The UK is currently the seventh-largest export destination for India. Close economic ties between both countries will be strengthened even more as the UK and India aim to sign a free trade agreement in October 2022. Most of India’s exports to the UK are readymade garments, medicine and pharmaceutical products, refined oil, textile fabrics, rice, metal products, and passenger and cargo ships. This article presents essential information about shipping from India to the UK.
Shipping from India to the UK – means of transport
Ocean freight from India to the UK
Ocean freight is the most cost-effective option for shipping. Importers take advantage of its low price and large capacity. The downside is that it takes plenty of time for the shipment to arrive in the destination country. Door-to-door transit between India and the UK usually takes around 5-6 weeks, depending on several factors.
One thing we must keep in mind when selecting ocean freight is that we must choose between FCL and LCL transport. FCL stands for Full Container Load. It means that only one recipient/sender uses the whole container. Meanwhile, the LCL or the Less Container Load refers to sharing the space of a container with other entrepreneurs. It’s used when we want to transport a smaller quantity of goods.
Main cargo seaports in India:
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust/Nhava Sheva Port (INNSA) – the largest container port in India, handling the majority of India’s containerized trade
- Mundra Port (INMUN) – the largest private port in India, located on the north shores of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat
- Chennai Port (INMAA) – the largest port in the Bay of Bengal
- Kolkata Port (INCCU) – the only major riverine port of India, located in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal
Main cargo seaports in the UK:
- Port of Felixstowe (GBFXT) – the largest and busiest container port in Great Britain and one of Europe’s largest ports in general
- Port of Southampton (GBSOU) – a passenger and cargo port in the central part of the south coast of England, handling more than 1.5 million TEUs each year
- Port of London (GBLON) – handling over 50 million tons of a wide range of cargoes every year
Air freight from India to the UK
Another option is air freight. This way of shipping goods is faster but more expensive than regular maritime transport. One of its qualities is that it helps to ensure the delivery’s safety, making it a perfect way to transport luxury or perishable items. Shipping cargo via air route should take around 2-5 working days.
Main cargo airports in India:
- Indira Gandhi International Airport/New Delhi Airport (DEL) – the primary international airport serving Delhi and the busiest airport in India in terms of cargo traffic
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport/Mumbai International Airport (BOM) – the primary international airport serving Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the second busiest airport in India as far as cargo traffic is concerned
- Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru/Bangalore International Airport (BLR) – the third-busiest airport by passenger traffic, air traffic movements, and domestic and total cargo handled in all of India
Main cargo airports in the UK:
- London Heathrow (LHR) – the UK’s largest port by value, with 34% of the country’s cargo traveling through the airport
- East Midlands International Airport (EMA) – a major air cargo hub and the second-busiest UK airport for freight traffic
- London Stansted Airport (STN) – UK’s 3rd largest cargo airport, located 68 km northeast of Central London
Shipping from India to the UK – costs
The final price will depend on many factors, including the route and distance our goods will travel, cargo type, chosen forwarder, and the shipping method. To be the most satisfied with shipping services, we suggest checking out offers from various forwarders. On our website Shiphub.co, you can compare their quotes. Don’t wait and get a free quote right now!
