Importing goods is one way that is becoming more and more common in the current global world and specifically for the transporting of goods from China to India is quite common affair with many firms and individuals. China has been occupying the position of the largest trading partner of India ever since year 2016 and even now. As per the data of the year 2023, the total trade volume between two countries, China India was $136 billion. 22 US dollars billion, in which the exports of China to the India reach to 117. 68 billion US dollars.
This guide will help buyers to understand the step by step process of shipping from China to India involving shipping options, cost estimates of shipping, time taken in shipping and how to select the right freight forwarder such as HongOcean.
How To Import Goods From China To India
The process of importing goods from China to India is as follows:
- Determine the demand: Deliver further details regarding type, quantity as well as quality of goods to be imported.
- Find suppliers: Find credible Chinese suppliers by using the internet, visiting tradeshow or by asking for advice from other companies.
- Sign a contract: Decide or agree with the vendor on issues like cost and expected delivery period and then enter into a legally binding purchase and sales agreement.
- Pay the payment: Pay as per the contracts agreed and this payment may be through wire transfer, letter of credit or otherwise.
- Arrange transportation: There is usually sea, air, rail etc. transportation modes to choose from then you call the specific freight forwarder or shipping company such as HongOcean.
- Customs clearance procedures: When in India, all the customs formalities such as payment of duties, compliance to all the requirement documents have to be met.
- Pickup and delivery: After clearing the products through customs avail the products from either HongOcean or the respective shipping company and make the shipment to the agreed destination.
How To Ship From China To India
While China and India are neighbors with a border in between most of the trading businesses use sea or air transport since the markets are very large.
Sea Freight From China To India
Sea freight is the most economical mode of transport if you are transporting your cargo from china to India. This mode of transportation involves transport of goods through water utilizing containers largely, but other ships like the bulk carriers, RoRo ships and tankers may be used.
Sea shipping is relatively slower, it takes 15—30 days for the containers to reach India from China. However, the advantages are clear: it is cost effective and suitable for large quantities of commodities or huge pieces of machinery over a given distance. HongOcean delivers low cost and excellent sea freight solutions based on your requirements.
FCL vs. LCL Sea Freight from China to India by HongOcean
FCL (Full Container Load):
Through FCL, the customer’s cargo takes up an entire container while being shipped from China to India through HongOcean. HongOcean has FCL for 20 feet and 40 feet container size twentyft GP, fortyft GP, fortyft HQ. FCL is usually cheaper for big shipments because the price per unit is cheaper as compared to LCL.
LCL (Less than Container Load):
In situations where you do not have enough of cargo to occupy a full container, HongOcean offers LCL service whereby the cargo is shared with that going to the same location. It costs more per unit as there is offering services such as warehousing, documentation as well as splitting of containers. Nonetheless, LCL is appropriate especially to small and medium business ventures. In most cases, delivery time of LCL cargo is relatively longer than that of FCL cargo.
Special Solutions for Heavy and Project Cargo:
For over-sized cargo and products which cannot be loaded in the standard containers, there are the flatbed and open top containers by HongOcean. We also provide specialized options such as:
- Cold storage Containers for transportation in cold chain of food products.
- Bulk Cargo shipping services tailored for the large scale consignments.
- RoRo or Roll-on/Roll-off services for carriages, trailers and other wheeled conveyances as well as other forms of cargo.
HongOcean Freight Forwarding Services from China to India
HongOcean is activated from all the principle ports of China such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, dalian. HongOcean provides customers with a choice of port to port, door to port and door to door shipping services. The door to door service is quite flexible in their services to ensure that they deliver your consignment according to your specific needs within the country.
Major Seaports in India Covered by HongOcean
- Kandla Port:
Kandla Port is located in the union territory of Daman and Diu near the gulf of Kutch and is the largest container port of India. It plays a major role in exporting food grains and importing oil required in the country besides dealing with bulky cargo including textiles, chemicals, salt, etc.
