With the deepening of globalization, importing goods from China to India has become a daily need for many businesses and individuals. China has been India's largest trading partner since 2008 and retains that position today. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and India was 136.22 billion US dollars, of which China's exports to India were 117.68 billion US dollars

This will provide you with a detailed guide on shipping from China to India, covering how to import goods from China to India, including the mode of transportation, cost, time and how to choose the right freight forwarder.

How to import goods from China to India

The process of importing goods from China to India is as follows:

Determine the demand: First of all, it is necessary to clarify the type, quantity and quality requirements of the goods to be imported.

Find suppliers: Find reliable Chinese suppliers through online platforms, trade shows or industry recommendations.

Sign the contract: negotiate the price, delivery time and other terms with the supplier, and sign the formal purchase and sales contract.

Payment: Payment in accordance with the contract, such as wire transfer, letter of credit, etc.

Arrange transportation: Select the appropriate mode of transportation (sea, air, rail, etc.) and contact the freight forwarder or shipping company.

Customs clearance procedures: After the goods arrive in India, they need to complete the customs clearance procedures, including payment of customs duties, provision of necessary documents, etc.

Pick up and delivery: After customs clearance, you can pick up the goods from the forwarder or shipping company and arrange for delivery to the destination.

How to ship from China to India

Although China and India share a land border, the two countries are vast and most businesses import goods from China to India by sea or air.

Shipping from China to India

If you are looking for the cheapest way to transport from China to India, then you should probably choose sea transport. Sea transport is a mode of transport of goods by sea, mainly using container ships, but sometimes also using bulk carriers or ro-ro ships, oil tankers, etc.

Shipping is slow and it takes 15 to 30 days for containers to arrive in India from China. But the advantages of sea transport are also obvious, in addition to being cheap, it is better than other modes of transport, especially for large goods or large equipment over long distances.

FCL and LCL shipping from China to India

FCL (Full container Load) : One container is shipped from China to India for one customer. Usually we offer full container shipping service for 20 'containers and 40' containers (20GP, 40GP and 40HQ) to India. FCL shipping is more cost effective.

LCL (less than container Load) : Share a container with other customers who have goods shipped to the same destination at the same time. Of course, due to the extra work (consolidation, splitting, warehousing, paperwork, etc.), the final cost per unit is higher than FCL, and the shipping time is longer. LCL is a great choice for start-up small businesses. If your shipment does not fill the entire container, we are ready to offer a less than full container load (LCL) service from China to India.

FCL and LCL shipping is common, and if you are shipping large, heavy project cargo from China to India, we recommend flat or open top container solutions.

Refrigerated container: Used for cold chain transport.

Bulk: Used for large and bulk cargo.

Ro-ro: For vehicles and wheeled goods.

Our freight forwarding services from China to India cover all major ports in China: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc.

Depending on your specific requirements, we offer port-to-port, door-to-port and door-to-door transportation services from China to India. With our door-to-door service, with the final destination in mind,

Major seaports of India

Port Candela

Located 90 km from Kach Bay, it was built in the 1950s in the Kandla River region and was India's first export processing port. Today, it is the largest container port in India and ranks among the best in terms of value and volume of goods passed through each year. It is also the most profitable and busiest port for grain exports and oil imports. Today, it is used to import oil, salt, textiles and chemicals, among others.

Port of Mumbai

Mumbai Port is the largest port in India, in terms of size and traffic volume, it occupies the central position of India's west coast, water depth of 10 to 12 meters, large cargo ships can easily dock and move. A fifth of India's foreign trade passes through the port and is a key part of the country's economic and commercial operations. Its four main terminals receive and transport imports and exports, including crude oil, chemicals, tobacco, leather manganese, and other essential goods.

The port of Chennai

(also known as the Port of Madras) is the second largest port in India after the top two ports in India, handling more than 100 million tons of cargo per year. The port of Chennai has been the third largest port in India since it opened in 1881 on the Bay of Bengal (more precisely on the Coromandel coast). It is this status that makes it another key location that contributes so much to the local economy. In addition to its economic role and activities in transporting goods and containers, the port of Chennai is also a tourist attraction that attracts a large number of tourists every year due to the surrounding lighthouses.

Port of Calcutta

It is one of the newest ports in India with a water depth of 13 meters and has been granted official status as a shipping port by the Government of India due to its significant contribution to the economy. The largest ships it has docked are nearly 500 feet long. It is a direct link between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

Air freight from China to India

When time is tight, air freight is a quick solution to get your goods from China to India. Maybe you're running up against a project deadline, or maybe you're shipping goods that are perishable and can't withstand a month-long transocean shipment from China to India. When all other modes of transport fail to meet your time requirements, air freight is the perfect solution. Sometimes people prefer to ship high-value products by air because it ensures a higher level of safety compared to shipping by sea.

Air freight from China to India is usually chosen because:

Expedited delivery

The quantity is small, only three or four pallets or less

High value commodity

Products that must be delivered at their freshest, such as flowers, fruit or unfrozen meat and fish.

Major airports in India

About Delhi Airport:

India's busiest cargo airport.

More than 900,000 tons of cargo are transported by air each year.

Ideal for air cargo in North and central India.

Direct flights to several international airports in China.

China transit airports: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu.

Mumbai Airport Overview:

The full name of the airport is Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Second largest cargo airport in India after Delhi.

It can accommodate five wide-body freighters at the same time.

