International Shipping to India, China & Taiwan: What You Need to Know
These Asian markets offer enormous opportunities, but require expertise and preparation. We ship there weekly – this is what you need to know.
India, China, and Taiwan are among the most challenging, yet most promising markets for European companies. Regulations are strict, customs processes are complex, and cultural differences play a major role. At Service Bureau Jansen, we ship to these countries weekly (if not daily) – it's routine for us, but it remains a daily challenge we gladly take on.
The biggest mistake companies make? Not knowing the regulations. Products stuck at Indian customs because signatures are missing. Chinese customs holding shipments due to missing certifications. Taiwanese importers refusing to accept goods because they contain Chinese technology. These problems are preventable with proper preparation and an experienced partner.
Photo by Pixabay via Pexels
Why These Markets Are So Challenging
Europe and North America have relatively standardized customs processes. Asian markets, on the other hand, each have their own unique regulations, documentation requirements, and cultural expectations:
⚠ Typical Obstacles Companies Encounter
- Bureaucracy & delays: Where EU shipments take 2-3 days, Asian shipments can remain in customs for 10-20 days if documentation isn't perfect.
- Language barriers: Customs forms often must be in the local language. English-language documents are sometimes refused or delay the process.
- Opaque regulations: What exactly is required isn't always clearly stated online. Local knowledge and experience are essential.
- Cultural differences: In India, for example, certain documents must be physically signed – digital signatures are refused. You only discover these kinds of details through experience.
- Complex prohibitions: Products that are fine in the EU can be banned in China or Taiwan (e.g., Chinese technology to Taiwan, certain electronics without CCC certification).
The good news? With the right expertise and preparation, these markets are absolutely serviceable. We do it daily, and know the ins and outs.
Country by Country: China, India & Taiwan
🇨🇳 China: Strict Controls & Certifications
Transit time: 7-14 days for business shipments with correct documentation. New trade relationships may take longer (extra verification).
Biggest challenges:
- CCC certification: Electronics, computers, and mobile phones require China Compulsory Certification. Without CCC, goods are returned or confiscated.
- HS codes crucial: Wrong code = weeks of delay. Chinese customs is very strict on correct classification.
- Prohibited products: Used textiles, printed publications from the past, and products "harmful to political/cultural interests" are banned. Be careful what you send.
- Wooden packaging: Wooden pallets or crates require chemical treatment or phytosanitary certificate – otherwise extra inspections and delays.
SBJ strategy: We use hubs in Shenzhen/Hong Kong for faster processing when possible. Prior verification of HS codes with local brokers prevents 90% of problems. For regular China shipments, we sometimes recommend localized storage via partners to avoid repeated imports.
🇮🇳 India: Complex GST & Signature Requirements
Transit time: 10-20 days is not uncommon, depending on customs congestion and whether documentation is complete.
Biggest challenges:
- GST registration mandatory: Recipient must have a GST Identification Number (GSTIN) and state it on the Bill of Entry. Without this, the shipment stays put.
- Signatures required: Many documents must be physically signed – this is the most common mistake we see. Digital signatures are often refused.
- No threshold value: India has NO minimum value exemption. Even small shipments pay IGST (Integrated GST), usually 18-28% of value + import duties.
- Bill of Entry process: Can take 10-20 days at airports in Mumbai/Delhi. Smaller customs offices are often slower – we always recommend major hubs.
- Realistic declaration: Customs is suspicious of suspiciously low values. State realistic values, not too low.
SBJ strategy: Document check before shipping to verify GST numbers and signatures. For companies regularly shipping to India (e.g., welcome packages for new employees), we have localized storage and distribution via partners – this avoids repeated import bureaucracy.
🇹🇼 Taiwan: Relatively Smooth, But Watch Out for Technology
Transit time: 3-7 days for business shipments, relatively fast compared to China and India.
Biggest challenges:
- NCC certification for technology: Telecommunications equipment requires approval from the National Communications Commission. This is niche but important for tech companies.
- Chinese products/technology banned: Taiwan has a long list of products from China that are banned, especially electronics and technology. Pay close attention!
- HS code precision: Taiwan expects very precise HS codes. Vague classifications are rejected.
SBJ strategy: For companies with global employee onboarding (welcome packages), we adapt Taiwan-specific packages – if there's Chinese technology in the standard package, we replace it for Taiwan shipments. Taipei as entry point works best.
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Prohibited & Restricted Products: What Can't Go?
Each country has its own list of prohibited goods. These are the main categories often overlooked:
| Product Category | China | India | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics without certification | ❌ Prohibited (CCC required) | ⚠️ Restricted (BIS standards) | ⚠️ Restricted (NCC for telecom) |
| Used textiles/clothing | ❌ Prohibited | ⚠️ Restricted | ✅ Allowed |
| Chinese products/technology | N/A | ✅ Allowed | ❌ Many items prohibited |
| Medicines/supplements | ⚠️ Max. RMB 40 per shipment | ⚠️ Restricted, often import permit required | ⚠️ Restricted |
| Printed materials/publications | ⚠️ Content review possible | ✅ Usually OK | ✅ Usually OK |
| Wooden crates/pallets | ⚠️ Phytosanitary certificate required | ⚠️ Extra inspection | ⚠️ Extra inspection |
Important: This is not an exhaustive list. For specific products, we always recommend checking in advance if they're allowed. We can verify this for you and prevent you from sending a shipment that gets rejected.
