Distillers Export guides / Asia
Exporting spirits to Asia
Import rules, duty and licences for whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy and bulk spirit in 35 countries. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Each country links to its full regulations page with sources; check duty with a customs broker before you ship.
Overview
Navigating spirits export across Asia requires understanding vastly divergent regulatory landscapes. While markets like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan offer 0% customs duties, others impose steep tariffs or maintain strict prohibitions. Exporters must comply with diverse licensing frameworks across every destination.
- Commercial spirits importation is strictly prohibited in Afghanistan and Brunei Darussalam, while Pakistan bans commercial imports under national policy, restricting clearance to specialized exempted channels.
- North Korea limits trade to designated state trading organs, whereas Bangladesh and Maldives restrict commercial imports to state tourism authorities, licensed tourist resorts, and bonded operators.
- Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan provide 0% basic customs tariffs on major distilled spirits under HS 2208, while Timor-Leste applies a low 5% CIF duty.
- Tariffs reach regional highs in Indonesia at 150%, Bhutan at 100%, and India at 50% Basic Customs Duty plus 100% AIDC, alongside steep duties in Nepal and Thailand.
- Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan apply the unified Eurasian Economic Union Common Customs Tariff, while ASEAN members like Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Malaysia offer 0% preferential rates under ATIGA.
- Importers must hold distinct state authorizations, including China's Food Operation License, South Korea's dual MFDS and NTS registrations, and Vietnam's Alcohol Distribution License.
Country by country
| Country | Status | Import duty on spirits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | full prohibition | Prohibited from import (HS 2208 banned) | Duty-free |
| Armenia | legal | Under the EAEU Common External Tariff, spirits (HS 2208) imported from non-EAEU countries are generally subject to an ad valorem customs duty of 10% to 15% of the CIF… | Producers Duty-free |
| Azerbaijan | legal | 15% ad valorem based on the customs value (CIF) under HS Code 2208. | Producers Duty-free |
| Bangladesh | partial prohibition | Spirits under HS Heading 2208 are subject to a statutory Customs Duty (CD) of 25%, Regulatory Duty (RD) of 3% to 5%, Supplementary Duty (SD) ranging from 250% to 350% or… | Producers Duty-free |
| Bhutan | legal | 100% customs duty based on CIF value (HS 2208) | Producers Duty-free |
| Brunei Darussalam | partial prohibition | Commercial imports are prohibited. Customs tariff lists HS 2208 at NIL duty under the Customs Import Duties Order 2007, but commercial clearance is barred. Qualified… | Duty-free |
| Cambodia | legal | 35% ad valorem on CIF value for distilled spirits under HS 2208 (pursuant to Sub-Decree No. 210, with preferential rates applicable under ASEAN/regional trade… | Producers Duty-free |
| China | legal | Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) customs duty is 10% ad valorem on CIF value for spirits under HS heading 2208 (whisky 2208.30, rum 2208.40, gin 2208.50, vodka 2208.60, Baijiu… | Producers |
| Georgia | dry areas exist | No state-level customs duties (states cannot assess tariffs under U.S. Constitution Art. I, Sec. 10); federal customs duty applies under U.S. HTS 2208 (ranging from 0%… | Producers Duty-free |
| Hong Kong | legal | Customs tariffs per se are 0% (free port). Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (effective 16 October 2024), spirits with >30% ABV are subject to a two-tier ad… | Producers Duty-free |
| India | dry areas exist | Standard spirits under HS 2208: 50% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) plus 100% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC), giving an effective combined customs… | Producers Duty-free |
| Indonesia | dry areas exist | 150% ad valorem on CIF value for spirits and liqueurs (HS 2208) under Ministry of Finance Regulation No. 132/PMK.010/2015 and the Indonesian Customs Tariff (BTKI). | Producers Duty-free |
| Japan | legal | Most distilled spirits under HS 2208 (including Whisky 2208.30, Rum 2208.40, Gin 2208.50, Vodka 2208.60, and Brandy 2208.20) are duty-free (0% / Free) under Japan's WTO… | Producers Duty-free |
