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A shipping agent China to India is the company that books your cargo from a Chinese factory or warehouse to an Indian port, airport or your door. The best one for an MSME importer picks up in China, consolidates, ships by sea or air, clears Indian customs through a licensed CHA and delivers duty paid (DDP), with one clear quote covering every charge.

This guide explains what a shipping agent, freight forwarder, import agent and CHA each do, the types of China to India logistics companies you will meet, a checklist to choose the right one, red flags, the questions to ask before booking, and how it works if your business is in Delhi or Mumbai.

What does a shipping agent from China to India actually do?

“Shipping agent”, “freight forwarder”, “import agent” and “CHA” are not the same thing. Knowing the difference tells you what you pay for and who is responsible when something goes wrong.

Shipping agent and freight forwarder

A freight forwarder (what most importers call a shipping agent) arranges transport. It books space with shipping lines or airlines, issues or arranges the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, coordinates pickup from the supplier and handles export formalities in China. Many forwarders stop at the Indian port; delivery and clearance are then your problem unless you buy them as add-ons.

Shipping agent in China

A shipping agent in China works on the origin side: collecting cargo from factories, booking the vessel or flight, preparing export declarations and loading containers. Some Chinese agents quote very low ocean rates to Indian importers but have no team in India, so you still need a separate CHA and transporter at destination.

CHA (Customs Broker)

A Customs House Agent, now officially a Customs Broker, is licensed by Indian Customs under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations published by CBIC. The CHA files your Bill of Entry on ICEGATE, handles assessment, examination and out-of-charge, and is the person customs officers deal with. Only a licensed broker can do this on your behalf. Our customs clearance guide explains each step.

End-to-end import agent

An import agent (sometimes called a China importer company) covers the whole chain: finding and verifying suppliers, inspecting goods, supporting payment, consolidating cargo in China, shipping, customs clearance through a licensed CHA and door delivery. For first-time importers and small MSMEs, this is usually the simplest option because there is one point of contact. If you also need help buying, read about China buying agents in India.

What types of China to India logistics companies are there?

When you search for China to India logistics companies, the results mix very different business models. Here are the five you will meet most often.

1. Global freight forwarders

Large multinational networks with offices in many countries. Strong for big, regular FCL or project cargo and corporate accounts with fixed contracts. Small importers may face minimum volumes and slower response.

2. NVOCCs

A Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier does not own ships but issues its own House Bill of Lading and buys space from shipping lines. NVOCCs are useful for FCL and LCL sea freight. In India, an NVOCC acting as a multimodal operator registers as an MTO with the Directorate General of Shipping.

3. Consolidators (LCL specialists)

Consolidators combine cargo from many importers into one container, so you pay only for your CBM. This is the most common route for MSMEs shipping 1 to 15 CBM. See LCL vs FCL from China to India to decide which fits your volume.

4. Courier aggregators

Aggregators resell express courier capacity for samples and small parcels. They are fast and easy for a few kilos, but courier clearance has value and category limits, and the per-kg cost climbs quickly for commercial quantities.

5. End-to-end import agents (DDP)

These companies handle sourcing support, pickup, consolidation, freight, clearance and delivery, often on a DDP basis where duty and taxes are paid before the goods reach you. Learn how DDP shipping from China to India works and how it compares with DAP.

Comparison table: which type of agent fits you?

Agent type	Best for	Customs clearance in India	Door delivery	Supplier-side help	Watch out for
Global freight forwarder	Large, regular FCL; corporates	Usually via own or partner CHA, extra cost	On request	Rarely	Minimum volumes, slow response for small shippers
NVOCC	FCL and LCL port-to-port	Often not included	Often not included	No	Destination charges billed separately
LCL consolidator	1 to 15 CBM mixed cargo	Sometimes included	Sometimes	Limited	CFS, DO and handling fees at Indian port
Courier aggregator	Samples, parcels under about 100 kg	Courier mode, with limits	Yes	No	High per-kg cost, category restrictions
End-to-end import agent (DDP)	MSMEs, first-time and regular importers	Included, through licensed CHA	Yes	Yes: verification, inspection, consolidation	Ask for an itemised quote and duty basis

How do you choose the best logistics from China to India?

The best logistics from China to India is not the lowest freight rate. It is the partner that delivers your goods legally, on time, with no surprise bills. Use this checklist before you hand over a single shipment.

Licences and registrations to verify

• CHA / Customs Broker licence: whoever files your Bill of Entry must hold one, or must name the licensed broker they use. Ask for the licence number and the customs station it covers.
• IATA: relevant if the agent issues air waybills directly. If not, ask which IATA agent they use.
• FIATA membership: shows the forwarder is part of the international forwarding network, usually through a national association.
• MTO registration: needed in India for a company issuing multimodal transport documents.
• GSTIN and company registration: check the GSTIN on the GST portal and match the legal name with the invoice you will receive.

Operational strengths to look for

• Own team or warehouse in China: people who can receive, count, photograph and repack goods before loading. This catches short shipments and wrong items in China, not in India.
• DDP capability: can they deliver duty paid to your door, and do they explain how duty is calculated for your HS code?
• Transparent quote: freight, origin charges, destination charges, CHA fees, duty basis, GST and delivery all shown separately or clearly bundled.
• Regular departures: frequent LCL loading means your cargo does not sit waiting for a container to fill.
• References and reviews: speak to two or three current customers who import goods similar to yours.