- Mumbai Port:
Mumbai Port is currently the biggest port of India, both in terms of size and traffic and contributes to one fifth of the total foreign trade of the country. Other goods that transit through this port include; crude oil and chemicals, leather goods, and manganese, among others.
- Chennai Port:
Chennai port which is the third largest port in India handles more than a 100 million metric tones of traffic per year. It holds a very significance role in its trade of goods on the Bay of Bengal besides acting as a tourist attraction.
- Kolkata Port:
Kolkata port also called as netaji subhas chandra bose international port that has a draft of 13 meters and establish a connection between the bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. This can accommodate vessels up to 500 ft in length; it creates employment opportunities hence a boost to the economy of that region.
HongOcean Air Freight from China to India
In matters of air shipment, HongOcean offers services in delivery of consignment from China to India at the fastest time possible. This can be due to time constraints or when one is doing away with perishable products because Air freight is relatively faster than that of sea freight.
Air freight is often used for:
- Urgent deliveries
- Low volumes (Below three or four pallets or at times slightly above)
- High-value items
- Food products which spoil very fast, such as flowers, fruits, fresh and or unfrozen meat and fish.
Major Airports in India Covered by HongOcean
Overview of Delhi Airport (DEL)
New Delhi airport is Inch’s busiest airport, in terms of cargo traffic, where it deals with over 900,000 tonnes of air cargo every year. It play vital role of centralization of air cargo shipping to North and Central part of India. HongOcean has daily flights to some of the Chinese cities which include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu ensuring that air freight in and out of Delhi is effective.
Connecting Airports in China:
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu
Overview of Mumbai Airport (BOM)
It is notable that Mumbai lies on the second place being second largest cargo airport in India after Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. They include the type that can host up to five wide-body cargo aircraft at a time and another special cargo hub for fresh produce. HongOcean offers door to door cargo transportation from Mumbai to combine several airports in China.
Airports in China:
Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou
Cargo Operators from China to Mumbai:
Atlas Air, Emirates Air Cargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, FedEx
IATA Code: BOM
Overview of Chennai Airport (MAA)
Also, air cargo consignments destined for South India especially find Chennai Airport most suitable. It occupies an area of over eight hectares enabling parking of three wide-body cargo aircrafts at once. Currently, there is construction of a new and developed international cargo terminal adding to the capacity of HongOcean to organize and transport shipment of cargo between Chennai and China.
Airports in China:
Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Chengdu
China-to-Chennai Cargo Operators:
Etihad Airways Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, SF Airlines
IATA Code: MAA
Overview of Bangalore Airport (BLR)
Karnataka and circles areas are benefitted from Bangalore Airport. Cue has three cargo terminals it also features dedicated facilities for pharmaceuticals. Being located close to rail and road head with direct connectivity to Bangalore, HongOcean allows hassle free cargo freight transport from Bangalore to different Chinese destinations.
Airports in China:
Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou
Cargo-only Operators from China to Bangalore:
None
IATA Code: BLR
Overview of Hyderabad Airport (HYD)
Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is well situated, and therefore, offers a strategic gateway to central India Cargo. It has a 14,000 square meters cargo terminal and the airport has two airstrips. Currently there are no direct HongOcean flights originating from Chinese airports, but the company’s has all the necessary options for logistics.
IATA Code: HYD
Shipping Costs from China to India by HongOcean (September 2024)
Freight charges vary depending on the mode of transport from China with India being the neighboring country. For September 2024, HongOcean offers the following rates:
- Air Freight to New Delhi: Meanwhile, the totally expenses reduce to $108 while the total sales revenue is $355 or an average of $13. 10 per kg for shipment of up to 1,000 kG and 30 per kg for shipment more than 1000 kG.
- Sea Freight to Nhava Sheva (Mumbai): Twenty-foot container range between $1,850 depending on the location while the 40-foot container costs $1,950.
- Sea Freight to Chennai: A 20 ft container will cost $1,950 whereas a 40 ft container costs $ 2,050 to ship.
Delivery Times with HongOcean
Delivery time depends upon the same procedures regarding customs and port working in India. HongOcean estimates the following timelines for shipments from China to India:
- Air Freight: 4-5 days this makes the kind of shipment appropriate for urgent consignment.
