Port of Kaohsiung shipping covers most of the deep-sea container cargo that moves in and out of southern Taiwan, plus breakbulk, dry and liquid bulk and petrochemicals. The port is run by the Port of Kaohsiung branch of Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC), has seven container terminals and handled 8,885,855 TEU in 2025. This guide covers the terminals, cargo types, customs at Kaohsiung and how to ship there from Dubai. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Kaohsiung, and from Kaohsiung to Dubai with UAE clearance on arrival.
Port of Kaohsiung shipping: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) |
| Customs office | Kaohsiung Customs, Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance |
| UN/LOCODE | TWKHH |
| Location | South-west coast of Taiwan, two harbour entrances |
| Port area | 17,736 ha (1,871 ha land, 15,865 ha water) |
| Wharves | 139 (93 operating), 28,853 m in total, 19 mooring buoys |
| Container terminals | Seven (Terminals 1 to 7), 32 container berths |
| Deepest container berths | 18 m alongside at Terminal 7 |
| Largest container ship accepted | 22,000 TEU |
| Container capacity | 12.8 million TEU a year |
| Containers handled | 9,228,422 TEU in 2024; 8,885,855 TEU in 2025 |
| Total cargo handled | 98,653,906 metric tons in 2025 |
| Free trade zone | Port of Kaohsiung Free Trade Zone, 34 resident companies in 2025 |
| Cargo types | Containers, general cargo and breakbulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, petrochemicals, cement, grain, passengers |
| Import tax | Column I duty for WTO members plus 5% business tax |
| Kaohsiung to Dubai | Export declaration filed with Taiwan Customs through Trade-Van; UAE duty 5% of CIF for most goods plus 5% import VAT |
Where is the Port of Kaohsiung and what does it handle?
The Port of Kaohsiung is on the south-west coast of Taiwan, next to Kaohsiung City. TIPC calls it the largest international port in Taiwan. A long sandbar separates the harbour from the open sea and works as a natural breakwater.
The port has two entrances. Entrance No. 1, in the north, is 12.5 m deep with an effective channel width of 98 m. Entrance No. 2, in the south, is 17.5 m deep and 183 m wide. The main channel inside the port runs for 18 km.
The port is much more than a container hub. TIPC's berth list for its 139 wharves includes 32 container berths, 30 general cargo berths, bulk and liquid bulk berths, petrochemical berths, cement silo berths, grain berths and passenger berths. TIPC puts bulk cargo capacity at 95.6 million tons a year alongside the 12.8 million TEU container capacity.
| Year | Containers (TEU) | Total cargo (metric tons) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9,228,422 | 104,437,400 |
| 2025 | 8,885,855 | 98,653,906 |
| 2026, January to September | 6,492,329 | Not yet published for the year |
In 2025, imports made up 65,981,551 tons of the total cargo and exports 23,404,465 tons, with the rest domestic. Containers were almost evenly split between import and export.
Which terminals does the Port of Kaohsiung have?
Kaohsiung has seven numbered container terminals. Most are leased to carriers or terminal companies, so your carrier decides where your box lands. Check the terminal on the arrival notice before you book a truck.
Container terminals 1 to 7
| Terminal | Berths | Depth alongside | Leased to (per TIPC berth list) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | 42 to 43 | 10 m | Lien Hai |
| Terminal 2 | 63 to 66 | 14 m | Wan Hai (63, 64), OOCL (65, 66) |
| Terminal 3 | 68 to 70 | 13.5 to 15 m | CMA CGM (68, 69), Hong Ming (70) |
| Terminal 4 | 115 to 121 | 13.5 to 16.5 m | Listed as public berths |
| Terminal 5 | 76 to 81 | 13.5 to 14.5 m | HMM (76 to 78), Wan Hai (79 to 81) |
| Terminal 6 | 108 to 111 | 16 m | Kao Ming Container Terminal (BOT) |
| Terminal 7 | S1 to S5 | 18 m | Evergreen |
Terminal 7 is the newest and deepest. Its five berths run from 470 m to 537 m long, about 2,427 m of quay in total. Terminal 6, the Intercontinental Container Terminal, has four 375 m berths at 16 m. These two terminals have the depth for the largest container ships the port accepts.
Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 sit further inside the harbour and have shallower berths, from 10 m at Terminal 1 to 15 m at Terminal 3. Berth 66 at Terminal 2 is still 408.5 m long, so a shallower berth does not always mean a short one.
General cargo, bulk and special berths
| Berth type | Number in TIPC list | Typical depth |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo | 30 | Mostly 10 to 10.5 m |
| Dry bulk | 9 | 10 to 15.5 m |
| Liquid bulk | 5 | 6 to 12.7 m |
| Petrochemical | 4 | 15.5 to 17.5 m |
| Cement silo | 2 | 10 m |
| Grain | 2 | See TIPC berth list |
| Dedicated-use berths | 24 | Varies by user |
TIPC lists the largest bulk carrier the port accepts at 200,000 tons. General cargo berths 31 to 40, each about 200 m long at 10 m depth, are public berths, which matters if you need to book a breakbulk vessel that is not tied to a terminal lease.
Free trade zone
The Port of Kaohsiung Free Trade Zone had 34 resident companies in 2025 and moved 1,083,811 tons of goods. TIPC reports two flows through it: foreign goods brought in for storage (647,380 tons in 2025) and goods sent out for export (436,430 tons). If you want to hold stock near the port before it enters Taiwan, ask the consignee's broker whether a zone company fits.
What cargo can you ship through Kaohsiung?
| Cargo | How it moves at Kaohsiung | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Dry containers (FCL) | Terminals 1 to 7 | Terminal on the arrival notice, free time, customs channel |
| LCL | Unpacked at a container freight station | Release can wait on other cargo in the box |
| Reefer containers | Container terminals | Inspection and quarantine for food and plant goods |
| Machinery and steel | Flat rack or general cargo berths | Lifting points, lashing, port crane or ship's gear |
| Dry bulk | Bulk, cement and grain berths | Charter or bulk booking, discharge rate |
| Liquids and chemicals | Liquid bulk and petrochemical berths | Tank terminal, DG rules |
| Dangerous goods in containers | Container terminals, with prior approval | DG declaration, carrier and port acceptance |
Shipping from Dubai to Kaohsiung: FCL, LCL and transit
Most cargo from the UAE to Kaohsiung loads at Jebel Ali. Our Jebel Ali port shipping guide covers the terminals and export steps there. Some services that reach Taiwan load at Fujairah or Khor Fakkan instead.
Fluent Cargo's schedule data, checked on 10 November 2026, showed the quickest ocean option from Fujairah to Kaohsiung at 25 days 1 hour with one transfer, sailing every 2 to 4 weeks. Its listed Jebel Ali to Kaohsiung option took 43 days 11 hours with one transfer and five stops, also every 2 to 4 weeks. These are snapshots, not promises, so the routing your carrier offers that week matters more than any average.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually book from Jebel Ali (or Fujairah/Khor Fakkan) to Kaohsiung and our typical port-to-port days]
- FCL suits a full 20ft or 40ft load, heavy goods and cargo you want sealed from origin to consignee.
- LCL suits a few pallets. It is cheaper for small volumes but adds handling at a container freight station on each side.
Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows where the break-even sits, and our sea freight service page explains what we book.
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods at Kaohsiung
Breakbulk and project cargo
Kaohsiung has the berths for heavy and oversized cargo: 30 general cargo berths, deep petrochemical and bulk berths for plant equipment, and container terminals that take flat racks. The port's south entrance, at 17.5 m, means draft is rarely the limit for breakbulk ships.