For a deeper step-by-step check, read how to verify a China import agent in India.

What red flags should you watch for in logistics services from China to India?

Most problems in logistics services from China to India follow a few repeat patterns:

• A “per kg all-inclusive” rate far below the market with no written explanation of how duty is handled. Very low all-in rates can mean under-invoicing, which puts the importer at risk of penalties and confiscation.
• No invoice in your name, or no Bill of Entry copy. Without these you cannot claim GST input credit and cannot prove the goods were legally imported.
• Refusal to share the CHA name or licence number.
• Only a mobile number and a WhatsApp account, with no registered office or GSTIN you can verify.
• Pressure to pay 100% freight in advance before the goods are even received in the China warehouse.
• Vague answers about restricted goods such as items needing BIS, WPC or FSSAI approval. A good agent tells you upfront what certificates your product needs.

What questions should you ask a shipping agent before booking?

Send these questions in writing and compare the answers side by side.

1. Is your quote port-to-port, door-to-port or door-to-door, and is it DDP or DAP?
2. Which charges are excluded: origin handling, CFS, DO, THC, CHA fees, transport, insurance?
3. Will the Bill of Entry be filed in my IEC and GSTIN? Will I get a copy?
4. Which HS code and duty rate are you assuming, and what happens if customs reassesses it?
5. Do you have your own warehouse or staff in China? Will you share photos and a packing check on receipt?
6. How often do you load LCL containers or book air cargo, and what is the realistic door-to-door time?
7. Is my product restricted, and which certificates (BIS, WPC, FSSAI, EPR) are needed?
8. Who is my single point of contact, and how do I track the shipment?
9. What happens if goods are damaged, short or held for examination?

If you are still setting up your IEC and GST, start with how to start importing from China to India and register your IEC on the DGFT portal.

How much does China to India import logistics cost? A worked example in ₹

China to India import logistics cost has two parts: the freight and handling the agent charges, and the customs duty the government charges. Agents compete on the first; the second is set by law and your HS code. Comparing quotes only on freight is the most common costing mistake.

Indicative freight ranges

Published market quotes in 2026 for a 20ft container from South China to Nhava Sheva or Mundra have ranged widely, from roughly USD 950 to around USD 3,600 ocean freight only, with origin and destination charges extra (indicative, Oct 2026; changes weekly). LCL is charged per CBM or per 1,000 kg, whichever is higher, plus fixed CFS and documentation fees. Always ask for a current written quote. For transit times by port, see how long sea shipping from China to India takes.

Worked duty example

Illustration only. Suppose you import goods with a CIF value (cost + insurance + freight to the Indian port) of ₹4,30,000, at a product with 10% Basic Customs Duty and 18% IGST.

Item	How it is calculated	Amount (₹)
CIF value	Goods + freight + insurance	4,30,000
Landing charge	1% of CIF	4,300
Assessable value (AV)	CIF + 1%	4,34,300
Basic Customs Duty	10% of AV	43,430
Social Welfare Surcharge	10% of BCD	4,343
IGST	18% of (AV + BCD + SWS = 4,82,073)	86,773
Total customs duty and tax	BCD + SWS + IGST	1,34,546

Now imagine two agents. Agent A quotes ₹8,000 less on freight but excludes CFS, DO and CHA charges. Agent B quotes a DDP door-to-door figure that includes all of these. When the bill arrives, Agent A’s “cheaper” shipment can easily cost more. The duty of ₹1,34,546 stays the same with both, because it depends on your goods, not your agent. IGST is generally claimable as input tax credit if the Bill of Entry is in your GSTIN. Check your rate on our import duty from China to India guide and HS code guide.

How do shipping agents in Delhi work for China imports?

Delhi NCR is landlocked, so most sea cargo for Delhi importers lands at Nhava Sheva (JNPT) or Mundra and then moves inland by rail to an Inland Container Depot, or is cleared at the port and trucked north.

• ICD Tughlakabad: one of the busiest ICDs in the country, serving South and Central Delhi traders.
• ICD Patparganj: serves East Delhi and parts of Noida and Ghaziabad.
• ICD Dadri (Greater Noida): a large rail-linked hub for NCR and western Uttar Pradesh.
• Delhi Air Cargo (IGI Airport): for urgent and high-value air shipments.

When comparing shipping agents in Delhi, ask whether clearance will happen at the port or at the ICD, because this changes the transit time, the CHA you deal with and the destination charges. Mixed LCL cargo for Delhi is often cleared at the port and delivered by road. Read more on our China import agent in Delhi page.

How do shipping agents in Mumbai handle China cargo?

Mumbai importers have the advantage of being next to Nhava Sheva (JNPT), India’s largest container port. Most China sea cargo for Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi and Pune arrives here and is cleared at a nearby Container Freight Station (CFS). Air cargo comes through Mumbai Air Cargo at the international airport.