- Sea Freight: It takes about 10-15 days for a delivery, but due to issues such as ports’ overcrowded nature or some other matters it may take more.
HongOcean’s Guidance on Indian Customs
Due to this, HongOcean stresses on the requirements of right and timely documentation. Documentation is very vital, especially during such times as the festivals with a view of enhancing the clearance process at customs in India.
Global Events Affecting Shipping to India
Interference of some geographical political situations in the world’s big sea channels particularly affects HongOcean when transporting consignments to India. Such interruptions often lead to time consumption and rise in the expenses hence planning plays a crucial role for efficient supply chain.
September 2024 Outlook by HongOcean
It is important to keep abreast of the new shipment or duration of the shipment rates. From the HongOcean perspective, proper planning, documentation, and flexibility in the shipping system enable the smooth and efficient operation of the flow of products from China to India.
Summary for HongOcean Indian Shippers
The current shipping rates, and the possibility of a delay have to be updated regularly. By understanding the key factors and risks of shipping procedures from China to India through HongOcean, a notion of proper planning, documentation, and flexible logistics plays an imperative role of ensuring a well run supply chain.
Freight Shipping Costs from China to India by HongOcean (September 2024)
Shipment charges for delivery between China and India differ depending on the convo type, the size of the shipment as well as the shipment’s immediacy. Below is a detailed guide provided by HongOcean:
Shipping Mode | Price Range | Suitability |
LCL (Less than Container Load) | $30 to $60 per cubic meter | Ideal for small shipments that don’t require a full container |
FCL (Full Container Load) – 20′ | $950 to $1,000 (Nhava Sheva) | Cost-effective for large shipments to Nhava Sheva |
$1,000 to $1,200 (Chennai) | Suitable for larger shipments to Chennai | |
FCL (Full Container Load) – 40′ | $1,000 to $1,200 (Nhava Sheva) | Economical for even larger shipments to Nhava Sheva |
$1,200 to $1,300 (Chennai) | Suitable for bulkier shipments to Chennai | |
Express Shipping | $5 to $10 per kilogram | Ideal for urgent shipments needing fast delivery |
Air Freight | $5.1 per kilogram (New Delhi) | Balanced option between speed and cost |
Rail Freight | $2,000 to $4,000 per TEU | Cost-effective and eco-friendly for land transport |
Estimating Shipping Costs and Effective Budgeting with HongOcean
When calculating the shipping cost from China to India it is pertinent to consider all the probable costs. HongOcean recommends the following key cost factors:
- Base Freight Rate:
Operational transportation costs that are incurred at the onset of the shipping proceedings such as costs depending on the transport mode selected (FCL, LCL, air shipment etc.) and the different transport corridors. Please visit HongOcean price list to get specific information about the costs.
- Fuel Surcharges:
These are extras that can greatly balloon the shipping premiums and that is not all, these change with the global oil prices. HongOcean takes these surcharges into their quotations.
- Customs Duties and Taxes:
Sometimes it can go as low as 5% and even up to 40% or more depending on its classification, its value or even some of the customs regulations. This means that one has to classify the activities properly so that the right amount of money can be estimated for the work.
- Other Fees:
These are such costs as fees charged for use of port facilities, fees used in documentation processes, and insurance costs. Such fees include, but are not limited to, the port fees that may differ depending on the port of destination and the particular services rendered by HongOcean as well as other incidental expenses or costs.
Understanding Import Tax and Duties with HongOcean
When shipping goods from China to India, import taxes and duties play a crucial role in determining the final cost. HongOcean emphasizes the importance of understanding these charges to accurately estimate the overall shipping expenses.