A simple rule: if a piece fits a 40ft flat rack by size and weight, book it on a container service, which sails more often. If it does not, you need breakbulk tonnage, and the vessel's sailing date drives the plan. Our guide to flat rack, open top and breakbulk cargo explains the choice, and our break bulk and project cargo service covers drawings, lashing plans and the UAE road move to the quay.
Dangerous goods
Kaohsiung handles DG cargo in the nine UN hazard classes, from Class 1 explosives to Class 9 miscellaneous goods, and TIPC publishes its own classification table. At the port, applications for dangerous cargo go to the Harbor Management Division, Harbor Section. The carrier will not accept the booking until it has complete DG data from you.
You need a correct UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, a safety data sheet, a signed DG declaration and UN-approved packaging. Our guide to the nine dangerous goods classes helps you check the class, and our dangerous goods shipping team gets carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Customs clearance at Kaohsiung: documents, duty and tax
Cargo landed at Kaohsiung is cleared by Kaohsiung Customs, one of the regional offices of Taiwan's Customs Administration under the Ministry of Finance. The rules are national, set by the Customs Act.
Who files and when?
The duty-payer files the import declaration. That is the consignee, the bill of lading holder or the holder of the goods. Under Article 22 of the Customs Act, the duty-payer can hand the work to a licensed customs broker, and most importers do.
Under Article 16, the declaration is due within 15 days of the vessel's arrival. Article 73 then adds a late fee of NT$200 per day, and Customs can sell goods that are still not declared after 20 days of late fees. Customs allows an advance declaration once the carrier has sent the manifest, so file early.
Which documents does Taiwan Customs need?
| Document | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Import declaration (form NX5105) | Every shipment, filed electronically |
| Commercial invoice | Every shipment |
| Packing list | When the cargo is in more than one package and not uniformly packed |
| Delivery order | For paper filers, or when Customs asks |
| Container loading list | When the goods are in more than one container |
| Import permit | For restricted goods |
| Certificate of origin | When import rules require it or Customs asks |
| Authorization letter | When a customs broker files |
| Customs value declaration | When buyer and seller are related |
Inspection and release
Customs puts each declaration in one of three channels. C1 means no document review and no examination. C2 means a document review. C3 means a document review and a physical examination. For C2 and C3, the written declaration and papers must reach Customs by the end of the next working day. Once duty and tax are paid or secured, Customs sends the cargo release notice.
How much duty and tax will you pay?
Duty is charged on the customs value. Under Article 29 of the Customs Act, that value includes the price paid plus transport to the port of import, handling and insurance. Taiwan's tariff has three columns, and Column I applies to goods from WTO members. The UAE has been a WTO member since 10 April 1996, so UAE-origin goods pay Column I rates. Taiwan Customs lists no trade agreement with the UAE.
Business tax is 5%. Taiwan Customs gives the base as duty-paid value plus import duty, plus any commodity tax, tobacco and alcohol tax or tobacco health and welfare surcharge.
| Charge | Base | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | Customs value (goods plus freight and insurance) | Column I rate for the tariff code |
| Commodity tax | Only for listed goods | Set by goods group |
| Business tax | Value plus duty plus commodity tax | 5% |
| Late declaration fee | Per day after the 15-day deadline | NT$200 |
Electrical goods and many consumer products can also need regulatory inspection by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) before release. Check this with the consignee's broker before the goods sail.
What does shipping to Kaohsiung cost?
We do not publish a fixed price, because ocean rates and surcharges change every week. What you can control is which cost blocks land on you and how long the box sits at the port. These are the parts of a Dubai to Kaohsiung total.
| Cost block | What drives it | How to keep it down |
|---|---|---|
| UAE origin charges | Trucking to the load port, export declaration, terminal handling | Deliver before the cut-off so the box is not rolled |
| Ocean freight | Container size, carrier, number of transfers, season | Compare routings on transit time as well as price |
| Kaohsiung terminal charges | Terminal handling, LCL unpacking, storage after free time | Check the terminal and free time on the arrival notice |
| Customs and inspection | Broker's fee, C2 or C3 checks, BSMI inspection, permits | Clear descriptions and correct tariff codes |
| Duty and business tax | Column I rate, 5% business tax | Correct origin and value on the invoice |
| Late and delay costs | NT$200 a day after 15 days, demurrage, detention | File an advance declaration once the manifest is in |
| Delivery in Taiwan | Truck from the terminal to the consignee | Use Kaohsiung only for southern consignees |
The Incoterm decides which of these blocks you pay and which your buyer pays. Agree it in writing before you book, and make sure the invoice, the bill of lading and the quote all use the same term.