Shipping agents in Mumbai compete heavily on ocean rates, so the destination side is where hidden costs usually sit: CFS handling, ground rent if clearance is slow, DO charges and local transport to Bhiwandi godowns. Ask for these in writing. See our China import agent in Mumbai page for city-specific details. Importers in other cities can check our pages for Ahmedabad, Surat and Kolkata.

How IFC helps as your China to India shipping partner

IFC – Imports From China is a door-to-door China to India import logistics company working with business importers. Here is what IFC offers, in plain terms:

• 20+ years of experience, since 2004, in China to India imports.
• Own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with translators and English-speaking staff, plus a pickup and sourcing network across other Chinese cities.
• Daily loading of mixed containers (LCL consolidation) and air cargo.
• Supplier side: supplier search and verification, factory and quality inspection, and payment support.
• Shipping and clearance: LCL/FCL sea freight, air cargo, customs clearance (duty paid) and door-to-door DDP delivery to Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad and more.
• Head office and warehouse in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi.
• Free tools: the shipment (landed cost) calculator and the weight-to-CBM calculator.

You can read what other importers say on the IFC reviews page.

Shipping agent from China to India contact number

To speak to IFC about a shipment, call +91 98116 91631. This is IFC’s only customer number. Keep your product, supplier city, weight or CBM and delivery city ready.

Conclusion: choose the agent that owns the whole journey

A good shipping agent from China to India is the one that answers your questions clearly, shows every charge in writing, uses a licensed CHA, files the Bill of Entry in your name and has people on the ground in China. For most MSMEs, an end-to-end DDP partner closes the gaps where delays and surprise bills come from. Compare landed cost, not freight.

Get your real landed cost: enter your product, weight and CBM in the IFC shipment calculator, or call IFC on +91 98116 91631 for a door-to-door DDP quote from China to your city.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a shipping agent and a CHA?

A shipping agent or freight forwarder arranges transport of your goods from China to India. A CHA, now called a Customs Broker, is licensed by Indian Customs to file your Bill of Entry and clear the goods. Some companies do both; others only one. Always ask who the licensed CHA on your shipment is.

Which type of shipping agent is best for small importers?

For small and mixed shipments, an LCL consolidator or an end-to-end import agent offering DDP door delivery is usually best. You pay only for your CBM, get one point of contact and avoid managing separate forwarders, CHAs and transporters. Large regular FCL shippers may prefer a forwarder or NVOCC with their own CHA.

How do I check if a China to India shipping agent is genuine?

Verify the GSTIN on the GST portal, ask for the CHA licence number and registered office address, check IATA, FIATA or MTO registration where relevant, and speak to existing customers. Insist on an invoice in your name and a copy of the Bill of Entry. Refusal to share any of these is a warning sign.

Does a cheap per-kg rate include customs duty?

Not always. Some all-inclusive rates include duty legally under DDP, while others rely on under-declared values, which exposes the importer to penalties. Ask the agent which HS code, assessable value and duty rate they used, and whether the Bill of Entry will be in your IEC and GSTIN.

Which port is used for China imports to Delhi?

Sea cargo for Delhi usually lands at Nhava Sheva (JNPT) or Mundra, then moves by rail to an inland container depot such as ICD Tughlakabad, ICD Patparganj or ICD Dadri, or is cleared at the port and trucked. Urgent cargo flies into Delhi Air Cargo at IGI Airport.

What is the IFC contact number for China to India shipping?

Call IFC on +91 98116 91631 for China to India shipping, customs clearance and door-to-door DDP quotes. Share your product, supplier city, approximate weight or CBM and delivery city. You can also estimate costs first with the IFC shipment calculator on importsfromchina.com.

The China to India shipping cost per kg in October 2026 is roughly USD 7-12 per kg by express courier, USD 3.5-8 per kg by air cargo (airport to airport, lower rates for heavier shipments), and only a small fraction of that by sea LCL, which is priced per CBM, not per kg. Duty, GST and Indian local charges are extra unless your quote is DDP. Below you will also find how China to India courier per kg rates compare with air cargo and sea LCL, so you can pick the cheapest mode for your weight. IFC’s own all-inclusive DDP rate (Oct 2026): air cargo ₹750 per kg for 50+ kg general cargo (value under ₹2,000/kg), ₹1,350 per kg for battery, liquid, cosmetic, magnet or higher-value goods; sea is about half the air rate, and ₹50–150 per kg for shipments over 5,000 kg – freight, customs duty, clearance and door delivery included.

This guide explains how each mode is priced, how chargeable weight is calculated, what a “per kg” quote really includes, which hidden charges to ask about, and shows a worked ₹ example of 100 kg shipped by air and by sea.

What is the China to India shipping cost per kg in 2026?

There is no single per-kg price. The rate depends on the mode, the weight slab, the size of your cartons, the season and what the quote includes. The table below shows indicative market ranges collected from published forwarder rate guides in August-October 2026. Treat them as a starting point for budgeting, not as a quote. Rates change every week.

