How to Import Argan Oil From Morocco: The Complete B2B Guide

Importing argan oil directly from Morocco gives you better prices, fresher oil and full traceability. It also means dealing with documents, freight and customs that a local distributor would otherwise handle for you.

None of it is complicated once you know the sequence. This guide explains the full process - from agreeing the specification to clearing customs - and the mistakes that cause most delays and surprise costs on a first shipment.

Step 1 - Confirm the Product Specification in Writing

Before talking about freight, agree exactly what you are buying. Put it in the pro-forma invoice, not just in emails:

• Grade: cosmetic (unroasted), deodorized cosmetic, or culinary (roasted).
• Quality level: for example extra-virgin, with the maximum acidity you accept.
• Certification: organic or conventional, and which certificate.
• Packaging: bottles, 5L or 25L jerrycans, or 200L drums.
• Quantity and number of packages.
• Documents: batch COA, MSDS, certificate of origin, organic documents if needed.
• A clause saying the shipment must match the approved sample.

Buyers who skip this step have no basis for a complaint when something arrives different.

Step 2 - Cosmetic or Food? It Changes the Rules

This is the point most first-time importers miss. The same oil is regulated differently depending on how you will sell it.

Ask your customs broker to confirm the exact HS code for your product and packaging. The classification decides the duty rate and which checks apply.

Step 3 - Choose Your Incoterm

The Incoterm defines who pays for what and where the risk passes from seller to buyer. It is the biggest source of misunderstandings on price.

For a first order, DAP or CIF is usually easier: fewer parties to coordinate. Just remember that import duties and local fees are still yours.

Step 4 - The Documents You Need

Morocco has trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, among others. With the right proof of origin, duties can be reduced or removed - but only if the paperwork is correct. Ask your supplier to prepare the origin documents before the goods leave.

For organic oil entering the EU, each shipment needs an electronic certificate of inspection in the EU TRACES system. Without it, the oil can be imported but not sold as organic.

Step 5 - Choose How to Ship

Transit times vary with routes and seasons, so ask for current figures when you request a quote.

Argan oil is not classified as dangerous goods for transport, but it is heavy and it is a liquid. Insist on:

• sealed, leak-proof containers with tamper seals,
• drums or jerrycans palletized and stretch-wrapped,
• bottles packed with dividers,
• storage away from heat during transit when possible.

Step 6 - Customs Clearance at Destination

Work with a licensed customs broker in your country. Send them the documents before the goods arrive, not on arrival day. They will:

• confirm the HS code and duty rate,
• apply the preferential origin if your documents allow it,
• pay duties and taxes on your behalf,
• handle any inspection.

Remember that clearing customs does not mean the product can be sold. Cosmetic products must also meet your local cosmetic rules - EU CPNP notification, UK SCPN notification or US FDA/MoCRA requirements - before they reach customers.

Calculating Your Landed Cost

The price per liter from the supplier is only the beginning. Your real cost per liter includes:

1. Product price (at the agreed Incoterm)
2. Freight and insurance
3. Import duty (possibly zero with preferential origin)
4. Import VAT or sales tax (often recoverable for registered businesses)
5. Customs broker and port fees
6. Local delivery to your warehouse
7. Testing, if you run your own lab analysis

Divide the total by the number of liters. Compare suppliers on this figure, never on the ex-works price alone.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ordering without samples or without a written specification.
• Accepting oil without a batch COA that matches the shipment.
• Unclear Incoterms, leading to surprise bills at the port.
• Missing origin documents, so you pay duties you didn't need to pay.
• No TRACES certificate for organic oil entering the EU.
• Clear plastic packaging for oil that will be stored for months.
• Assuming customs clearance means you can sell - cosmetic registration is a separate step.

FAQ

How long does shipping from Morocco to the USA take?

Express couriers usually deliver in a few days; sea freight takes several weeks depending on the destination port. Ask us for current transit times to your country.

Do I need an import license?

It depends on your country and on whether the oil is imported as a cosmetic or a food. Check with your customs broker before the first order.

Can I import a small quantity first?

Yes. Many buyers start with an express or air shipment to validate quality and paperwork, then move to sea freight for regular volumes.

Who pays the import duties?

With EXW, FCA, FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP, the buyer pays import duties and taxes. Only with DDP does the seller pay them.

Get a landed-cost quote to your country. Request a Quote