Importing fresh baby corn from Thailand to Taiwan involves three cost layers: the FOB unit price, the airfreight charge, and Taiwan customs duty. This guide breaks down each layer with real market data so buyers can model landed cost before placing their first order.
MOQ Tiers & FOB Price Ranges
Pricing scales with volume. Thai exporters typically offer three commercial tiers:
All prices are FOB Bangkok (Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi cargo terminal). Prices move ±15% between seasons — expect the upper end November through February when Thai harvest peaks and airline belly cargo is tightest.
FOB Price by Specification
Packaging and pre-processing directly affect the export price. The table below reflects indicative FOB Bangkok ranges for the 2024–25 crop season:
| Specification | Pack Format | FOB Bangkok (USD/kg) | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husked, loose carton | 5 kg wax carton | 2.50 – 3.20 | 200 kg |
| Husked, MAP tray | 250 g or 500 g retail tray | 3.50 – 5.00 | 100 kg |
| Husk-on, loose | 10 kg carton | 2.00 – 2.80 | 500 kg |
| VSP (vacuum skin pack) | Retail 200 g | 4.00 – 6.00 | 50 kg trial |
| Blanched & IQF | 10 kg poly bag | 3.80 – 5.20 | 200 kg |
Husked loose carton offers the lowest FOB price and is preferred by foodservice importers. MAP tray and VSP carry a higher price but arrive retail-ready, eliminating repacking cost at destination.
Airfreight Rates: Bangkok to Taipei (TPE)
Baby corn ships as perishable freight (IATA commodity code 51: perishables). Rates are quoted per kilogram of chargeable weight (actual or volumetric, whichever is greater). Volumetric divisor for air is 6,000 cm³/kg.
| Weight Break | Route | Rate (USD/kg) | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| +45 kg | BKK → TPE | 3.20 – 4.50 | Overnight |
| +100 kg | BKK → TPE | 2.60 – 3.60 | Overnight |
| +300 kg | BKK → TPE | 2.00 – 2.80 | Overnight |
| +500 kg | BKK → TPE | 1.70 – 2.40 | Overnight |
Rates include fuel surcharge and security fee but exclude destination handling, customs clearance, and cold-store delivery. Thai Airways Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, and EVA Air Cargo all operate direct BKK–TPE freighter or belly-hold services. Booking 5–7 days ahead secures better rates, especially during peak November–February.
Landed Cost Calculation — Example
The example below uses a 200 kg commercial trial order of MAP-tray husked baby corn shipped FOB Bangkok:
200 kg MAP Tray · FOB Bangkok → CIF Taipei
Taiwan applies a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff of 20% on fresh baby corn (HS 0709.99) from Thailand, as no bilateral free-trade agreement currently exists between Thailand and Taiwan. Buyers should account for this in margin calculations. The ASEAN–Taiwan FTA negotiations remain ongoing as of 2025.
Seasonal Price Variation
Thailand harvests baby corn twice annually. Supply and price both vary significantly by month:
Counter-intuitively, peak supply months (Nov–Feb) coincide with tighter airfreight capacity due to high-season passenger demand. Buyers who can receive shipments in March or September typically find the best price-to-freight ratio.
Payment Terms
Standard payment terms for first-time buyers:
- T/T 50% deposit + 50% before shipment — most common for trial orders under USD 2,000
- T/T 30% deposit + 70% against B/L copy — standard for commercial orders 200–500 kg
- L/C at sight — available for orders above USD 5,000; adds 3–5 days processing
- Credit terms (NET 30) — extended to established buyers after 3+ successful shipments
Key Takeaways
- FOB price ranges from USD 2.00–6.00/kg depending on pack format and volume
- Airfreight BKK→TPE adds USD 1.70–4.50/kg at standard commercial weights
- Taiwan MFN import duty on HS 0709.99 is 20%
- Total landed cost for MAP-tray commercial orders typically lands at USD 7–10/kg CIF Taipei
- Best price-to-freight ratio is found in March and September