Mode	How it is priced	Indicative market rate (Oct 2026, changes weekly)	Typical transit	Best for
Express courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS type)	Per kg, volumetric ÷ 6,000 (some use 5,000)	USD 50-100 per parcel up to 10 kg; about USD 7-12 per kg above that	3-6 days	Samples, urgent spares, under 30-45 kg
Air cargo (airport to airport)	Per kg by slab, 1 CBM = 167 kg	About USD 6.5-8/kg for 100-300 kg; USD 5.5-6.5 for 300-500 kg; USD 4.5-5.5 for 500-1,000 kg; USD 3.5-4.5 above 1,000 kg	3-7 days plus clearance	45-500 kg of high-value or urgent goods
Sea LCL (shared container)	Per CBM / revenue tonne, 1 CBM minimum	Base ocean freight about USD 10-30 per CBM; origin and Indian destination charges extra	Port to port about 11-18 days, more for ICDs	About 1-15 CBM of regular stock
Sea FCL (full container)	Per container	20 ft / 40 ft to Nhava Sheva or Mundra quoted roughly USD 950-3,750 between Jan and Sep 2026, very volatile	About 10-14 days port to port	15 CBM and above

What is the shipping cost from China to India per kg by air?

Air has two very different products, and many importers mix them up.

Air express (courier)

Courier companies collect from the supplier’s door and deliver to yours. The per-kg price looks simple, but fuel surcharges, remote-area fees, duty and taxes are often added later. For small parcels you also face a minimum charge per shipment. Also note that courier clearance has its own rules and limits for commercial goods, so a large commercial shipment should normally move as cargo with a proper Bill of Entry.

Air cargo (freight)

Air cargo is booked on airline space from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong or Shanghai to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru or Kolkata. Rates are quoted in slabs (for example +45 kg, +100 kg, +300 kg, +500 kg, +1,000 kg). The published rate usually covers airport to airport only. China pickup, export handling, Indian airport charges, CHA fees, duty, GST and last-mile delivery are added separately unless you buy a door-to-door or DDP rate.

How does chargeable weight work for China to India shipments?

Airlines and couriers sell space, not just weight. So they charge on chargeable weight: the higher of your actual (gross) weight and your volumetric weight.

Air cargo: 1 CBM = 167 kg

For air cargo the standard ratio is 1:6, which means 1 cubic metre is treated as 167 kg. A 60 x 50 x 40 cm carton is 0.12 CBM, so its volumetric weight is 0.12 x 167 = about 20 kg. If the carton actually weighs 12 kg, you pay for 20 kg.

Express courier: divide by 6,000

Couriers use length x width x height in centimetres ÷ 6,000 (a few use 5,000, which makes light cartons even costlier). The same 60 x 50 x 40 cm carton is 120,000 ÷ 6,000 = 20 kg.

Sea LCL: 1 CBM = 1,000 kg

Sea freight uses the revenue tonne. You pay on CBM or on tonnes, whichever is higher. Since most consumer goods weigh far less than 1,000 kg per CBM, you nearly always pay on volume. That is why sea is so much cheaper for light, bulky items like bags, toys, home decor and plastic goods.

Minimum chargeable

• Express: a minimum per parcel, often equal to the first 0.5-1 kg plus surcharges.
• Air cargo: a minimum charge per air waybill, and the cheaper slabs only start at 45 kg or 100 kg.
• Sea LCL: usually 1 CBM minimum, plus fixed per-shipment charges (DO, documentation, CHA) whether you ship 0.3 CBM or 3 CBM.

Not sure of your volume? Enter your weight in the IFC weight-to-CBM calculator to get an approximate CBM for your product type, then confirm the exact carton sizes with your supplier.

China to India logistics rates: what does a “per kg” quote include?

Two quotes of “₹X per kg” can be completely different products. Before you compare, ask what the price covers.

Cost item	Freight-only (port/airport to port/airport)	Door-to-door, duty unpaid (DAP)	DDP door-to-door (duty paid)
Pickup from supplier in China	Usually no	Yes	Yes
China export customs and origin handling	Sometimes	Yes	Yes
Main air or sea freight	Yes	Yes	Yes
Indian THC, DO, CFS / airport handling	No	Usually yes	Yes
CHA / customs clearance fee	No	Sometimes	Yes
Customs duty (BCD, SWS) and IGST	No	No – you pay	Included or billed with GST invoice
Delivery to your godown	No	Yes	Yes

A low freight-only rate can end up costlier than a higher all-in rate once local charges and clearance are added. Read our guides to how DDP shipping from China to India works and DDP vs DAP before you sign off a quote.

What hidden charges add to the China to India shipping cost?

These are the charges most often missing from a cheap per-kg or per-CBM quote. Ask for each one in writing.

At the Indian port or airport

• Delivery Order (DO) fee: charged by the shipping line or its agent to release the cargo to you.
• Terminal Handling Charges (THC): for handling at the port terminal.
• CFS charges: for de-stuffing an LCL container at the Container Freight Station, often per CBM with a minimum, plus storage after the free days.
• Airport cargo terminal charges: handling and storage per kg at the air cargo complex.
• Demurrage and detention: daily charges if documents or duty payment are delayed.

Clearance and taxes

• CHA fees: the customs broker’s charge for filing the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE and handling examination.
• GST on services: most Indian logistics and CHA service charges attract GST, so a ₹10,000 service bill is more than ₹10,000 in cash.
• Customs duty and IGST: BCD, Social Welfare Surcharge and IGST on the goods, plus anti-dumping duty on some products.
• Compliance costs: BIS, WPC, FSSAI, EPR or other certifications if your product needs them. Missing approvals can hold cargo at port and add storage.

