nothing else.

See the Taiwan route page →

Customs clearance in Taiwan

Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.

Taiwan clearance requirements →

Shipping from China to Kaohsiung

Duty, tax and clearance into Kaohsiung

What the routing looks like in practice

Pre-shipment checklist for Kaohsiung

Air, sea or overland into Kaohsiung?

Mode guides for Kaohsiung

Frequently asked questions

Other delivery cities in Taiwan

References & official sources

Shipping by industry

Checking the Taiwan duty position yourself

Watch: the process behind this route

Get a rate for Kaohsiung

Got it — your enquiry is in.

Freight Rates to Taiwan

Customs clearance in Taiwan

Priced routes to Taiwan

Got it — your enquiry is in.

Best Shipping Options