Ocean freight forwarding from India
Full container and part-container movements out of Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav and Hazira, booked on allocation we hold rather than whatever is left on the day.
Ocean freight is where most of an Indian exporter’s landed cost is decided, and where most of the avoidable delay happens. The rate on the quotation is only part of it: the sailing schedule, the cut-off, the free days at destination and the way the container is stuffed all move the final number. We quote all of it together, in writing, before you commit to a booking.
FCL — full container load
A 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube taken end to end on your own booking. We hold contracted allocation with the main lines calling western India, so the booking is confirmed against a named vessel and voyage rather than a rate that expires before the container is stuffed.
For heavy commodities such as tiles, granite and engineering castings, the constraint is rarely volume. It is the road payload limit in India and the axle limit at destination. We plan the stuff to the lower of the two so the container is not stopped at a weighbridge with your cargo inside it.
LCL — less than container load
Weekly consolidations from Ahmedabad and Mundra into the main European, Gulf and Far East hubs. LCL is billed on whichever is greater, one cubic metre or one tonne, which is why light bulky cargo and dense cargo behave so differently on the same invoice.
Before you book, run your carton dimensions through our CBM calculator. Around eleven to thirteen cubic metres, a full 20ft container usually becomes cheaper than LCL — and that crossover point is the single most common thing exporters get wrong.
What we handle before the vessel
Booking and allocation against a named vessel and voyage. Container release and empty pick-up. Factory stuffing supervision or CFS stuffing. Shipping bill filing and customs. VGM declaration. Bill of lading drafting, checking and release. Certificate of origin and destination-specific documents.
The lanes we run most
North Europe through Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and Felixstowe. Mediterranean through Genoa, Barcelona and Valencia. US east coast through New York and Savannah, US Gulf through Houston, and US west coast through Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Gulf through Jebel Ali, Dammam and Sohar. East and South-East Asia through Shanghai, Ningbo, Port Klang and Singapore. East and West Africa through Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and Lagos.
Ocean freight — common questions
How long does ocean freight take from India to Europe?
Mundra or Nhava Sheva to North European base ports is typically 18 to 24 days port to port on a direct service, and 26 to 34 days where the service transships through Jebel Ali, Colombo or Salalah. Add three to five days each side for inland movement and clearance.
When does LCL stop being cheaper than FCL?
Usually somewhere between 11 and 13 cubic metres on the main trades, though it moves with the season and the lane. Below that, LCL is normally cheaper. Above it, a 20ft container is normally cheaper and also faster, because it avoids deconsolidation at destination.
What is VGM and who is responsible for it?
Verified Gross Mass is the certified total weight of the packed container. Under SOLAS the shipper is legally responsible for declaring it, and no terminal will load a container without it. We file the declaration on your behalf against a weighbridge certificate.
Which is the better port for a Gujarat exporter, Mundra or Nhava Sheva?
Mundra is usually faster and cheaper for cargo originating in Kutch, Ahmedabad and North Gujarat. Nhava Sheva carries a wider range of carriers and direct services, which matters on thinner trades such as Latin America and East Africa. We quote both when the difference is material.
How many free days do I get at destination?
Typically 7 to 14 days of combined demurrage and detention, depending on carrier and country. It is negotiable at booking and far cheaper to extend then than to pay for after the container has landed.
What does FCL stand for in shipping?
FCL is Full Container Load — the whole container is yours, sealed at your factory and opened at the consignee. LCL, Less than Container Load, means your cargo shares the container with other shippers and is deconsolidated at a destination warehouse. FCL is charged per container, LCL per cubic metre or tonne, whichever is greater.
Ready when you are
Send us a lane and roughly what is moving. You will have a firm all-in figure inside a working day.