Inside India

Transport from Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Chennai or Kolkata to your city, or from ICD Tughlakabad / Patparganj to your godown in Delhi NCR, plus loading and unloading. For timelines by port, see how long sea shipping from China to India takes.

Worked example: 100 kg from China to India by air vs sea in ₹

Let us take a real-world MSME order: textile handbags (HS 4202 22 90), invoice value USD 1,000, 100 kg gross weight, 0.5 CBM. The figures below are an IFC calculator estimate taken from the IFC landed-cost engine in October 2026 (exchange rate used by the calculator that day: ₹100 per USD; duty rates for this HS code: BCD 15%, SWS 10% of BCD, IGST 18%). They are estimates, not a final quote.

Step 1: chargeable weight

By air, 0.5 CBM x 167 = 83.5 kg volumetric. Actual weight is 100 kg, so chargeable weight is 100 kg. By sea, you pay on 0.5 CBM (the 1 CBM minimum may apply on a freight-only LCL quote; a consolidator who loads mixed containers can price smaller lots).

Step 2: landed cost comparison

Line	Sea (LCL)	Air cargo
A. Invoice value (USD 1,000)	₹1,00,000	₹1,00,000
B. Freight + clearance + door delivery	₹10,000	₹57,500
C. Insurance	₹1,125	₹1,125
D. CIF / assessable value (A+B+C)	₹1,11,125	₹1,58,625
E. Basic Customs Duty 15%	₹16,669	₹23,794
F. SWS (10% of BCD)	₹1,667	₹2,379
G. Value for IGST (D+E+F)	₹1,29,461	₹1,84,798
H. IGST 18%	₹23,303	₹33,264
Total landed cost	₹1,52,764	₹2,18,062
Logistics cost per kg (B ÷ 100 kg)	about ₹100/kg	about ₹575/kg
Landed cost per kg	about ₹1,528/kg	about ₹2,181/kg

Step 3: what this tells you

• Air cost ₹65,298 more for the same 100 kg – about 43% more landed cost.
• Only ₹47,500 of that is extra freight. The rest (about ₹17,800) is extra duty and IGST, because duty is charged on CIF value, and CIF includes freight.
• IGST is usually creditable. If you are GST registered and the goods are for business, the IGST paid can generally be claimed as input tax credit, so your true cost difference is lower – but you still need the cash on the day.
• Pick air only when speed pays: for example a stock-out, a seasonal launch or a high-value item where 2-3 weeks of capital locked in sea transit costs more than the freight gap.

For the full comparison of speed, risk and cost, read air freight vs sea freight from China to India.

China to India import duty calculator: why duty is separate from freight

A per-kg freight rate never tells you the duty, because duty depends on your product’s HS code and invoice value, not on its weight. Two 100 kg shipments – one of plastic toys, one of LED lights – can have very different duty bills. The basic formula is:

1. Assessable value = CIF value (cost + insurance + freight), with a 1% landing charge added where applicable.
2. BCD = assessable value x BCD rate for your HS code.
3. SWS = 10% of BCD.
4. IGST = (assessable value + BCD + SWS) x IGST rate.

Check the current tariff on the CBIC website and import policy conditions on DGFT. For a full explanation with examples, read our guide to import duty from China to India and how to find the right HS code. To see freight, duty and GST together, use the IFC shipment calculator.

What is the cheapest logistics from China to India?

For most commercial goods, sea LCL through a consolidator is the cheapest per kg once you cross roughly 100-150 kg, and FCL becomes cheaper per CBM once you fill most of a container. Here is how to cut your per-kg cost without cutting corners.

• Consolidate suppliers: collect goods from several suppliers into one shipment so you pay fixed charges (DO, CHA, documentation) once, not five times.
• Fix your packing: ask the supplier to reduce carton size and empty space. Lower CBM means lower sea cost and lower volumetric weight by air.
• Plan ahead: order early enough to use sea. Most air bills come from last-minute buying.
• Hit the next slab: if you must fly, check whether 100 kg or 300 kg rates beat a smaller shipment’s total.
• Get the HS code and paperwork right: wrong classification or missing import documents lead to port delays and storage – the most avoidable hidden cost.
• Choose LCL or FCL by volume: see LCL vs FCL from China to India for the break-even point.

How do you compare a shipping agent’s China to India price?

The lowest number on WhatsApp is not always the lowest cost. Use this checklist when you compare shipping agent prices from China to India:

• Is the rate per kg on actual weight or chargeable weight? Ask for the volumetric rule in writing.
• Is it airport/port to airport/port, door-to-door, or DDP with duty paid?
• Which Indian charges are included – DO, THC, CFS, CHA, delivery? Is GST on services extra?
• Will goods be cleared in your name with a proper Bill of Entry so you can claim IGST credit?
• What is the minimum chargeable weight or CBM?
• Who pays if customs examines the cargo or re-assesses the value?