| Kazakhstan | legal / dry areas exist | Determined by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Common Customs Tariff: spirits under HS 2208 (including whisky, rum, gin, vodka, and liqueurs) are subject to a specific… | Producers Duty-free |
| Kyrgyzstan | legal | EAEU Common Customs Tariff (CCT) rates apply to non-EAEU imports: generally €1.40 to €1.50 per litre of 100% pure alcohol for spirits under HS 2208 (e.g., whisky, vodka,… | Producers Duty-free |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | legal | Standard statutory/normal tariff is 40% ad valorem on CIF value for HS 2208 (spirits/whiskies/brandy); 0% under ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and select… | Duty-free |
| Macao | legal | 0% (Macao is a free port with no general customs tariffs on HS 2208 distilled spirits). | Producers Duty-free |
| Malaysia | legal / partial prohibition / dry areas exist | 15% ad valorem on CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) under HS 2208 (0% under preferential Free Trade Agreements such as ATIGA or CPTPP with qualifying COO). | Producers Duty-free |
| Maldives | partial prohibition / dry areas exist | 25% ad valorem plus MVR 50 specific duty per litre (under the Export-Import Act) | Duty-free |
| Mongolia | legal / dry areas exist | 15% Most Favoured Nation (MFN) ad valorem duty on spirits under HS 2208 (30% General rate; 0% preferential rate under the Japan-Mongolia EPA), calculated on CIF customs… | Producers Duty-free |
| Myanmar | legal / dry areas exist | 40% customs duty on CIF value plus landing charges (0.5%) under Myanmar Customs Tariff (HS 2208); 0% under ATIGA for qualifying ASEAN origin. | Producers Duty-free |
| Nepal | legal | Spirits under HS Heading 2208 incur high ad valorem customs duties (commonly 80% to 100% depending on the specific tariff line), alongside specific per-litre excise… | Producers Duty-free |
| North Korea | legal | not confirmed | Producers Duty-free |
| Pakistan | partial prohibition / dry areas exist | Statutory Customs Duty is 90% ad valorem on spirits under HS heading 2208 (including 2208.2000, 2208.3000, 2208.4000, 2208.5000, 2208.6000, and 2208.9000) under the… | Producers Duty-free |
| Philippines | legal / dry areas exist | Most Favoured Nation (MFN) customs duty on distilled spirits under HS Heading 2208 ranges between 7% and 15% ad valorem depending on the specific tariff line (e.g.,… | Producers Duty-free |
| Singapore | dry areas exist | Nil (0% customs duty on distilled spirits under HS Heading 2208; customs duties apply only to beer, stout, and samsu) | Producers Duty-free |
| South Korea | legal | Standard MFN customs duty on distilled spirits (HS 2208) is 20% ad valorem on CIF value. Under free trade agreements (including KORUS FTA, Korea-EU FTA, and Korea-UK… | Producers Duty-free |
| Sri Lanka | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to a General Customs Duty (CID) of Rs. 2,750 per bulk litre (or exemption/special rates depending on specific sub-heading and origin… | Producers Duty-free |
| Taiwan | legal | 0% customs duty on major distilled spirits under HS 2208, including whisky (2208.30), grape brandy (2208.20), rum (2208.40), gin (2208.50), and vodka (2208.60) under WTO… | Producers Duty-free |
| Tajikistan | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to ad valorem customs duties generally ranging between 10% and 15% ad valorem under Tajikistan's national customs tariff schedule. | Producers Duty-free |
| Thailand | legal | 60% ad valorem on most distilled spirits (HS 2208, such as whisky, rum, vodka, brandy); 54% ad valorem on gin and geneva. Reduced or 0% duties apply under preferential… | Producers Duty-free |
| Timor-Leste | legal | 5% of CIF value (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) | Producers Duty-free |
| Turkmenistan | partial prohibition / dry areas exist | Standard customs tariff duties range between 5% and 10% ad valorem, plus a 0.2% customs clearance fee on the customs value | Producers Duty-free |
| Uzbekistan | legal | 30%, but not less than 1.00 USD per litre (HS code heading 2208) | Producers |
| Vietnam | legal | Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff is 45% ad valorem for HS 2208 (whiskies, vodka, rum, gin, brandy); preferential rates under FTAs (EVFTA, CPTPP, UKVFTA) are… | Producers Duty-free |
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