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 2025–2026; each page shows its date.
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, 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) | |
| 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… | Duty-free |
| Azerbaijan | legal | 15% ad valorem based on the customs value (CIF) under HS Code 2208. | 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… | Duty-free |
| Bhutan | legal | 100% customs duty based on CIF value (HS 2208) | Duty-free |
| Brunei | 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… | |
| 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… | Duty-free |
| China | legal | Whisky (HS 2208.30): provisional rate of 5% since 2 February 2026. Other spirits under HS 2208 (rum, gin, vodka, baijiu and others): 10% most-favoured-nation rate on CIF… | |
| 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%… | 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… | 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… | 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). | 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… | 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… | 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,… | Duty-free |
| Laos | 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… | |
| Macao | legal | 0% (Macao is a free port with no general customs tariffs on HS 2208 distilled spirits). | |
| 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). | 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… | 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. | 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… | Duty-free |
| North Korea | legal | not confirmed | |
| 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… | 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.,… | 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) | 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… | 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… | 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… | 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. | 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… | Duty-free |
| Timor-Leste | legal | 5% of CIF value (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) | 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 | Duty-free |
| Uzbekistan | legal | 30%, but not less than 1.00 USD per litre (HS code heading 2208) | Duty-free |
| 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… | Duty-free |
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