Air Freight from China to Kaohsiung, Taiwan — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Kaohsiung · via KHH air / Kaohsiung sea · clearance by Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance
We move air freight cargo from South China into Kaohsiung through KHH air / Kaohsiung sea. Kaohsiung is the island's main container port, 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.
Duty, tax and clearance into Kaohsiung
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.
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 |
| 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 |
Before you book: Kaohsiung checklist
- Put the Kaohsiung delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- 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.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach 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.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Kaohsiung take?
China to the Taiwan gateway is 1–2 business days. 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Kaohsiung?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres 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.
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.
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.
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: July 2026.
Get a rate for Kaohsiung
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.