Everything an Indian importer needs to know — from placing an order with your Chinese supplier to clearing customs at JNPT and delivering to your warehouse door.
China is India's largest trading partner, accounting for over $100 billion in annual bilateral trade. For Indian importers, China remains the primary source for consumer goods, industrial components, electronics, textiles, plastics, furniture, and thousands of other product categories — often at prices that no domestic or alternative manufacturer can match.
But the China–India import process involves more steps, more regulatory complexity, and more potential for costly mistakes than most importers realise when they first start. A single error — the wrong HS code, a missed anti-dumping notification, a late Bill of Entry — can delay your shipment by weeks and cost lakhs in avoidable duties or port charges.
This guide walks you through every step of the process, from understanding your shipping options to collecting your cargo from the port.
India imported approximately $101 billion worth of goods from China in FY 2023-24, making China the single largest source of imports — accounting for roughly 15% of India's total import bill.
For the China–India corridor, the overwhelming majority of cargo moves by ocean freight. Here's how to decide which is right for your shipment.
| Factor | Ocean Freight | Air Freight |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 3–8% of cargo value | 15–30% of cargo value |
| Transit time | 22–35 days | 3–7 days |
| Minimum volume | Any — LCL from 1 CBM | Any weight |
| Best for | Bulk goods, heavy cargo, planned orders | High-value goods, urgent replenishment, perishables |
| Cargo types | Glass, plastics, furniture, textiles, machinery | Electronics, pharma, fashion, time-sensitive goods |
| Container options | FCL (20ft/40ft) or LCL consolidation | General air cargo or charter |
FCL (Full Container Load) — You fill an entire 20ft or 40ft container with your cargo. Best when your shipment exceeds 15 CBM (cubic metres) or 15 tonnes. You get the entire container, your cargo isn't mixed with others, and clearance at the destination is faster.
LCL (Less than Container Load) — Your cargo is consolidated with other importers' goods inside a shared container. Cost-effective for smaller shipments under 15 CBM. Transit time is 3–7 days longer than FCL due to the consolidation and deconsolidation process at both ends.
If your shipment is above 15 CBM or weighs more than 15 tonnes, get an FCL quote. Below that, compare FCL and LCL — sometimes a 20ft FCL is cheaper than LCL when your cargo is dense and heavy.
| Port | Serves | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ningbo (NGB) | Zhejiang, Jiangsu | Glass beads, plastics, consumer goods, textiles |
| Shanghai (SHA) | Shanghai, surrounding regions | Furniture, machinery, electronics, chemicals |
| Guangzhou / Shenzhen (GZH/SZX) | Guangdong province | Electronics, mobile accessories, garments, toys |
| Tianjin (TSN) | North China, Beijing region | Steel, machinery, auto parts |
| Qingdao (TAO) | Shandong province | Chemicals, rubber, machinery |
| Port | Location | Transit from Ningbo | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNPT | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | 22–28 days | Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, North India via road |
| Mundra | Kutch, Gujarat | 20–26 days | Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajasthan, Delhi via rail/road |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 18–24 days | South India — Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai |
| Kolkata / Haldia | West Bengal | 20–28 days | East India, Northeast, Nepal, Bangladesh |
Transit times above are port-to-port. Add 3–7 days for customs clearance at Indian ports, and another 1–3 days for inland trucking to your warehouse. Plan your inventory accordingly — a 28-day transit becomes 35+ days door-to-door.
Indian customs clearance requires a specific set of documents. Missing or incorrect documents are one of the most common causes of shipment delays. Here's exactly what you need and who is responsible for each.
India's import duty structure is layered — multiple components are applied sequentially on top of each other. Most importers know about "customs duty" but don't realise there are 4–5 separate charges that make up the total payable. Understanding this prevents the most expensive surprises.
Indian customs duty is not a flat percentage on your invoice value. It is calculated on the CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight) and applied in this exact sequence:
| Duty Component | Full Name | Typical Range | Applied On |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCD | Basic Customs Duty | 0% – 100% | CIF value |
| SWS | Social Welfare Surcharge | 10% of BCD | BCD amount |
| AIDC | Agri. Infra. Dev. Cess | 0% – 100% | CIF value (select goods) |
| IGST | Integrated Goods & Services Tax | 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28% | CIF + BCD + SWS + AIDC |
| ADD | Anti-Dumping Duty | Varies by product | CIF value (specific goods) |
If you are a GST-registered business, the IGST you pay at customs is fully claimable as Input Tax Credit (ITC) on your GST return. This means IGST is not a real cost — it's a timing difference. Your actual cost is only BCD + SWS + ADD. Factor this into your landed cost calculations.