Facilities include a dedicated freight center for the transport of perishable goods.

Chinese airports: Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou. Cargo operators from China to Mumbai: Atlas Air, Emirates Air Cargo, Ethiopian Air Cargo, fedex. IATA code: BOM.

Chennai Airport Overview:

It is the ideal unloading airport for cargo bound for destinations in South India.

The site covers an area of more than eight hectares.

The cargo apron can accommodate three wide-body freighters at the same time.

A new, state-of-the-art cargo terminal is under construction.

Chinese airports: Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Chengdu. China to Chennai Cargo line cargo operators: Etihad Airways Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, SF Air. IATA code: MAA.

Bangalore Airport Overview:

The airport serves Karnataka and its surrounding areas.

Facilities include three cargo terminals and dedicated drug storage facilities.

Provides easy rail and road connections to Bangalore City.

Airports in China: Shanghai Pudong Airport, Guangzhou Airport. China to Bangalore freight line operator: None. IATA code: BLR.

Hyderabad Airport Overview:

The airport's full name is Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Ideally located in the heart of central India.

Infrastructure includes a 14,000-square-meter cargo terminal.

The airport has two runways.

There are no direct flights from Chinese airports.

The cost of shipping a 20-foot container from China to India

The cost of shipping a 20-foot container depends on factors such as the distance between the port of departure and the port of destination, the shipping season and market demand. Typically, it costs about $800 to $1,500 to ship a 20-foot container from China to India. For example, a typical route from the port of Tianjin in China to the port of Navi Mumbai in India now costs about $1,200 for a 20-foot standard container (20GP).

Factors affecting freight rates

Departure and destination: Fees vary by port.

Seasonal fluctuations: Shipping rates may be higher during peak seasons (such as around holidays).

Market demand: When demand is high, freight rates may increase.

Cheapest transportation from China to India

Sea transport

Generally speaking, sea transport is the cheapest way to transport bulk goods over long distances.

For example, a 20-foot standard container (20GP) from China's Tianjin Port to India's Navi Mumbai port costs about $1,300 to $1,500.

However, it should be noted that shipping takes a long time, usually several weeks to a month.

Air freight

Although it is the fastest, it is also relatively expensive.

For small, high-value or urgently needed shipments, air freight may be a more appropriate option.

The exact cost depends on the weight and volume of the cargo, as well as the selected airline and level of service.

Land transport

If the goods depart from China's western border ports, they can be considered to enter India by land transport.

Land transport costs are moderate, but are limited by road conditions and the efficiency of border crossings.

For goods close to the border, land transport may be an economical and quick option.

Door-to-door transportation from China to India

China door-to-door shipping service is a convenient and fast mode of transportation covering all aspects from cargo loading, export declaration, transportation, back-end customs clearance and delivery.

This service is usually provided by Chinese freight forwarders, who will provide customers with full tracking and coordination services. Door-to-door transportation time is usually similar to normal transportation time, but due to the increase in service content, its cost will increase accordingly.

How to transport goods through customs clearance in India

When your goods arrive in India, they will be subject to customs inspection, including a thorough check of all accompanying documents and a physical inspection of the goods themselves. Customs clearance in India can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the situation. In addition to import duties and charges, India also imposes a 1% customs commission on all imported goods. The fee is based on the total value of the goods plus freight and insurance.

Documents required for Indian Customs clearance

The most critical part of a smooth and fast customs clearance from China to India is to prepare the necessary documents. The following documents must be prepared:

Importer Exporter Code (IEC)

The Importer Code (IEC) is the key business identification number required to import goods into India. No one can import without first obtaining the IEC. IEC is a 10-digit code provided by DGFT (General Administration of Foreign Trade) and is valid indefinitely.

Commercial invoice

This is the legal document necessary for shipping from China to India, exchanged by the supplier and the buyer, describing the goods sold and the amount owed to the seller.

Entry form (BOE)

This is one of the most important documents and the importer must sign the entry slip and submit it to the appropriate customs office within 30 days of the arrival of the goods in India.

Bill of Lading (BL) or air waybill

This is the receipt of the shipment of the goods and also the contract between you and the shipping company, which is necessary for your goods to arrive in India.

Packing list

This document comes with your shipment and describes the specific items, quantities and dimensions included in the shipment. The document was taped to the outside of the package.

China to India freight forwarder

Freight companies are organizations that specialize in providing international freight transportation services and usually have professional logistics networks and transportation resources. Choosing the right freight carrier can ensure that goods are transported safely and quickly from China to India. When choosing a freight company, you need to consider its transportation mode, transportation time, service quality and price.

Services provided by Winsail Logistics:

Air and sea: Select the right mode of transport according to the urgency of the goods and the transportation needs.

Customs clearance service: Assist with export and import customs clearance procedures.

Warehousing and distribution: Provides warehousing services and last mile distribution services.

Insurance services: Provide freight insurance to ensure the safety of goods.

Real-time tracking: Provide real-time tracking service of cargo transportation status.

Shipping goods from China to India requires multiple steps, including finding a supplier, choosing a mode of transportation and going through customs clearance. By choosing a reliable freight forwarding company, you can streamline the entire process and ensure that your goods arrive safely and on time. Understanding shipping costs and times will help you better plan and manage your international trade business. Whether by sea or air, each mode of transportation has its advantages and disadvantages. Selecting the most suitable option for your specific needs can help importers achieve the best logistics benefits.