How Service Bureau Jansen Handles These Markets
Weekly shipping to India, China, and Taiwan means we know the processes and have local partners who help us. Here's how we work:
✓ Verification Before Shipping
Before anything is shipped, we check: are all documents complete? Signatures present (India)? GST numbers correct? HS codes verified? This prevents shipments from getting stuck.
✓ Local Customs Brokers
We work with experienced brokers in Mumbai, Shenzhen, and Taipei who know the latest regulatory changes and can handle pre-clearance. Their local knowledge is invaluable.
✓ Localized Solutions
For companies with regular shipments (e.g., global employee onboarding), we offer localized storage in India and China. Products are imported once, stored locally, and distributed on demand – this saves repeated import bureaucracy.
✓ Alternative Routes
Sometimes direct shipping isn't the best option. We can redistribute via Singapore, Hong Kong, or other hubs if that's faster or cheaper. Multiple solutions possible – we look at what fits best.
✓ Proactive Communication
If there's a problem at customs, we often hear about it within hours via our local partners. We inform you immediately, determine the reason, and resolve it. You don't have to call Chinese customs yourself.
✓ Transparent Cost Estimation
These markets aren't necessarily more expensive than others (Malaysia is cheaper than Norway, for example), but each destination has its own rates. We provide a clear cost breakdown upfront so you're not surprised.
Practical Example: Global Welcome Packages
A concrete example of how we handle complex international distribution:
The Challenge
A tech company with offices worldwide wants to send new employees a welcome package with laptop, merchandise, documentation, and gadgets. For almost all countries, we ship from the Netherlands. But India and China pose a problem:
- Laptops require CCC certification in China
- India has complex GST procedures and long customs times
- Repeated import per employee is impractical and expensive
Our Solution
For India and China, we set up localized storage and distribution:
- Products are imported once in bulk (all customs procedures completed once)
- Stored locally with reliable partners
- When a new employee starts, we ship on demand from local inventory
- Delivery time: 2-3 days instead of 10-20 days from the Netherlands
- Costs lower because repeated import/customs is avoided
Taiwan: Customized Packages
For Taiwan, there's sometimes Chinese technology in standard welcome packages (certain gadgets, accessories). Because Taiwan bans Chinese technology products, we adapt Taiwan packages with alternative products. The customer doesn't notice – we handle it behind the scenes.
Photo by Tiger Lily via Pexels
🌍 Bonus: Other Challenging Regions
Besides China, India, and Taiwan, we also serve other complex markets. Here's a quick overview:
Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)
Challenges: Strict content controls (religious/cultural sensitivity), certifications for many products, Arabic translation often required.
Transit time: 5-10 days
SBJ approach: We work with brokers in Dubai who know local regulations. Pre-clearance for commercial shipments.
Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina)
Challenges: High import duties (Brazil can be 60%+), complex customs bureaucracy, often customs broker mandatory.
Transit time: 10-20 days (Brazil can be longer)
SBJ approach: Honest warning upfront about costs and timelines. We only work with local brokers with proven track records.
Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya)
Challenges: Infrastructure problems, unpredictable customs, sometimes security issues with cargo.
Transit time: Very variable (7-30 days)
SBJ approach: Case-by-case assessment. For some countries, we recommend alternative routing via regional hubs (e.g., Johannesburg for southern Africa).
Japan & South Korea
Challenges: Very strict on documentation, but predictable. Japanese language often required.
Transit time: 5-7 days
SBJ approach: These countries are relatively smooth if documentation is correct. Good experience with local partners in Tokyo and Seoul.
Want to Ship to Asia or Other Complex Markets?
Let's discuss your situation. We'll honestly advise on feasibility, timelines, and costs – and handle everything for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Asian Shipments
Not necessarily. Shipping costs depend on many factors: distance, weight, urgency, and local rates. Malaysia can be cheaper than Norway, for example. India and China have higher customs costs (GST/IGST), but the shipping itself doesn't have to be more expensive than trans-Atlantic. We always provide a clear cost breakdown upfront, specific to your destination, so you're not surprised.
Yes, but you must always state a value (production costs or replacement value). India has no threshold value, so even samples pay IGST. China has limits per category (e.g., max. RMB 40 for medicines). Clearly mark "Sample - Not for Resale" and state a realistic value – values that are too low arouse suspicion at customs.
Our local customs brokers monitor all shipments. If there's a problem (missing documents, extra inspection, customs inquiry), we're immediately informed. We contact you, determine what's needed, and resolve it. In most cases, we can resolve problems within 24-48 hours by providing correct documentation. In extreme cases (prohibited product, suspicion of fraud), it may take longer or goods may be confiscated – but this is rare if preparation was good.
Share product information with us (description, HS code if known, materials, use). We check via our local partners if it's allowed, and if special certifications or documents are needed. For electronics to China, we always ask if CCC certification is present. For Taiwan, we check if there are Chinese components. This upfront check prevents you from sending a shipment that gets rejected.
Not always. For occasional shipments (1-2 times per year), direct shipping from the Netherlands is often fine, despite longer transit time. For regular shipments (weekly, monthly), localized storage can be more cost-effective because you only go through customs procedures once during bulk import, and then distribute locally. We advise per situation what makes most sense – sometimes direct shipping is better, sometimes localizing. Depends on volume, frequency, and product type.
Yes, we ship both business (to companies/retailers) and directly to end consumers. For end consumers, there are sometimes different regulations (e.g., limits for private import in China). Tracking and customer service are available, but note that end consumers sometimes must pay import duties upon delivery (DDP versus DDU shipping). We'll advise which option best fits your business model.