Anti-dumping duties are levied on specific products from specific countries where India's government has determined that foreign manufacturers are selling below fair market price, harming domestic Indian industry. China-origin goods have the highest number of ADD cases in India — over 100 active ADD orders at any given time.
ADD is in addition to all other duties and can be very significant — sometimes equal to or greater than the BCD itself. The rate is often expressed as a USD amount per tonne or per unit, not a percentage.
ADD notifications are issued by the Ministry of Finance and can change with short notice. Always verify whether your product's HS code has an active ADD order before placing a large order from China. Our duty calculator flags ADD automatically — use it before you commit to a purchase.
Common China-origin products with active ADD orders include: PVC paste resin, solar glass, ceramic tableware, certain steel products, chemicals, and optical fibres. This list changes — check before every significant order.
India has Free Trade Agreements with several countries that reduce or eliminate Basic Customs Duty. Unfortunately, India does not have an FTA with China, so all China-origin goods are assessed at the full MFN (Most Favoured Nation) BCD rate.
However, if you are sourcing from other countries, these FTAs can significantly reduce your duty burden:
The HS (Harmonised System) code is an 8-digit number that classifies every product traded internationally. In India, it's part of the ITC-HS (Indian Trade Classification based on HS) system. Your HS code determines:
| Digits | Level | Example | What it describes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Chapter | 70 | Glass and glassware |
| 7018 | Heading | 7018 | Glass beads, imitation pearls, small glass articles |
| 7018 10 | Sub-heading | 7018 10 | Glass beads |
| 7018 10 10 | ITC-HS (India) | 7018 10 10 | Glass seed beads and bugle beads — BCD 10%, IGST 12% |
Indian customs has the authority to re-classify goods under a different HS code if they believe the importer has declared an incorrect code. This can happen during physical examination or document scrutiny. Consequences include:
ClearFreight's HS Code Lookup uses AI classification to identify the most accurate ITC-HS code for your product description — with the applicable BCD, IGST, and ADD rates. Try the HS Code Lookup →
Demurrage and detention are the two most avoidable costs in Indian importing — and the two most commonly paid by importers who didn't know better.
Every shipping line gives you a fixed number of free days at the destination port — typically 5–7 days from the date the container is discharged from the vessel. During these free days, you can keep the container at the port terminal at no charge. After free days expire, charges start.
Demurrage is the charge levied by the shipping line for keeping the container at the port terminal beyond the free days. Rates vary by shipping line and season but typically start at ₹3,000–5,000 per day for a 40ft container and escalate in tiers.
Detention is the charge levied by the shipping line for keeping their container at your warehouse or inland location beyond the free days. Different from demurrage (which is a port charge), detention applies once the container has left the port and is at your premises.
A container delayed 15 days beyond free days at JNPT can easily accumulate ₹75,000–1,50,000 in demurrage charges — money you pay directly to the shipping line, with no recourse if the delay was avoidable. ClearFreight sends you demurrage alerts at Day 3, Day 5, and Day 7 of free days to ensure this never happens silently.
Discovering that your product has an active anti-dumping duty order after your container is already sailing is one of the most painful experiences in importing. A product with 10% BCD suddenly has 10% BCD + 25% ADD = a 35% duty burden you didn't budget for. Always check before ordering.
Some importers ask Chinese suppliers to show lower values on invoices to reduce customs duty. This is customs fraud under Indian law. Indian customs has access to global trade databases and can challenge valuations they consider artificially low. Consequences include penalties, seizure of goods, and potential criminal prosecution.
Vague descriptions like "plastic articles" or "general merchandise" on the BL and invoice invite customs examination. Be specific and accurate. "Glass seed beads — 2mm, transparent, for jewellery making" clears faster than "glass items."
The Bill of Entry must be filed before or immediately after vessel arrival to avoid demurrage. If your supplier is late in sending the BL, packing list, or invoice — your cargo waits, and free days tick. Chase documents from your supplier well before the vessel is due to arrive.
If you buy on FOB terms (supplier responsible only until goods are loaded on vessel), you need to arrange and pay for ocean freight separately. Many first-time importers don't realise this and are surprised by a separate freight invoice. CIF terms (Cost + Insurance + Freight) include ocean freight in the supplier's price and are simpler for new importers.
Before every China shipment, run through this list. It takes 15 minutes and can save you lakhs.
Get a complete all-in quote from ClearFreight within 24 hours — ocean freight, customs clearance, and delivery included.