What to check on the Kaohsiung arrival notice
The arrival notice from the carrier tells you most of what the consignee's broker and truck company need. Check these points the day it arrives:
- The terminal and berth. With seven container terminals, the truck must go to the right one.
- The vessel's arrival date. The 15-day declaration deadline counts from that day.
- The free time for storage and for the empty container's return.
- The consignee name, which must match the name on the import declaration.
- Any charges the carrier wants paid before it issues the delivery order.
How to ship to the Port of Kaohsiung from Dubai: step by step
- Confirm the goods. Get the tariff code, origin, weight, volume and any DG or permit needs.
- Check the delivery address. Kaohsiung suits consignees in southern Taiwan; for the north or centre, compare Keelung or Taichung.
- Agree the Incoterm, so you know who pays freight, duty and business tax.
- Request a quote and choose a routing. Compare transit time and number of transfers, not just price.
- Book space. We book FCL, LCL, flat rack or breakbulk space with the carrier.
- Prepare the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit.
- Arrange trucking and export clearance in the UAE and deliver the cargo before the terminal cut-off.
- Send the bill of lading and documents to the consignee's broker for an advance declaration.
- On arrival, the broker files, Customs assigns C1, C2 or C3, and duty and business tax are paid.
- Collect the box from the terminal named on the arrival notice and return the empty inside free time.
How to ship from the Port of Kaohsiung to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Kaohsiung to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Taiwan export formalities stay with the shipper or its customs broker in Taiwan.
The Taiwan export side
- Export declaration. Exporters can file it with Customs electronically through Trade-Van, 24 hours a day. For C2 or C3 clearance, customs brokers submit hard copies.
- Same-day clearance. Taiwan Customs completes clearance the same day for declarations received by 18:30 Monday to Friday, or by 12:00 on Saturday.
- Documents. Customs lists the export declaration, the invoice, a packing list if needed, an export permit for restricted goods and a certificate of origin if needed. Some goods need extra papers.
- Pickup. The shipper or its trucker delivers the box to the Kaohsiung terminal named on the booking, inside the carrier's cut-off.
The UAE import side
On arrival in Dubai, the declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, a certificate of origin and any permit for restricted goods. The carrier releases the cargo against the bill of lading. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, and a VAT-registered importer accounts for it on its VAT return under the reverse charge.
- Send us the shipper's details in Taiwan, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Kaohsiung and send the booking, terminal and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker collects the empty, loads it and delivers it to the terminal.
- The shipper or its broker files the export declaration with Taiwan Customs.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list.
- We file the UAE declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order.
- We truck the box to your site and return the empty inside free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Kaohsiung to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, and our real port-to-port transit days in this direction]
Checklist before you ship to Kaohsiung
- Tariff code checked for duty, permits and BSMI inspection
- Consignee or broker ready to declare within 15 days of arrival
- Kaohsiung confirmed as the right port for the delivery address
- Commercial invoice with full description, value, origin and Incoterm
- Packing list with weights and dimensions of every package
- Certificate of origin matching where the goods were made
- DG declaration, SDS and carrier acceptance for dangerous goods
- Drawings, weights and lifting points for breakbulk cargo
- Cargo insurance arranged under the agreed Incoterm
Common mistakes on Kaohsiung shipments
- Booking the cheapest routing without checking the number of transfers and the real arrival date.
