South Asia route

Shipping from China to India

Typical door-to-door shipping from China to India takes 25–35 days by ocean freight, 30–40 days by LCL consolidation, 4–7 days by air freight and 3–5 days by express courier. The published China India Express rotation puts Shekou to Nhava Sheva at 14 days and Shanghai at 18 days port to port on a direct weekly service, and 2026 forwarder tables run 14–18 days to Nhava Sheva and 12–16 days to Mundra. Duty is layered: Basic Customs Duty of 0–100% by tariff line, a Social Welfare Surcharge of 10% of that duty, and IGST at the domestic GST rate on the duty-paid value. A foreign seller cannot hold an Import Export Code, so the importer of record must be an Indian entity or an appointed third-party importer — we confirm that structure before quoting a duty-paid scope.

Ocean, air and door-delivery options for cargo moving from China to India.

Looking for the destination side of this lane — duty, importer of record and certification? Open the India destination guide.

How long does shipping from China take?

ModeTypical timeBasis
Ocean freight FCL14–20 days port to portCIX direct weekly service: Shekou–Nhava Sheva 14 days, Shanghai 18; 2026 forwarder tables 14–18 days to Nhava Sheva
Ocean freight LCL15–25 daysDoor to door; adds roughly 5–7 days to FCL, with weekly consolidations
Air freight4–7 daysPVG, CAN or SZX to DEL or BOM is 2–5 days airport to airport
Express courier3–5 daysFedEx International Priority is 1–3 business days; China to India door to door 3–5 days

Typical ranges measured from supplier pickup to signed delivery. They are not a commitment; the binding range is issued with your quotation.

Lane facts

Loading fromShanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Yantian and Nansha
Destination portsNhava Sheva (JNPA), Mundra, Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Kolkata/Haldia, Hazira, Pipavav, Tuticorin and Cochin
Direct callsThe China India Express runs a direct weekly rotation Shanghai–Ningbo–Shekou–Nhava Sheva–Mundra; Yantian to Nhava Sheva shows a seven-day schedule
Container options20GP, 40GP and 40HQ; LCL accepted from 1 CBM
Duty and taxBasic Customs Duty 0–100% by tariff line, most goods 5–40%, plus a Social Welfare Surcharge of 10% of that duty, plus IGST at the domestic GST rate on the duty-paid value
Small consignmentsConsignments received as gifts up to INR 5,000 clear duty free under the courier regulations, with parcels limited to 70 kg; the threshold is under enforcement pressure and is reconfirmed at booking
Importer of recordA foreign seller cannot hold an IEC; the importer must be an Indian entity or an appointed third-party importer, registered on ICEGATE with a PAN-linked GSTIN
CertificationBIS ISI marking and CRS registration, WPC type approval for wireless products, an FSSAI import licence for food and CDSCO registration for medical devices, typically 8–12 weeks
Detention and demurrageFree days run 14–21, with storage around USD 10–25 per day and demurrage USD 30–70 per day after that
Quote turnaroundA formal quotation is issued within one hour once the cargo details are complete

What does this cover?

India combines a straightforward ocean lane with a demanding compliance layer: the importer needs a valid IEC, and many product categories need registration before the goods can clear. We confirm the product requirements before booking.

Who is this for?

  • Commercial imports for wholesale, retail and distribution
  • Factory-to-buyer shipments arranged on a delivered or port-to-port basis
  • Consolidated cargo from several Chinese suppliers
  • Buyers who need a duty-paid door price rather than a port-to-port rate

What is included in the service?

  • China pickup, consolidation and warehouse handling where the scope includes it
  • The transport combination quoted — ocean, rail, road, air or express
  • Export declaration and shipping document guidance
  • Destination clearance under the confirmed arrangement where a door scope is quoted
  • Delivery to the agreed address within the quoted delivery area

What do you need from us to quote?

  • Product name, material, use and photographs
  • Declared value with currency and whether the goods carry a brand
  • Piece count, gross weight, volume and package dimensions
  • China origin city or the supplier address
  • Destination city, full address and postcode
  • Address type: commercial, residential, warehouse or free zone
  • Whether the consignee can act as importer of record if the destination requires it
  • Any battery, liquid, powder, magnet or regulated attribute
  • Cargo-ready date and any required delivery window

Who is responsible for what?

ScopeCompanyCustomerResponsibility transfers
Door to door
  • Pickup from the agreed origin address
  • Warehouse intake, checking and measurement
  • Export declaration and main transport
  • Destination delivery to the agreed address, with the customs arrangement stated in the quotation
  • Providing accurate cargo, supplier and consignee details
  • Duty and tax if the quotation states they are not included
  • Ensuring the delivery address can accept the shipment
  • Confirming the final charges before dispatch
Responsibility passes on delivery and signature at the agreed destination address.

What does the quotation cover?

The quotation states the total for the scope described in it. It is built from the cargo data, the origin and destination, the transport mode and the delivery scope agreed at that time.

What is included?

