Durian Import Duties: What You'll Pay in USA, EU, Australia, China, and Singapore
You've negotiated excellent FOB pricing at $28/kg for frozen Musang King. The freight quote looks reasonable. Then your customs broker mentions the import duty – 6.6% in USA calculated on the CIF value. That's $2.24/kg added to your landed cost, or over $4,000 on an 18,000kg container. Suddenly your carefully calculated margins just shrunk by 7%. Here's what durian import duties actually cost in major markets so you can calculate true landed costs before committing to orders.
Import duties aren't optional extras you can negotiate away – they're government-mandated fees based on your destination country's tariff schedule. Different countries charge different rates, some have free trade agreements that reduce or eliminate duties, and several countries add VAT or GST on top of base import duties. Forgetting to factor these costs into your pricing is how new importers discover their projected 35% margins are actually 22% after all government fees.
How Import Duties Are Calculated
Import duties apply to the CIF value (Cost, Insurance, Freight) of your shipment, not just the FOB product cost. If your supplier charges $28/kg FOB, freight adds $0.36/kg, and insurance adds $0.14/kg, your CIF value is $28.50/kg. Duty percentage applies to this full CIF value – so a 6.6% duty on $28.50/kg equals $1.88/kg in duty paid to customs.
Durian is classified under HS Code 0810.60 for international trade (fresh or frozen durian and other Durio species). This code determines what duty rate applies. Most countries have publicly searchable customs tariff databases where you can look up HS code 0810.60 and find the exact current duty rate for durian imports.
The duty rate can vary based on origin country because of preferential trade agreements. Thai durian entering China pays 0% duty under their free trade agreement, while Malaysian durian to the same destination might face different rates. Always verify the duty rate specific to your origin-destination country pair, not just the general duty for durian.
USA Import Duties and Fees
The United States charges 6.6% import duty on frozen durian under HTS code 0810.60.40 typically. Fresh durian carries similar rates around 6-7% depending on specific classification. There are no seasonal variations or quotas that significantly affect durian duty rates – the 6.6% applies year-round regardless of volume.
Calculate USA duty on your CIF value. For example: supplier FOB price $28/kg, ocean freight $6,500 per 18,000kg container ($0.36/kg), insurance 0.5% of value ($0.14/kg) gives CIF of $28.50/kg. Duty at 6.6% equals $1.88/kg. Your landed cost before any of your own operating expenses is $30.38/kg.
Additional customs processing fees exist but are relatively minor when spread across container quantities. Customs broker fees run $400-800 per shipment, port fees another $500-1,500, but divided across 18,000kg these add just $0.05-0.13/kg. The import duty itself is the major government-mandated cost component to factor into pricing.
European Union Duties and VAT
The European Union duty structure for durian is more complex than USA. Fresh durian typically faces 0-5.7% duty depending on season and whether quotas apply. Frozen durian generally incurs 8-10% import duty. Specific rates vary slightly by which EU country you're importing into because some countries have additional national requirements on top of EU-wide standards.
Origin country matters for EU imports. Countries with preferential trade agreements with the EU may receive reduced duty rates. Malaysia and Thailand both have various trade agreements that can affect durian duty rates – verify the current agreement status between your specific origin country and destination EU country.
VAT (Value Added Tax) is additional and substantial. EU countries charge 15-25% VAT depending on the country – Germany around 19%, France 20%, UK (post-Brexit) 20%. VAT applies to the CIF value plus the import duty, not just the CIF value alone. On a €30/kg CIF value with 8% duty (€2.40), the VAT base is €32.40. At 20% VAT, that's another €6.48, making your total landed cost €38.88/kg before your own costs.
The combination of duty plus VAT can add 25-35% to your CIF cost in EU markets. This substantially affects pricing competitiveness and margin calculations. Don't just factor the 8% duty – the VAT often exceeds the duty itself in total cost impact.
Australia Import Duties and GST
Australia applies a straightforward 5% import duty on both fresh and frozen durian generally. The simplicity is refreshing compared to EU's variable structure. Calculate duty on your CIF value: $34 AUD/kg CIF × 5% = $1.70 AUD duty per kilogram.
Australian GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 10% applies to the CIF value plus duty. Using the example above: ($34 + $1.70) × 10% GST = $3.57. Your total landed cost is $34 + $1.70 + $3.57 = $39.27 AUD/kg before your own operating costs and margins. The 5% duty plus 10% GST effectively adds 15.5% to your CIF cost.
Australia's biosecurity requirements add costs beyond duties – phytosanitary certification, potential inspection fees, and strict quarantine regulations. Budget for these compliance costs separately from the import duty calculations. The duty itself is straightforward, but the total cost of Australian compliance includes these additional factors.