- Sending cargo for a Taipei consignee to Kaohsiung, then paying for a long truck leg.
- Starting clearance only after arrival, when the 15-day deadline is already running.
- Sending a truck to the wrong terminal. Kaohsiung has seven, spread across a large port.
- Vague goods descriptions that push the declaration into C2 or C3.
- Booking DG cargo before the carrier and port have accepted it.
If you are comparing service providers, see our Dubai freight forwarding team for what we handle on the UAE side.
Kaohsiung or another Taiwan port: which fits your cargo?
| Port | Region | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Kaohsiung | South-west | The consignee is in the south, the cargo is breakbulk or bulk, or you need the deepest container berths in Taiwan's largest port |
| Taichung | Central west | The consignee is in central Taiwan's manufacturing belt |
| Keelung | North | The consignee is in Taipei or the north-east |
| Taipei port | North-west | The consignee is in greater Taipei or Taoyuan, or you plan a sea-air move via Taoyuan airport |
Frequently asked questions
Who operates Kaohsiung port?
The Port of Kaohsiung branch of Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) runs the port. Most container terminals are leased to carriers or terminal companies such as Evergreen, Wan Hai, HMM, OOCL and CMA CGM.
What is the port code for Kaohsiung?
The UN/LOCODE for Kaohsiung is TWKHH. You will see it on bookings, bills of lading and tracking systems.
How many containers does Kaohsiung handle?
TIPC reports 9,228,422 TEU in 2024 and 8,885,855 TEU in 2025. Its stated container capacity is 12.8 million TEU a year.
How many container terminals does Kaohsiung have?
Seven. Terminal 7, leased to Evergreen, is the deepest at 18 m, and Terminal 6, the Intercontinental Container Terminal, has four berths at 16 m.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Kaohsiung take?
Published schedule data shows about 25 to 43 days, depending on the load port and the number of transfers. Ask for the routing and the estimated arrival on your booking.
Can you handle shipping from Kaohsiung to Dubai?
Yes. We book the space, check the bill of lading and clear the cargo in Dubai. The shipper or its Taiwan broker files the export declaration with Customs. In Dubai, duty is 5% of CIF for most goods, plus 5% import VAT.
What tax do I pay on imports through Kaohsiung?
You pay import duty at the Column I rate for the goods' tariff code, worked out on goods value plus freight and insurance, then 5% business tax on the value plus duty.
How long do I have to clear cargo at Kaohsiung?
The declaration is due within 15 days of the vessel's arrival. After that, a late fee of NT$200 per day applies.
Can I ship dangerous goods to Kaohsiung?
Yes. DG cargo must be classified, packed and declared under the IMDG Code, accepted by the carrier and approved through the port's dangerous cargo application process.
Get a quote for Port of Kaohsiung shipping
Send us your cargo details and the delivery address in Taiwan, and we will come back with a routing and a price for shipping to Kaohsiung. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team if you want to talk through a breakbulk or DG shipment first.
Sources
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Location
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Harbor facilities and berth list (terminals, depths, capacity)
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Harbor information (area, entrances, wharves)
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Container throughput
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Cargo throughput
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Free trade zone statistics
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Dangerous goods classification table
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Business scope of port affairs (dangerous cargo applications)
- Laws and Regulations Database: Customs Act (Articles 16, 22, 29, 73)
- Taiwan Customs (Keelung Customs): Import declaration for sea cargo
- Taiwan Customs (Taipei Customs): Import declaration and C1/C2/C3 channels
- Taiwan Customs: How Customs levies business tax
- Taiwan Customs: Three-column import tariff schedule
- Taiwan Customs: ECA/FTA list
- Wikipedia: Port of Kaohsiung (Intercontinental Terminal, No. 6)
- WTO: United Arab Emirates and the WTO
- Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Kaohsiung schedules
- Taiwan Customs Administration: Export clearance (Trade-Van filing, cut-off times, documents)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (documents)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (5% rate, import VAT, reverse charge)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026