Sea Freight from China to Taichung
China → Taichung · via RMQ air / Taichung sea · clearance by Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance

We move sea freight cargo from South China into Taichung through RMQ air / Taichung sea. Taichung is machine tool and precision component center, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 1–3 days.
Routing and transit on this lane
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.
| Sea gateways used | Kaohsiung, Taichung, Keelung |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 2–4 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Taichung | RMQ air / Taichung sea |
| Inland leg to Taichung | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 1–3 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for Taichung
Imports into Taiwan are cleared by Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance. The headline position is: Business tax 5%; duty 0–30% depending on commodity. The de-minimis threshold is 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.

Pre-shipment checklist for Taichung
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Taiwan duty rate against it yourself.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: BSMI commodity inspection mark for electrical and consumer goods; NCC approval for radio devices.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Put the Taichung delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Taichung take?
China to the Taiwan gateway is 2–4 calendar days. On top of that, allow 1–3 days of clearance with Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance and a same-day inland leg to Taichung.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Taichung?
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 Taichung.
What documents does Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (BSMI commodity inspection mark for electrical and consumer goods; NCC approval for radio devices). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
When is the busiest time on the China–Taiwan lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Taichung?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Taiwan
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.
- Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance
- Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
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.
- Flexible Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Decor Furniture & Home Products
- Technical Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Fasteners Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Electric Motors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Wire & Cable New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Home Storage Products Furniture & Home Products
- Exhibition Display Equipment Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
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.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
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.
If this is your first shipment into Taiwan, the Taiwan Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Taichung. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Marine Insurance Explained - Understand the Cargo Insurance You're Getting — ABTS®. 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.
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 →Priced routes to Taiwan
- Qingdao to Kaohsiung FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Qingdao to Taichung Container Shipping — 20GP Rates
- Shanghai to Kaohsiung FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Shanghai–Taichung Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Ship Shanghai to Keelung — FCL Container Cost from China
- Ship Shekou to Keelung — FCL Container Cost from China
