Can power banks/lithium batteries be consolidated and shipped to Taiwan?
Yes, but there are conditions. Battery packs ≤ 100Wh (approximately 27,000mAh or less) can be transported by air, and must be transported by special cargo by air or sea; personal use only meets the BSMI inspection exemption conditions. Use the tool below to calculate your power bank Wh.
General power banks (battery pack ≤ 100Wh, approximately 27,000mAh or less) can be shipped to Taiwan via consolidated shipment.Lithium batteries are Category 9 dangerous goods and must be transported by special cargo by air or sea; 100~160Wh are restricted and require approval, and those exceeding 160Wh are prohibited from being transported by air on passenger planes. Imported for personal use BSMI inspection exemption conditions (≤ US$1,000 or quantity ≤ 5 pieces)That's it, 0% tariff.
Highlights of this page
Quick judgment: Can your power bank be transported by air?
✅ General power bank (≤ 100Wh)
Can be consolidated
Approximately 27,000mAh or less (3.7V), battery pack ≤ 100Wh. It can be sent to Taiwan by special cargo by air or sea, as long as it complies with UN38.3 packaging and declaration regulations. Most power banks on the market fall into this category.
⚠️ Large capacity (100~160Wh) / bare battery
restricted >160Wh prohibited from air transport
100~160Wh must be approved by the airline and the quantity is limited; if it exceeds 160Wh, it is prohibited to be transported by passenger aircraft. Bare batteries (not installed in equipment) are subject to the most stringent restrictions and must be shipped as special goods by sea.
Power Bank Wh Calculation Tool
Enter the capacity and voltage and instantly calculate the watt-hour (Wh) and air freight status. Formula: Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1000.
※ The nominal voltage is used as the reference value; the actual value is subject to the Wh marked on the product and the regulations of the aviation/sea shipping company. The transportation of lithium batteries must comply with specifications such as UN38.3.
Wh limit and capacity comparison table
| Mobile power capacity (3.7V) | About Wh | Air freight status |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000mAh | About 37Wh | ≤100Wh can be transported by air |
| 20,000mAh | About 74Wh | ≤100Wh can be transported by air |
| 26,800mAh | About 99Wh | Close to the upper limit and can be transported by air |
| Approximately 27,000mAh or more | > 100Wh | 100~160Wh subject to approval, limited quantity |
| Approximately 43,000mAh or more | > 160Wh | Air transport prohibited by passenger aircraft |
Air freight vs sea freight: How to send lithium batteries
Lithium batteryClass 9 Dangerous Goods, classified according to battery type: bare battery (UN3480), built-in equipment (UN3481), and packaged with equipment (UN3481). Consolidated shipping must go through special channels:
| way | normative | Applicable |
|---|---|---|
| Special air freight | IATA DGR, UN38.3 test report, proper packaging and declaration | ≤100Wh mobile power supply, including battery 3C, faster |
| Shipping | IMDG Code, relatively loose, allows larger batches | Large capacity, large batch, bare battery specials |
BSMI commodity inspection and exemption for personal use
Since 2014, the power bank has been listed under the Bureau of Standards and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in accordance with the Commodity Inspection Law.Compulsory inspection of goods, operators must pass BSMI inspection and obtain product verification login before selling. Imports for personal use are exempt from inspection:
The total amount of the same order with the same specification is within Under USD 1,000, orOver USD 1,000 but the quantity does not exceed 5 pieces, the importer can fill in the inspection-free customs clearance code CI000000000010 Clear customs.
FAQ
Yes, but there are conditions. Lithium batteries are Category 9 dangerous goods and must be transported by special cargo by air or sea. Battery packs ≤ 100Wh (approximately 27,000mAh or less, 3.7V) can be transported by air; 100~160Wh are restricted and require approval; batteries exceeding 160Wh are prohibited from being transported by air.
Wh = capacity (mAh) × voltage (V) ÷ 1000. The nominal voltage of mobile power supplies is mostly 3.7V, for example, 10,000mAh is about 37Wh, 20,000mAh is about 74Wh, and 27,000mAh is about 100Wh.
Sale subject to BSMI inspection. Imports for personal use: The total amount of the same declaration and the same specification is ≤ US$1,000, or > US$1,000 but the quantity is ≤ 5 pieces, the customs clearance code CI000000000010 can be filled in for exemption from inspection.
yes. Products with built-in or attached lithium batteries are also classified as Class 9 dangerous goods (UN3481) and must be shipped as special cargo. However, compared with bare cells, the restrictions are wider and most small 3C can be shipped normally.
0% tariff on power banks (CCC Chapter 8507). Duty-paid value ≤ NT$2,000 is tax-free, and only 5% VAT is required for purchases above NT$2,000. Most personal purchases are within the scope of tax-free.
Bare batteries (UN3480) are subject to the most stringent air transport restrictions, and most shipments are not accepted or require special declaration. It is recommended to send the finished product with a built-in battery instead, or choose an acceptable sea freight channel, and prepare a UN38.3 test report.
Regulatory basis and official sources
- IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) - Lithium Batteries (Category 9) Wh Limits and UN38.3 Specifications for Air Transport.
- Bureau of Standards and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (BSMI) "Power banks are listed as commodities subject to inspection":bsmi.gov.tw
- Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance "Cross-border online shopping of electrical appliances must confirm whether they are goods subject to inspection" (customs inspection exemption code CI000000000010):web.customs.gov.tw
Products containing batteries can also be sent! Inquire now about special cargo shipping
Mobile power supplies and 3C including batteries go through specialized special cargo channels, and Taiwan's local customs declaration team assists BSMI with customs clearance, tax reimbursement and actual consumption and invoice issuance. Register to get the shipping warehouse address.
Register for free to get the warehouse address