Shipping
The most common question C2I Logistics receives from Indian importers is whether to ship by air or sea from China. The honest answer is — it depends on your cargo size, budget and how urgently you need the goods. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the right decision.
Air Freight from China to India
Air freight is the fastest way to move cargo from China to India. Transit time from major Chinese airports — Guangzhou Baiyun, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen Bao'an to IGI Delhi or Mumbai takes 7–12 days including export clearance in China and customs clearance in India.
Air freight is charged by actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is greater. Volumetric weight is calculated as
Volumetric Weight (KG) = [Length × Width × Height (in cm)] / 5,000
For dense cargo like electronics and machine parts, actual weight is usually the billing basis. For light, bulky cargo like garments or packaging materials, volumetric weight applies.
When to Choose Air Freight
Choose air freight when your shipment is urgent and you need goods within 2 weeks. Choose air freight when your cargo is high-value relative to its weight — electronics, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, fashion items with a short selling season. Choose air freight when you are dealing with a stockout situation and cannot wait 35–50 days for sea freight. Choose air freight when your cargo weighs under 200kg and the per-unit freight cost is manageable relative to your selling price.
Sea Freight from China to India
Sea freight is the most cost-effective way to import from China to India for most product categories. C2I Logistics books sea freight from all major Chinese ports — Guangzhou Nansha, Shanghai, Shenzhen Yantian, Ningbo, Qingdao — to JNPT Mumbai, Chennai Port and Kolkata.
Transit time for sea freight is 25–40 days port-to-port depending on the origin and destination ports. Add 3–5 days for export clearance in China and 2–5 days for Indian customs clearance, and your total door-to-door transit is 35–55 days.
FCL vs LCL
FCL (Full Container Load) means you book an entire 20ft or 40ft container exclusively for your cargo. FCL is cost-effective for orders above 12–15 CBM and provides faster port processing and lower risk of cargo damage from other shippers.
LCL (Less than Container Load) means you share container space with other exporters and pay only for the CBM your cargo occupies. LCL is ideal for orders of 0.5–12 CBM and is the most common shipping mode for small and medium Indian importers.
When to Choose Sea Freight
Choose sea freight LCL when your order is 0.5–12 CBM and you can wait 5–6 weeks for delivery. Choose sea freight FCL when your order is above 12–15 CBM and you want the best per-unit freight rate. Choose sea freight for regular bulk imports of furniture, garments, machinery, plastic goods, toys and any cargo where cost efficiency is the primary consideration.
Cost Comparison — Air vs Sea
For a 100kg shipment from Guangzhou to Delhi, air freight typically costs ₹12,000–₹20,000 depending on the airline and route. The same shipment by sea freight LCL would cost approximately ₹3,000–₹6,000 — but takes 4–5 weeks longer.
For a 1,000kg shipment of 5 CBM, sea freight LCL from Guangzhou to JNPT Mumbai costs approximately ₹20,000–₹35,000 all-inclusive. The equivalent air freight would cost ₹80,000–₹1,20,000 — 3–4 times more expensive.
Express Courier — The Third Option
For samples, documents and small urgent parcels under 50kg, express courier via DHL, FedEx or UPS is the fastest and most convenient option. Transit time from China to India is 3–7 days door-to-door. C2I Logistics arranges express courier from any factory or warehouse in China with full tracking from pickup to delivery.
C2I Logistics Recommendation
C2I Logistics recommends air freight for time-sensitive orders, high-value goods and shipments under 200kg where speed matters more than cost. We recommend sea freight LCL for most first-time importers with orders of 1–10 CBM. We recommend sea freight FCL for established importers with regular bulk orders above 12 CBM.
Not sure which mode is right for your cargo? Call C2I Logistics at +91 9289 45 11 22 or email info@c2ilogistics.com for a free comparison quote across all shipping modes for your specific shipment.