China Import Duties and FTA Benefits
China represents huge market opportunity but complex duty structure. Fresh Thai durian enters China duty-free under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement – 0% import duty makes Thai durian extremely competitive in Chinese markets. This preferential access is a major reason Thai durian dominates Chinese imports.
Malaysian durian to China historically faced 15-25% duties but recent bilateral agreements have reduced these rates. The exact current rate changes as trade agreements evolve – verify the current Malaysia-China FTA terms for durian at the time you're importing, not outdated information from previous years.
Chinese VAT of 13% applies on top of any import duties. Even duty-free Thai durian still pays 13% VAT on the CIF value. For durian subject to import duties, VAT applies to CIF plus duty amount, compounding the cost impact.
Beyond duties, China requires GACC (General Administration of Customs China) facility registration before you can import. This isn't a duty but a regulatory requirement – your supplier's processing facility must be registered with GACC. This registration process is separate from duty calculations but essential for market access.
Singapore – The Free Port Advantage
Singapore charges 0% import duty on fresh and frozen durian. As a free port focused on trade facilitation, Singapore eliminates import duties on most products. The 8% GST (Goods and Services Tax) applies to the CIF value, but with no base import duty, your total government fees are just that 8%.
This makes Singapore extremely attractive as an import destination. A $30/kg CIF durian pays only $2.40 in GST, giving you $32.40/kg landed cost before your own costs. Compare this to EU markets where the same $30/kg CIF might cost $38-40/kg after duties and VAT.
Singapore also serves as a regional distribution hub. Import duty-free into Singapore, then re-export to other Southeast Asian markets. This entrepot trade model leverages Singapore's free port status and excellent logistics infrastructure to serve regional markets efficiently.
Other Major Markets Quick Reference
Canada typically charges 0-6% on frozen durian depending on origin and specific product classification. Canadian rates are generally lower than USA for most agricultural products. Verify current rates in Canada's customs tariff database using HS code 0810.60.
Japan has variable duty rates that depend on season, origin, and specific product form. Japanese customs can be complex – work with a customs broker experienced in Japanese food imports to verify current rates and compliance requirements beyond just the duty calculation.
Middle Eastern countries generally charge 0-5% import duties on frozen fruit including durian. Specific rates vary by country – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar each have their own tariff schedules. Halal certification requirements matter more than duty rates for these markets, but factor both into your cost calculations.
How to Verify Current Rates Before Importing
Check your destination country's official customs website for tariff schedules. USA uses the Harmonized Tariff Schedule searchable online. EU has TARIC database. Australia has customs tariff tool. These official sources provide legally binding current rates – don't rely on third-party estimates alone.
Consult a licensed customs broker in your destination country before your first import. They verify current duty rates, identify if any free trade agreements apply to your specific origin-destination pair, and ensure you're classifying product correctly under the right HS code. The $500-800 broker fee prevents expensive mistakes from incorrect classification or missing FTA benefits.
Trade agreements change frequently. A rate that was accurate six months ago might be outdated now due to new bilateral agreements or trade policy changes. Always verify rates at the time you're planning to import, not based on historical information or what you paid on previous shipments months earlier.
Online duty calculators exist but verify their accuracy. Some are outdated or use general estimates rather than legally binding rates. Use them for preliminary estimates but confirm with official sources or customs brokers before finalizing cost calculations and pricing strategies.
The Bottom Line on Import Duties
Import duties plus VAT/GST can add 5-35% to your CIF cost depending on destination country. USA around 7% total, Australia 15% total, EU potentially 30%+ total, Singapore just 8%, China varies widely based on FTAs. These aren't small rounding errors – they're major cost components that affect your competitiveness and margins.
Calculate duties before committing to orders. Don't negotiate great FOB pricing only to discover the duty rate makes your landed cost uncompetitive in your market. Factor all government fees into pricing from the start.
Free trade agreements can dramatically reduce or eliminate duties. Thai durian to China pays 0% versus potentially 15-25% for non-FTA origins. Origin selection affects duty costs as much as product quality and supplier pricing in some cases.
Rates change – verify current rates for your specific origin-destination pair rather than relying on general estimates or outdated information. What you paid last year might not match what you'll pay this year.
Take Action
Calculate your complete landed cost including all duties and taxes for your destination market. Submit an RFQ on CommoditiesHub specifying your destination country – we'll help you estimate total import costs including duties, VAT/GST, and connect you with suppliers experienced in your target market's compliance requirements.