  • China pickup and consolidation as quoted
  • Export declaration and main transport on the quoted routing
  • Destination import clearance under the confirmed arrangement
  • Duty and tax for the declared goods where the scope is DDP
  • Delivery to the agreed address within the quoted delivery area

What is not included?

  • Customs revaluation where the declared value is not accepted
  • Certification, registration or testing required by the destination authority
  • Storage, demurrage and inspection costs arising at either customs point
  • Remote-area delivery outside the quoted area
  • Unloading equipment or labour at the destination address

What might cost extra?

  • Remote or difficult-access delivery beyond the standard service area
  • Customs inspection, holds or revaluation at either end
  • Storage where cargo cannot be dispatched inside the agreed free period
  • Detention and demurrage when a container or vehicle is held beyond free time
  • Oversized, overweight or special loading equipment
  • Cargo that arrives without the documents required for the confirmed route
  • Special cargo approved after review but requiring extra handling or documentation
  • Address change, re-delivery or a failed delivery appointment after dispatch
  • Peak-season or fuel surcharges applied by the carrier
  • Duty or tax reassessment where customs does not accept the declared value

Freight rates and space change with the market, so each quotation carries its own validity period. Once it expires, or if the rate or space changes before booking, the price is reconfirmed before dispatch.

Cargo is weighed and measured after it reaches the warehouse. If the piece count, weight, volume, packing, cargo attributes or delivery address differ from the original inquiry, the charge is recalculated and sent to you for confirmation before payment and dispatch.

How long does each stage take?

Transit is counted from the stated start point to the stated end point for each stage. Carrier schedules, port and customs conditions, and the destination delivery arrangement all affect the outcome.

  • Pickup and warehouse intake: Typically 1–3 days from supplier release (calculated from Pickup arranged from the supplier address to Cargo received, counted, weighed and measured at the warehouse)
  • Consolidation and waiting: Typically 2–5 days, longer if later suppliers are still producing (calculated from Cargo accepted at the warehouse to Container loaded and sealed, or cargo handed to the carrier)
  • Export and ocean transit: Typically 14–20 days port to port, depending on the loading port (calculated from Container loaded on board to Vessel arriving at the destination port)
  • Import clearance and duty handling: Typically 2–5 days at Nhava Sheva or Mundra when the Bill of Entry and documents are in order (calculated from Vessel arrival at the destination port to Customs released and duty or tax settled where the scope includes it)
  • Final delivery: Typically 2–5 days inland (calculated from Customs released to Delivered to the agreed address and signed for)

Estimated total: An estimated total is issued with the quotation, expressed as a range with the calculation start and end points stated. It is an estimate, not a guaranteed arrival date.

Last verified 2026-09-15.

How is the shipment handled?

Illustrations generated for this page, showing the handling stages your cargo moves through. They are not photographs of a specific shipment.

What must be confirmed before booking?

  • A foreign seller cannot hold an Import Export Code or the regulated product approvals, so the import structure is confirmed before a duty-paid scope is quoted
  • Product approvals take time: BIS, WPC, FSSAI and CDSCO clearances typically run 8–12 weeks, so they are started before the cargo ships
  • The INR 5,000 gift allowance under the courier regulations is old and under enforcement pressure; it is reconfirmed at booking and cannot be relied on for commercial cargo
  • Monsoon and cyclone season suspends or slows west-coast terminal operations, and Nhava Sheva carries access-road and CFS-to-terminal congestion
  • The Bill of Entry is filed through ICEGATE by a licensed customs broker, and an e-way bill is required above INR 50,000 for inland movement

What mistakes should we avoid?

  • Assuming a delivered duty-paid price is available without confirming the import arrangement
  • Supplying a declared value that does not match the commercial invoice
  • Leaving certification or registration until the cargo has already arrived
  • Treating the transit range as a guaranteed arrival date
Questions

What else do buyers ask?

Can you combine goods from multiple suppliers?

Yes. We receive goods from several suppliers, register each delivery separately, check piece counts and outer packing, and consolidate everything into one shipment that you release once the last supplier has delivered.

Consolidation means one export declaration, one main transport movement and one delivered scope instead of several separate shipments. The shipment is held until you confirm that all suppliers have delivered.

Can I track the shipment?

Yes. Warehouse data and shipment progress can be queried through our system, and your service representative provides updates and handles exceptions.

Tracking visibility can cover warehouse receipt, booking, dispatch, international transit, customs clearance, delivery and receipt. Standard warehouse records include arrival photographs, while dedicated inspection reports and specified-angle filming are value-added services.

Is DDP available for every country and every product?

No. DDP is available where a compliant import arrangement can be built for that country and that commodity, which is confirmed per shipment. Where it cannot, an alternative such as DDU is quoted instead.

Some destinations do not allow an overseas seller to complete import and tax formalities, and some commodities need registration or certification before they can be imported at all. We confirm the importer-of-record position and the duty treatment for each shipment instead of promising universal DDP coverage.

How long does shipping from China take?

