Sea Import Services India

FCL suits shipments above 15 CBM or 10,000 kg where you need an entire container, while LCL consolidates smaller shipments with other cargo. FCL offers lower per-CBM cost, faster transit, and less handling damage risk compared to LCL shared containers.

When is FCL the better choice for Indian importers?

Choose FCL when your shipment exceeds 15 CBM or 10,000 kg, when cargo is fragile or high-value (electronics, glass, machinery), or when you need predictable transit times. A 20GP container costs roughly $800–$1,500 from China to JNPT; dividing this by 28 CBM gives a per-CBM rate of $28–$53 — significantly cheaper than LCL rates of $65–$120 per CBM. FCL also avoids the 3–5 day consolidation and deconsolidation delay at origin and destination CFS.

Importing by sea requires eight steps from IEC registration to warehouse delivery. The process takes 30–45 days door-to-door from China, 22–28 days from Europe, and 6–9 days from UAE, including 7–15 days for customs clearance at Indian ports.

What happens at each stage of sea import?

Step 1 — Get IEC Code: Register at dgft.gov.in. This takes 3–5 business days. Step 2 — Negotiate Incoterms: FOB or EXW gives you control of freight and insurance, allowing us to book the most competitive rates. Step 3 — Book FCL or LCL: We confirm space with shipping lines 2–3 weeks before sailing. Step 4 — Receive Bill of Lading: Issued when cargo is loaded; this is your title document and required for customs filing. Step 5 — File Bill of Entry: We file on ICEGATE up to 30 days before arrival or immediately upon vessel berthing. Step 6 — Pay Customs Duty: Assessed based on HS code and CIF value; typically 28–32% for general goods. Step 7 — Pay Port and Terminal Charges: THC, exam fee, and port dues are paid before release. Step 8 — Take Delivery: After Out-of-Charge, we arrange truck or rail transport to your warehouse.

We clear sea imports at JNPT, Chennai, Mundra, Kochi, Vizag, and ICD Whitefield. JNPT handles 55% of India's container traffic, Chennai serves South India's manufacturing belt, and ICD Whitefield allows Bengaluru importers to clear cargo inland without visiting the port.

Sea transit times to India vary by origin: 14–20 days from China, 22–26 days from Rotterdam, 22–28 days from Los Angeles, and 6–9 days from Jebel Ali. Total door-to-door time adds 10–20 days for customs clearance and inland transport to your warehouse.

Standard sea containers come in three sizes: 20GP holds 28 CBM up to 22,000 kg, 40GP holds 58 CBM up to 27,000 kg, and 40HC holds 68 CBM up to 26,500 kg. Reefers maintain temperatures from -25°C to +25°C for perishables.

How do you choose the right container size?

Select 20GP when cargo is heavy and dense — metals, tiles, or machinery — because you will hit the 22,000 kg weight limit before filling 28 CBM. Choose 40GP for standard palletised goods where weight is moderate. Choose 40HC when cargo is light and bulky — furniture, foam, or empty plastic containers — because the extra foot of height adds 10 CBM of capacity. Refrigerated containers cost 3–4× standard containers and require pre-cooling and genset power during transit; we book these only for temperature-sensitive pharma, frozen food, or chemicals.

Destination charges at Indian ports include Terminal Handling Charge (THC), Container Examination Fee, port storage beyond free days, Delivery Order fee, and CHA charges. These typically total ₹25,000–₹75,000 per container depending on port, shipping line, and whether examination is required.

What is THC and how much does it cost?

Terminal Handling Charge (THC) is the fee levied by the port terminal operator for unloading the container from the vessel, moving it to the yard, and making it available for pickup. At JNPT, THC for a 20GP is approximately ₹4,500–₹6,500; for a 40GP/HC, ₹7,000–₹10,500. Chennai and Mundra are roughly 10–15% lower. THC is non-negotiable and must be paid before the container leaves the port.

What are port storage and demurrage charges?

Port storage is free for the first 3–5 days after vessel arrival. Beyond that, charges escalate rapidly: ₹1,500–₹3,000 per day for days 6–10, then ₹3,000–₹5,000 per day thereafter. Demurrage (charged by the shipping line for keeping the container at the port beyond free time) runs ₹3,000–₹8,000 per day. Detention (keeping the container outside the port beyond the allowed 7–14 days) is ₹2,000–₹5,000 per day. On a 40HC held for 15 days, these charges can exceed ₹1,00,000 — more than the ocean freight itself.

Demurrage and detention charges can add ₹3,000–₹8,000 per day per container after free time expires. Avoiding them requires filing the Bill of Entry before arrival, pre-paying duty, and arranging inland transport within 3–5 days of port landing.

How many free days do you get at Indian ports?

Port free time is typically 3–5 days from vessel arrival, while shipping lines offer 7–14 days of detention free time. JNPT grants 4 days port storage for imports; Chennai grants 5 days; Mundra grants 3 days. Shipping line detention varies by carrier — Maersk offers 14 days, MSC 10 days, CMA CGM 7 days for standard imports. Knowing your exact free time before the vessel arrives is the first step to avoiding charges.

What is the fastest way to clear a container?

File the Bill of Entry 3–5 days before the vessel arrives. Pre-pay estimated duty into the ICEGATE account. Keep all documents — invoice, packing list, BL, insurance certificate — ready in digital format. If your cargo is RMS green (70–80% of shipments), customs clears it within 24–48 hours of filing. For yellow or red channel cargo, schedule examination immediately upon arrival. We monitor vessel schedules daily and trigger filing as soon as the vessel departs the last foreign port, giving us a 3–7 day head start before arrival.