Shipping from China to Taipei, Taiwan — Freight Guide [2026] | Freight Quote China Shipping Cost Inquiry Tool

For buyers shipping into Taipei, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Taipei is capital and headquarters market; cargo enters through TPE air / Keelung sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.

On the destination side, Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance handles clearance; budget 1–3 days of dwell before the cargo is released.

Import duty and tax position for Taipei

Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Taipei 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 Taipei	TPE air / Keelung sea
Inland leg to Taipei	Same day from the gateway
Typical clearance / dwell	1–3 days
Peak season to plan around	Sep–Nov

Pre-shipment checklist for Taipei

Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Taiwan duty rate against it yourself.
Put the Taipei delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
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.
Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Taiwan lane.

Air, sea or overland into Taipei?

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 Taipei and 1–3 days of clearance.

Mode guides for Taipei

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Taipei 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 Taipei.

What duty and tax will I pay importing into Taipei?

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 Taipei.

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.

Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Taipei?

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 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.

Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Taipei?

Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 2–4 calendar days by sea versus 1–2 business days by air to the Taiwan gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.

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: July 2026.

Get a rate for Taipei

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.

Request a quote → See the Taiwan route page →

Shipping from China to Taipei, Taiwan — Freight Guide [2026]