UK ⇄ IN · FCL · 25–35 days
Container shipping from the UK to India by sea.
India is one of our active sea freight lanes. We handle the whole shipment: collection from anywhere in the UK, export paperwork, sailing and Indian import customs through our trusted partners. Commercial goods, machinery or personal effects to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai or beyond.
Who ships this route
What we carry to India
UK exporters sending goods to Indian buyers, manufacturers shipping industrial equipment and components, and individuals relocating or sending household effects, this is the mix we move on the UK–India lane. Commercial pallets and trade cargo make up the bulk of the route, alongside full-container household moves for people with connections between the two countries.
Traffic moves both ways on this lane. India is a significant import origin into the UK, textiles, manufactured goods, automotive parts and more, so if you're shipping from India to the UK rather than the other way round, we handle that too.
Full container load · 20ft · 40ft
Container options for India
Your own box
A 20ft or 40ft container to yourself. Best for larger loads, machinery, or when you want the security and simplicity of sole use. You pay for the whole container regardless of how full it is, so FCL works best when you're shipping enough to fill most of it.
UK door to Indian door
We arrange UK collection, export paperwork, the sailing and Indian import customs through our trusted partners. One accountable operator from your UK door to Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Chennai or wherever in India you need it delivered.
Relocating to India with a full household? We ship household goods by full container, door to door. We'll advise on packing, inventories and the documentation required for used personal-effects clearance at the Indian end.
Felixstowe / Southampton → Nhava Sheva / Mundra / Chennai
Ports and transit
UK ports: Felixstowe and Southampton, with collection from anywhere in the UK.
Indian ports: Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai is India's busiest container terminal and the primary gateway for western India. Mundra (Gujarat) is a large private port offering good connectivity. Chennai serves southern and eastern India. Destination port depends on your final delivery address, we'll confirm the best option when we quote.
TRANSIT · TYPICALLY 25–35 DAYS PORT TO PORT
Export declarations · Import clearance
Customs for India
Shipping from the UK to India requires a UK export declaration, commodity codes, a commercial invoice and a packing list on departure. At the Indian end, goods are assessed for customs duty and IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) based on the declared value and commodity classification. Rates vary by product type and the correct HS code is important to getting the right duty assessment.
Indian import customs are arranged and managed through our trusted partners. The documentation is prepared before the cargo ships, not scrambled together at the port, so your shipment keeps moving. If you're exporting to India for the first time, we'll walk you through exactly what's needed, how our customs clearance works.
We co-ordinate the documentation across both ends, so your container doesn't sit waiting at Nhava Sheva while paperwork catches up.
Straight answers
UK–India shipping questions
How long does sea freight from the UK to India take?
Typically 25–35 days port to port from Felixstowe or Southampton to Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Chennai. Add a few days each side for collection, Indian import customs and final delivery. We'll confirm exact timings when we quote.
Which Indian port will my container arrive at?
Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai is the busiest container port in India and handles most cargo for the west coast. Mundra in Gujarat is a major alternative, also on the west coast. Chennai serves the south and east. The right port depends on your final delivery address, we'll advise when we quote.
Do you handle Indian import customs?
Yes. UK export clearance and Indian import customs are arranged and managed through our trusted partners. We prepare the documentation, commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration and commodity codes, before the cargo ships, so it clears smoothly at the Indian end.
24h turnaround · No obligation
Shipping cargo to India from the UK?
Tell us what you're sending, the UK origin and the Indian destination. We'll come back with a tailored FCL quote within 24 hours on working days.
Already hold a quote from another forwarder? Send us this route and we’ll give you ours to compare.
Related: Asia routes · Container shipping from the UK · Customs clearance · Container sizes