An agent who answers all six clearly is usually worth more than one who only sends a per-kg number. Our guide on how to verify a China import agent in India covers the warning signs.

How IFC helps

IFC – Imports From China has 20+ years of China-India import experience, since 2004. We have our own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with English-speaking staff and translators, and our head office and warehouse are in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi.

• Daily loading: we load mixed containers (LCL consolidation) and air cargo daily, so smaller MSME lots can move without waiting for a full container.
• Pickup and consolidation: goods from different suppliers are collected and consolidated in Guangzhou or Yiwu.
• Customs clearance and DDP: duty-paid clearance and door-to-door delivery to Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad and more.
• Before shipping: supplier search and verification, factory and quality inspection, and payment support.
• Transparent estimates: the free shipment calculator shows freight, duty and GST line by line, like the example above.

Conclusion

The China to India shipping cost per kg is only one piece of your import cost. Express is the costliest per kg, air cargo sits in the middle, and sea LCL is the cheapest for most MSME orders – but you only see the true picture when you add chargeable weight, Indian local charges, CHA, duty and GST. Compare quotes on landed cost, not on the headline per-kg number, and plan early so you can ship by sea whenever speed is not critical.

Get your real landed cost: enter your product, weight and CBM in the IFC shipment calculator, or call IFC on +91 98116 91631 for a door-to-door DDP quote from China to your city.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to ship 100 kg from China to India?

Sea LCL through a consolidator is usually the cheapest way to ship 100 kg from China to India. In the IFC calculator estimate above, 100 kg (0.5 CBM) cost about ₹10,000 by sea for freight, clearance and delivery, against about ₹57,500 by air. Sea takes longer, so plan your order two to four weeks earlier.

How is volumetric weight calculated for air cargo from China?

For air cargo, volumetric weight is CBM x 167, because airlines treat 1 cubic metre as 167 kg. For courier, it is length x width x height in centimetres divided by 6,000. You pay on whichever is higher, actual weight or volumetric weight, which is called chargeable weight.

Does the per kg shipping rate include customs duty?

Usually not. Most per-kg rates are freight-only or door-to-door without duty. Customs duty and IGST depend on your HS code and invoice value, not on weight. Only a DDP (delivered duty paid) quote includes duty and taxes. Always ask the agent in writing what the per-kg price covers.

Is sea freight from China to India charged per kg?

No. Sea LCL is charged per CBM or per revenue tonne (1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is more), often with a 1 CBM minimum. FCL is charged per container. Some door-to-door agents convert this into a per-kg price for convenience, but the real cost driver is your volume.

Why does air freight increase my import duty?

Indian customs charges duty on the assessable value, which is based on CIF: cost, insurance and freight. Higher freight means a higher CIF value, so Basic Customs Duty, the Social Welfare Surcharge and IGST all rise. In our 100 kg example, air added about ₹17,800 of extra duty and IGST over sea.

What local charges are paid at the Indian port for LCL cargo?

Common destination charges for LCL are the Delivery Order (DO) fee, Terminal Handling Charges, CFS de-stuffing and storage charges, CHA clearance fees, and GST on these services. Demurrage applies if clearance is delayed. These fixed charges matter most on small shipments, so ask for them in writing before booking.

Small parcels and samples? See IFC’s China to India courier service per kg (duty paid, door to door).

How long does sea shipping from China to India take? Port to port, most sailings from South and East China reach Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra or Chennai in about 12 to 20 days. Door to door, after your goods are ready, plan on roughly 3 to 6 weeks for LCL and 3 to 5 weeks for a full container, including consolidation, customs clearance and delivery.

This guide breaks that time down port by port, shows every stage from the supplier’s factory to your warehouse, explains why shipments run late, and gives a worked rupee example of the duty money you must have ready when the ship arrives. All transit times are indicative, October 2026.

How long does sea shipping from China to India take, port to port?

The time on the water depends mainly on which Chinese port your cargo leaves from, which Indian port it arrives at, and whether the vessel sails direct or changes ship (transhipment) at a hub such as Singapore, Port Klang or Colombo. South China ports (Shenzhen, Guangzhou) are closest to India, so they usually give the shortest sailings. North China ports (Qingdao, Tianjin) add several days.

From (China)	To (India)	Typical port-to-port days	Notes
Shenzhen (Yantian, Shekou), Guangzhou (Nansha)	Nhava Sheva (JNPT)	12 to 18	Most frequent direct services; Yiwu and Guangzhou cargo often leaves from here or Ningbo
Ningbo, Shanghai	Nhava Sheva (JNPT)	14 to 20	Main ports for Yiwu, Zhejiang and Jiangsu suppliers
Shenzhen, Guangzhou	Mundra	12 to 18	Good for Gujarat, Rajasthan and North India by road or rail
Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo	Chennai	11 to 18	East coast port; suits Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad
Shenzhen, Ningbo	Kolkata or Haldia	14 to 22	Often transhipped; river port limits add time
Qingdao, Tianjin	Nhava Sheva or Chennai	18 to 26	Longer route from North China; fewer direct sailings
Any main port	ICD Tughlakabad or Patparganj (Delhi)	18 to 28	Sea to Mundra or Nhava Sheva plus about 4 to 7 days by rail

These are vessel times, indicative for October 2026. Carriers change their schedules every season, and a sailing that is “16 days” on paper can become 20 if the ship waits at a busy transhipment hub. Treat any single number as a target, not a promise.