Impact of Import Taxes on Overall Shipping Costs
Import taxes, including VAT, customs duties, and anti-dumping duties, vary based on the product category. For example, electronics attract different duty rates compared to textiles, directly influencing the landed cost of goods. Below is a breakdown of typical duty percentages by product category:
Product Category | Duty Percentage |
Electronics and Components | 10-20% |
Textiles and Garments | 10-15% |
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances | 7.5-15% |
Automobiles and Auto Components | 15-30% |
Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals | 5-10% |
Plastics and Articles Thereof | 10-15% |
Furniture and Home Decor | 20-25% |
Toys and Sports Equipment | 20% |
Additional Import Charges
Integrated tax, that is IGST in addition to basic customs duty, may also be attractable along with Social Welfare Surcharge also. These extra taxes can en mass affect the total cost that is incurred while importing goods. In the same respect, HongOcean suggests that any importer should be updated on the most recent duty rates if the importer’s working on the budget and cost control.
NAVIGATING LEGAL COMPLIANCE IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
To be legal in the international shipping business it is not only a matter of paying taxes. The assessment of goods under these codes must be exact to avoid penalties on misdeclaration which has stiff penalties. For instance, the HS code for smartphone is not the same as that for a laptop and this has a direct relation with the duty that is levied. Misclassification may result in penalties in form of fine, delayed or even, seizure of the consignment by customs. Some of the recommended measures that should be adopted for efficient and proper clearance through customs include proper documentation of the description of products, proper and accurate value of the goods in the invoice, and lastly, proper update of the new legislation in relation to customs. The services of a licensed customs broker, or a freight forwarder are also worth hiring to help avoid risks and simplify the whole importing process.
Shipping from China to India Transit Time with HongOcean
When moving goods from China to India, the amount of time that the consignment will spend in transit depends with the mode of transportation chosen. In terms of the shipping solutions HongOcean offers different services to meet your need in terms of freight, cost, and time span of moving your cargo.
Comparison of Transit Times Across Shipping Modes
Shipping Mode | Transit Time | Suitability |
Sea Freight (LCL/FCL) | 23 to 27 days | Ideal for businesses prioritizing cost over speed |
Air Freight | 2 to 7 days | Suitable for urgent or perishable goods |
Express Shipping | 6 to 10 days | Best for critical, time-sensitive shipments |
Factors Affecting Transit Times and Mitigation Strategies with HongOcean
Understanding the factors that impact transit times can help you manage shipping more effectively. HongOcean outlines key factors and strategies to mitigate potential delays.
Factors Affecting Transit Times
- Weather Conditions:
Unpredictable weather, such as storms or fog, can disrupt shipping schedules, particularly for sea and air freight.
- Port Congestion:
High traffic at ports can result in delays during unloading and processing, extending overall transit times.
- Customs Delays:
Variability in customs clearance procedures can lead to unexpected delays, affecting the delivery timeline.
- Logistics Chain Efficiencies:
Inefficiencies within the shipping process, including local transportation and handling, can contribute to longer transit times.
Mitigation Strategies
- Choose the Right Shipping Mode:
Select a shipping method that aligns with your delivery deadlines and budget constraints to achieve the best balance between speed and cost.
- Work with Reliable Freight Forwarders:
Partner with experienced freight forwarders like HongOcean to navigate shipping challenges effectively. Their expertise in finding efficient routes and handling customs clearance can streamline the process.
- Stay Informed About Tracking Information:
Regularly monitor your shipment’s progress to anticipate and address any delays promptly.
- Understand Customs Requirements:
As for the transit times, it is also useful to understand those factors that influence it in order to improve the shipping. From the HongOcean case with reference to some factors to consider as well as measures to avoid possible delays..
Shipping Costs from China to India with HongOcean
In the shipping markets, there is also volatility that could be result of changes in supply and demand, carrier actions and shifts in seasons. Thus, if you want to get the latest and the most accurate price offer, HongOcean kindly suggests you contact us.
20ft Container Shipping Cost from China to India
The cost of shipping a 20ft container from China to India varies with the following aspects which include: As a rule, such price varies between $800 and $1,500. For instance, freight of a 20ft standard container referred to as 20GP from Tianjin Port in China, to New Mumbai Port in the Indian sub-continent is likely to average $1,200.