Typical door-to-door transit from China is 25–35 days by ocean FCL and 25–38 days by LCL to the UAE, 25–35 days by FCL to Saudi Arabia, 35–45 days by FCL to the United Kingdom, and 25–35 days by FCL to the US West Coast or 35–50 days to the East Coast; air freight typically takes 4–12 days door to door and express courier 3–6 working days. These are typical ranges, not a commitment; the confirmed range is issued with your quotation.

The ranges above are measured door to door and cover five stages: pickup and warehouse intake, consolidation and waiting, international transport, import clearance and duty handling, and final delivery. Ocean transit between the ports themselves is only one part of the total, which is why a port-to-port figure cannot be read as a door-to-door timeline. Sailing schedules, carrier space, port congestion and customs conditions can all extend the outcome, so the quotation states a range with its calculation start and end points rather than a guaranteed arrival date.

Why is one quote much cheaper than another?

The most common reason is that the two quotes do not cover the same thing. Check whether pickup, export, freight, destination charges, duty, tax and delivery are each included before comparing the totals.

A port-to-port rate excludes import clearance, duty, destination terminal charges and onward transport, while a delivered price includes them. Chargeable weight or volume may also be calculated differently between quotes, so a lower headline figure often means a smaller scope rather than a cheaper service.

When do I pay, and when does the cargo leave?

The standard sequence is: cargo arrives and is measured, the final charge is confirmed with you, you approve and pay, and then the shipment is dispatched.

Cargo is received and measured first, so the charge you approve is based on actual data rather than a declaration. Credit terms, monthly settlement or staged payment can be discussed for established and project customers, and every payment is recorded against a company order.

What happens if the cargo is damaged, delayed or goes missing?

We notify you as soon as an issue is confirmed, state the impact, give you the options, and keep updating until it is resolved. Responsibility and compensation are then determined by the cause, the contract terms and the insurance position.

We do not promise unconditional compensation for every loss. Claims depend on where responsibility sat at the time, what the contract says and whether insurance was in place, so we recommend confirming the insurance position for each shipment before dispatch.

Can you guarantee a fixed transit time?

No. We do not guarantee a fixed arrival date. Transit is issued as an estimated range with its calculation basis, and carrier schedules, port and customs conditions and delivery arrangements can all extend it.

We state the calculation basis and the factors that can extend transit, and where a route is exposed to a known risk we plan a primary and an alternative option instead of promising a date.

Is the $800 de minimis exemption still available for US imports?

No. Duty-free de minimis treatment for imports under $800 has been suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025, so commercial shipments now require a customs entry and payment of applicable duty regardless of value.

A US shipment can therefore no longer be treated as a small parcel exempt from duty. Every entry needs an importer of record and a customs bond, and duty together with MPF and HMF is assessed on that entry.

Do I need a US importer of record and a customs bond?

Yes. Clearing goods into the United States requires an importer of record and a customs bond covering the entry, and the position is confirmed before booking. Where a compliant arrangement exists we quote DDP; where it does not, we quote DDU.

A customs bond is a financial guarantee to CBP rather than an insurance policy, and it can be continuous or single-entry. The quotation states which party imports and what the DDP price includes, so the responsibility is visible before the cargo ships.

Can you deliver to Amazon FBA warehouses and residential addresses?

Yes. We deliver to Amazon FBA and AWD warehouses, third-party fulfilment centres, commercial premises and residential addresses across all 50 states, provided the delivery appointment and labelling requirements are met.

Marketplace deliveries need the shipment plan, labels and appointment in place before the truck arrives. Storage, waiting time or rescheduling charges raised by the facility fall outside the standard quoted scope, and residential or remote addresses are confirmed before dispatch.

Can a foreign seller be the importer of record in India?

No. A foreign seller without an Indian entity cannot hold an Import Export Code, cannot hold the regulated product approvals and cannot be named as the importer on the Bill of Entry. The importer of record must be an Indian entity — or an appointed third-party importer — registered on ICEGATE with an IEC and a PAN-linked GSTIN. Where the buyer has no Indian entity, we confirm that structure before quoting any duty-paid scope.

India requires an Indian entity as importer of record: a foreign seller cannot hold an IEC or be named on the Bill of Entry, so the structure is confirmed before quoting duty-paid.

What approvals does my product need before it can clear in India?

It depends on the category: BIS ISI marking and CRS registration for goods on the compulsory certification list, WPC equipment type approval for anything with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other radio, an FSSAI import licence for food with the 60% shelf-life rule, CDSCO registration with an Indian Authorized Agent for medical devices, and Legal Metrology labelling showing MRP and net quantity. Compliance lead time is typically 8–12 weeks, so approvals are started before the cargo ships rather than at arrival.

Approvals depend on the product — BIS/CRS, WPC for wireless, FSSAI for food, CDSCO for medical devices and Legal Metrology labelling — and typically take 8–12 weeks.

Need a shipment-level answer?

Send the cargo details, origin, destination and preferred delivery scope for review.

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