How long does it take door to door, from the supplier to your warehouse?

Importers often hear “15 days by sea” and plan their stock around it. In reality, the sailing is only one stage. Before the ship leaves, goods must move from the factory to a warehouse or port, be consolidated or stuffed, and clear Chinese export customs. After the ship arrives, the container is unloaded, destuffed at a Container Freight Station (CFS) if it is LCL, cleared by Indian customs and delivered.

Stage	LCL (shared container)	FCL (full container)
Supplier to warehouse or factory loading	1 to 3 days	1 to 2 days (container goes to factory)
Consolidation and loading cut-off	3 to 7 days, depends on the next sailing	2 to 4 days to reach port before cut-off
China export clearance	1 to 2 days	1 to 2 days
Sea voyage to Indian port	12 to 20 days	12 to 20 days
Unloading and CFS destuffing	2 to 4 days	1 to 2 days
Indian customs clearance	1 to 4 working days	1 to 4 working days
Delivery to your city	1 to 7 days	1 to 7 days
Typical total after goods are ready	about 3 to 6 weeks	about 3 to 5 weeks

LCL usually takes about a week longer than FCL because your cartons wait for the consolidated container to close and are unloaded and sorted at a CFS in India. Our guide to LCL shipping from China to India explains consolidation in detail and when a full container becomes the better choice.

Do not forget production time

The door-to-door figures above start when goods are packed and ready. If your supplier still has to make them, add the production lead time, which is commonly 7 to 15 days for ready stock and 20 to 45 days for custom or branded goods. Ask your supplier for a written ready date, not “soon”.

What does a real sea shipment timeline look like?

Here is a realistic example for 4 CBM of plastic household goods bought from several suppliers in Yiwu and shipped LCL to a buyer in Delhi. Day 0 is the day the last supplier delivers to the China warehouse.

1. Day 0 to 2: cartons received, counted, weighed and measured at the warehouse; packing list finalised.
2. Day 3 to 6: cargo loaded into the next consolidated container and trucked to Ningbo port; export declaration filed.
3. Day 7: vessel sails. The bill of lading is issued and the documents are shared for your Bill of Entry.
4. Day 23: vessel arrives at Nhava Sheva after about 16 days at sea.
5. Day 24 to 27: container moves to the CFS and is destuffed; the Bill of Entry is assessed, duty is paid and Out of Charge is given.
6. Day 28 to 33: goods travel by road to Delhi and are delivered.

Total: about 4 to 5 weeks from goods-ready to delivery, which sits in the middle of the 3 to 6 week LCL range. If the cargo had missed the Day 6 cut-off, the whole plan would move back by the gap to the next sailing.

Worked example: the duty money you need when the ship arrives

Arrival is also when you must pay customs duty and IGST, and a delay in arranging funds is one of the most common reasons cargo sits at the port. For the same shipment, assume a supplier invoice of USD 5,000 FOB and USD 350 for sea freight and insurance to Nhava Sheva, so the CIF value is USD 5,350. We use the customs exchange rate of about ₹95.90 per USD notified for imports from 16 October 2026; check the current CBIC rate before filing. The assessable value is the CIF value (there is no separate 1% landing charge since 2017). Plastic household articles under HS 3924 90 90 carry 15% BCD and 18% IGST.

Line	Working	Amount (₹)
Assessable value (CIF)	USD 5,350 × ₹95.90	5,13,065
Basic customs duty (BCD)	15% of assessable value	76,960
Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS)	10% of BCD	7,696
IGST	18% of (5,13,065 + 76,960 + 7,696) = 18% of 5,97,721	1,07,590
Total duty and IGST due at arrival	BCD + SWS + IGST	1,92,246

Add the goods (USD 5,000 × ₹95.90 = ₹4,79,500) and an LCL door-to-door charge of roughly ₹9,000 to ₹16,000 per CBM (indicative, October 2026), or ₹36,000 to ₹64,000 for 4 CBM, which covers the freight assumed in the CIF value. The landed cost in Delhi comes to roughly ₹7,07,700 to ₹7,35,700. If you import under your own IEC and GSTIN, the IGST of ₹1,07,590 can normally be claimed as input tax credit. Rates as of October 2026; confirm for your exact HS code on our India import duty rates page, or run your own numbers in the IFC shipment calculator.

Why do sea shipments from China to India get delayed?

Most delays are not caused by the ship. They happen on land, before loading or after arrival, and many of them are avoidable.

• Supplier not ready on time: the commonest delay. A few days late can mean missing the weekly sailing and losing a full week.
• Missed cut-off or rolled cargo: in busy weeks, carriers can “roll” cargo to the next vessel if space is short.
• Transhipment waits: if your box changes ship at a hub, it can wait several days for the connecting vessel.
• Document mismatches: invoice, packing list and bill of lading that do not match on quantity, value or description lead to queries. Our checklist of documents required for import from China to India helps you get them right.
• Compliance holds: goods that need BIS registration, WPC approval, FSSAI clearance or CDSCO registration cannot be cleared without them.
• Customs examination and valuation queries: the Risk Management System selects some Bills of Entry for document checks or physical examination, which adds one or more days.
• Duty not funded: the Bill of Entry cannot move to Out of Charge until duty is paid.