Factors Affecting Shipping Cost:
- Departure and Destination Ports: A number of port characteristics can influence costs and these depend on the ports that are used.
- Seasonal Fluctuations: Some of these price increases are triggered by factors such as seasonal variations in that they may rise during festive seasons.
- Market Demand: Price of freight can also be volatile especially during some of the busier times
40ft Container Shipping Cost from China to India
The cost of shipping a 40ft container is higher than that of a 20ft for there are more cubic meters in the former than the latter. The going rates for these different types of services are the area of $1,500 to $3,000. Likewise with 20ft containers certain factors affect the costs such as the location of the ports, seasonal fluctuations and market forces.
Shipping Charges from China to India with HongOcean
HongOcean provides a detailed breakdown of shipping charges from various ports in China to major ports in India. The following table outlines the estimated costs for Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments:
From (China) | To (India) | FCL (20ft Container) | FCL (40ft Container) | LCL (Per Cubic Meter) |
Shanghai | Mumbai | $1,000 – $1,200 | $1,800 – $2,500 | $45 – $65 |
Guangzhou | Chennai | $1,200 – $1,400 | $1,700 – $2,300 | $40 – $60 |
Shenzhen | Kolkata | $1,150 – $1,450 | $1,750 – $2,350 | $45 – $65 |
Ningbo | New Delhi | $1,250 – $1,550 | $2,000 – $2,700 | $42 – $62 |
Qingdao | Bangalore | $1,300 – $1,600 | $2,000 – $2,800 | $45 – $65 |
Air Freight Rates from China to India with HongOcean
HongOcean provides an overview of air freight rates from various cities in China to major cities in India. Air freight rates typically range from $4.50 to $10.50 per kilogram. The cost is influenced by factors such as the weight, origin, and destination of the product. Despite the higher costs, air freight is a reliable option for transporting perishable goods, documents, medicines, and urgent items.
To estimate air freight costs, multiply the “billed weight” rate (per kilogram) by the weight or volume of the product.
From City (China) | To City (India) | Cost for 1 kg (USD) | Cost for 100 kg (USD) |
Beijing | New Delhi | $10 | $700 |
Shanghai | Mumbai | $10.5 | $750 |
Guangzhou | Bangalore | $11 | $720 |
Shenzhen | Kolkata | $9 | $760 |
Chengdu | Hyderabad | $10 | $730 |
Wuhan | Chennai | $11 | $705 |
Xi’an | Ahmedabad | $11.5 | $780 |
Tianjin | Pune | $9 | $715 |
DDP Shipping Costs from China to India with HongOcean
From the table below, HongOcean gives the DDP shipping costs from China to India. DDP shipping entails all charges right from transportation to the destination point inclusive of duties and taxes thus non-complicated.
Shipping Mode | From | To | Transit Time | Cost |
Sea Freight DDP | China | India | 15 to 20 days | $200 per cubic meter (cbm) |
Air Freight DDP | China | India | 7 to 10 days | $8.5 to $12.00 per kilogram (kg) |
For the most accurate and current DDP shipping rates, contact HongOcean for a customized quote.
Air Freight Rates from China to India with HongOcean
HongOcean gives the reader an understanding of the air freight rates in different cities of China to different cities of India. Most air freight rates cost from $4. 50 to $10. 50 per kilogram. These factors may include the weight of the good, the source from where it was shipped from and the place of destination. However, air freights comprises high costs, it is viable for moving perishable products, documents, medicines and other urgency items.
Air freights costs can be obtained by multiplying the “billed weight” rate per kilogram with the weight/volume of the product.
From City (China) | To City (India) | Cost for 1 kg (USD) | Cost for 100 kg (USD) |
Beijing | New Delhi | $10 | $700 |
Shanghai | Mumbai | $10.5 | $750 |
Guangzhou | Bangalore | $11 | $720 |
Shenzhen | Kolkata | $9 | $760 |
Chengdu | Hyderabad | $10 | $730 |
Wuhan | Chennai | $11 | $705 |
Xi’an | Ahmedabad | $11.5 | $780 |
Tianjin | Pune | $9 | $715 |
For the most accurate and up-to-date air freight rates, contact HongOcean for a personalized quote.
