Sourcing & Trade Guide
Export Pricing Taiwan: Quoting USD and NTD, MOQ, Lead Times
Comilmart Team
November 1, 2026
A buyer in Nairobi or Dubai may receive five quotations for the same product on the same day. Some are clear. Some are missing a lead time. Some give a price without saying what it includes. The buyer will usually reply first to the quotation that is easiest to understand and compare.
For a Taiwanese exporter, that is an opportunity. Good pricing is not only a matter of being cheaper. It is a matter of being clear. When your quotation states the currency, the trade term, the MOQ, the price tiers, the lead time and how long the offer is valid, you remove doubts and save the buyer from asking repeated questions.
This guide covers export pricing Taiwan manufacturers can use when quoting to overseas buyers: choosing between USD and NTD, setting MOQ, building tiers and stating lead times. It does not give tax or legal advice. It aims to help you structure information so that buyers can say yes.
Start with what a quotation must contain
A professional export quotation includes, at a minimum:
- Your company details and the buyer's details
- Product description with model, specification and packing
- Unit price and the currency
- Trade term and the named place
- MOQ and quantity tiers
- Lead time and what it is measured from
- Payment terms
- Validity period of the quotation
- Sample terms, if relevant
Putting these in a consistent layout makes every quotation easier to read. On Comilmart, listings support MOQ, tiered pricing, lead times and samples, and buyers can request quotations, chat and make counter-offers, so you can keep the whole negotiation in one place.
Choosing the quoting currency: USD or NTD
Many Taiwanese exporters quote international buyers in US dollars because it is widely understood and is common in cross-border trade. Others quote in New Taiwan dollars when their costs are local, or when a buyer is happy to hold that risk. There is no universal right answer, and you should take advice from your bank or finance adviser.
Consider these points:
- Your costs: if most of your costs are in NTD and your revenue is in USD, exchange-rate movements affect your margin
- The buyer's preference: buyers often compare quotations in one currency, and USD is a common choice
- Your bank arrangements: some banks offer foreign-currency accounts or hedging tools
- Quotation validity: the longer the validity, the greater the exposure to currency movements
Comilmart shows prices to buyers in multiple currencies, which helps them understand your offer in their own terms. Even so, the contract currency should be clear and consistent across your listing, quotation and pro forma invoice.
Do not guess at future exchange rates. State the currency and a validity period, and say how you will treat a revision if the order is delayed.
Trade terms: say what the price includes
A price means little without the trade term. Common Incoterms rules describe who arranges and pays for transport and who bears risk at each stage. You do not need to master all of them. Choose the terms that match how you work and state them clearly with the named place, for example the factory, a Taiwanese port or a destination port.
Typical patterns include:
| Term type | In plain language |
|---|---|
| Ex-works style | Buyer collects from your premises and handles export arrangements |
| Free-on-board style | You deliver to the port and load; the buyer arranges main carriage |
| Cost-and-freight or similar | You arrange main carriage to the destination port |
Check the current Incoterms rules for exact meanings, and discuss with your freight forwarder which term suits each shipment. Buyers new to importing may prefer a term that includes more of the logistics, but that requires you to manage costs you cannot always predict. Please confirm current export documentation, tax treatment and customs requirements with your customs broker, tax adviser or the relevant authority.
MOQ: set it with reasons
MOQ is not an arbitrary barrier. It reflects production runs, material purchases, packaging, set-up time and the cost of handling an order. A buyer who understands the reason is more likely to accept it.
When setting MOQ, consider:
- The smallest batch that is economical on your line
- The smallest quantity of raw material or packaging you can buy
- Whether you can offer a different MOQ for stock items and made-to-order items
- Whether you will offer a trial order at a higher unit price
State your MOQ at product level on the listing, and be willing to explain it. If you have flexibility for a first order, say so, but do not advertise flexibility you will not honour.
Tiered pricing: reward volume visibly
Tiered pricing shows buyers how the unit price falls as quantity grows. It also helps you guide buyers towards orders that suit your production.
A simple structure might look like this:
| Quantity range | Unit price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sample | Stated per piece | Sample fee and freight arrangement |
| MOQ to first break | Standard price | Standard lead time |
| Next break | Lower price | Lead time may change |
| Large order | Quoted on request | Production planning needed |
Choose tier boundaries based on real cost differences, such as full pallets, full cartons or full production batches. Avoid dozens of tiers. Three or four are easy to understand.
If prices depend on volatile materials, say how long they are fixed. Be careful with phrases such as "price may change". Specify the conditions, so the buyer can plan.
Lead times: define the start and the end
Lead time is among the most misunderstood items in a quotation. Buyers need to know when the clock starts and what it includes.
Be specific:
- Start point: from order confirmation, from receipt of deposit, or from approval of a sample or artwork
- End point: ready for collection at your factory, or loaded at the port
- Stock versus production: separate lead times for stocked items and made-to-order items
- Factors that could change it: custom materials, holidays, large orders
Do not include shipping time in your lead time unless you control it. Carrier schedules, port congestion and customs clearance can alter arrival dates, and you cannot promise what you do not control.
The landed-cost calculator and shipping rate tools on the platform help buyers estimate shipping costs, and ComilExpress is Comilmart's own logistics service for those who wish to discuss shipping. Neither tool replaces advice from your forwarder.
Payment terms and protection
Payment terms vary by relationship and risk. New buyers and new suppliers often agree on a deposit before production and a balance before shipment. Longer relationships may allow different arrangements. Whatever you choose, write it clearly and keep it consistent between your quotation and your invoice.
For larger first orders, buyers may feel more comfortable using Trade Assurance. Describe it only in general terms and refer buyers to the platform for details, because the terms are not yours to summarise.
Using quotations in the negotiation
When a buyer makes a counter-offer, pause and review your costs before replying. Decide what you can change, such as quantity, packaging or payment timing, and what you cannot. Explain the reason when you decline. A calm, factual reply keeps the conversation open.
Save templates for common products and update them as costs change. Keep the same wording across your listing, quotation and invoice, so that nothing contradicts anything else. If you respond to sourcing requests on the RFQ page, tailor each reply to what the buyer asked.
Frequently asked questions
Should I show prices publicly or only on request?
Both approaches work. Showing starting prices and tiers attracts serious comparisons, while complex products may need a quotation.
How long should a quotation be valid?
Choose a period that matches how stable your costs are. State it clearly and do not extend it automatically.
Can I change my price after the buyer accepts?
Only under conditions that were stated in the quotation. Changing terms after acceptance damages trust.
Do I include freight in my price?
Only if your chosen trade term covers it. Otherwise, let buyers estimate freight using the platform's tools or their forwarder.
Next step
If you are ready to present clear prices to overseas buyers, apply as a manufacturer and set up your first listings with MOQ, tiers and lead times. The learning centre has further guides on selling internationally.