Cheapest Shipping Options from China to India with HongOcean
Ocean Freight
Under ocean freight HongOcean delivers the bulk products over long distances since it is the cheapest mode of transport. For example, freight price of a 20-foot standard container called 20GP from Tianjin Port in china to New Mumbai Port in India ranges between $1,300-$ 1,500. But, please bear in mind that ocean freight generally is time consuming that may take several weeks up to one month.
Air Freight
Whereas, air freight is the swiftest mode of shipping, this is the most costly of all the methods available. It is most suitable for small, perishable or valuable and sensitive goods that are needed urgently. The cost of air freight include weight, volume, airline chosen and the type of service required. However, it is the most used shipping method due to time as it takes less to complete as compared to other methods.
Land Freight
In this case the land transportation may be feasible for those goods that originate from the ports on the western border of China. This leads to moderate cost but with a strong influence with road conditions and efficiency of customs clearance at the border ports. If the shipment is destined to a neighbouring country or region, then the land freight may be cheaper and faster means of transport.
To get some professional advice and to get the appropriate shipping quotes, please feel free to contact HongOcean directly.
Door-to-Door Shipping from China to India with HongOcean
HongOcean’s door-to-door services include coordinating and delivering the goods to be transported and shipped, loading, export declaration and transportation, customs clearance and delivery. This service caters for the convenience of customers by offering them full tracking and monitoring of their shipments throughout the process.
The time taken to deliver goods through door-to-door shipping is almost the same as that taken using other conventional shipping methods but the service offered goes further, meaning the cost is likely to be high.
Navigating Customs Clearance in India
When importing goods to India, all the accompanying documents have to be checked, as well as the physical examination of the goods it self. It also takes few hours to few days for the customs clearance in India depending on one or the other factor. Further, there is customs handling charges which are allowed on all importation and which is 1% for the total value of goods including the freight and insurance charges.
Essential Documents for Customs Clearance
To ensure a smooth customs clearance process from China to India, it is crucial to prepare the following documents:
- Importer Exporter Code (IEC): Any person who wants to import goods into India is required to obtain a 10 digit code from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The IEC is indefinite and the license is necessary for any import operations.
- Commercial Invoice: This document state the kind of goods that is to be delivered and the amount of money that is payabe to the seller. It is very relevant for processing of shipment.
- Bill of Entry (BOE): Something which needs to be prepared and apostilled by the importer and surrendered to the customs authorities within 30 days from the day the goods entered India.
- Bill of Lading (BL) or Airway Bill: This is necessary for the services to be rendered by the transport company since it acts as a receipt for the shipment and contract which will allow the release of the goods in India.
- Packing List: This consists of an A4 size document which is placed at the exterior part of the shipping package containing information that pertains to the items that are shipped, the number of pieces, and measurements.
Choosing a Freight Forwarder from China to India
Freight forwarders like HongOcean deal with the transportation of international shipments and have all the knowledge and tools that are required in transport. In evaluating the freight forwarders it is important to check their transportation structures, their performance and the cost at which they offer their services.
HongOcean Services:
- Air and Sea Freight: Select the most appropriate means of transport depending on the need that one has depending on the level of urgency.
- Customs Clearance: On Export and Import customs compliance and facilitation and advice on export and import procedures.
- Warehousing and Distribution: Conveniently offers packaging and storage options as well as the final delivery to complete the process.
- Insurance Services: Provides an option of insuring the freights while in transit so as to ensure that they are protected.
- Real-Time Tracking: This will give the latest tracking information that will help in the tracking of the status of the shipment.
That is why collaborating with the reputable international freight forwarding company like HongOcean makes it easier to safely deliver the goods on time. Awareness of how much and how long it takes to transport products from one country to another aids in the successful running of your international trade. When it comes to transportation, selecting between sea borne or air borne transport assures one appropriateness in reaping its logistics gain.