For a sense of scale, CBIC’s National Time Release Study 2025 reported that release times at seaports improved compared with 2023, yet only about half of seaport import cargo met its release-time benchmark. Clean documents and prompt duty payment are what put your shipment in the faster half. Our step-by-step guide on how customs clearance works for imports in India explains each stage.

Which seasons make China to India shipping slower?

Period	What happens	What to do
Chinese New Year (official holiday 5 to 11 February 2027)	Factories close for a week or more; many workers return late, and production slows from mid-January	Place orders by early December and aim to ship before mid-January
Golden Week (1 to 7 October each year)	Factories and many offices close; cargo bunches up before and after	Load before late September or plan for the week after
Pre-Diwali peak in India (about August to October)	Heavy import demand; containers and space fill up	Ship festive stock by August or early September
Indian monsoon (about June to September)	Rain can slow port handling and road delivery on the west coast	Add a few days of buffer for Mumbai and Gujarat deliveries

Holiday dates change each year, so check the exact Chinese public holiday notice when you plan orders around them.

Is sea or air faster, and when is air worth it?

Mode	Door-to-door time (indicative, Oct 2026)	Indicative cost	Best for
Sea LCL	3 to 6 weeks	₹9,000 to ₹16,000 per CBM door to door	1 to about 15 CBM of regular stock
Sea FCL	3 to 5 weeks	Per container; quote needed	Larger volumes, furniture, machinery
Air cargo	5 to 10 days	About ₹750 per kg door to door, duty paid (IFC, 50+ kg general cargo)	Urgent, light or high-value goods
Courier	Usually under a week	₹450 to ₹900 per kg	Samples and small parcels

Sea is far cheaper per kg for most goods, so the usual approach is to send the main stock by sea and use air only for samples, urgent top-ups or small, valuable items. See our comparison of air freight vs sea freight from China to India for chargeable weight and a cost comparison.

How can you track a sea shipment and shorten the total time?

Tracking

• Before sailing: ask for the warehouse receipt (cartons, weight, CBM) and the booking details with the vessel name.
• At sea: track the bill of lading or container number on the shipping line’s website.
• In India: once the Bill of Entry is filed, its status can be checked on ICEGATE using the port code, Bill of Entry number and date.

Seven ways to save days

1. Get a firm, written ready date from the supplier and confirm it a week before.
2. Book space as soon as the ready date is known, especially before festivals.
3. Choose the Indian port closest to your market: Chennai for South India, Mundra or Nhava Sheva for the West, and rail to an ICD for Delhi NCR.
4. Check BIS, WPC, FSSAI or CDSCO needs before you order, not after the goods land.
5. Make sure the invoice, packing list and bill of lading match exactly, with the correct HS code.
6. File the Bill of Entry early; customs law allows advance filing before the vessel arrives, and late filing attracts charges.
7. Keep the duty amount ready for e-payment on ICEGATE before the vessel arrives.

Official procedures and notifications are published by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). For a short answer on other modes, see our FAQ on how long goods take to reach India from China.

How IFC helps you ship from China to India on time

IFC, Imports From China Inc, has worked in China to India import and export since 2004, more than 20 years. IFC has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with translators and English-speaking staff, loads mixed containers and air cargo daily, and keeps a warehouse at its headquarters.

• Daily loading: because mixed containers and air cargo are loaded daily, your cargo does not have to wait long for a consolidation to close.
• One team end to end: sourcing, supplier verification, quality inspection, LCL and FCL sea freight, air cargo, customs clearance and DDP delivery.
• Door-to-door DDP: delivery to major Indian cities including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad. See our door-to-door shipping from China to India service.

If you want one price that covers freight, duty and delivery, ask IFC for a DDP quote with your product, HS code, weight and CBM.

Conclusion

Sea shipping from China to India takes about 12 to 20 days on the water, but your real planning number is the door-to-door time: roughly 3 to 6 weeks for LCL and 3 to 5 weeks for FCL after goods are ready, plus production time. Pick the right port for your city, keep documents and approvals ready, have duty funds in place before arrival, and plan around Chinese New Year and the pre-Diwali rush. Do that, and most shipments arrive close to plan.

Frequently asked questions

DDP shipping from China to India means the seller or forwarder delivers your goods to your door in India with freight, customs clearance, import duty and IGST already paid, so you receive one all-in price and no surprise bills at the port. The shipment moves from the Chinese supplier to a forwarder warehouse, onto a ship or aircraft, through Indian customs, and by truck to your address.

This guide explains each step of DDP door-to-door shipping, who legally imports the goods, what a DDP quote must include, a worked cost example in rupees, and the checks that protect you from weak quotes.

What is DDP shipping from China to India?

DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid, an Incoterms rule where the seller carries cost and risk until the goods reach the named place, with import clearance and duties paid. In China to India trade, the word is used a little more loosely. Most Indian buyers mean a door-to-door service: a forwarder collects from the supplier or from its Guangzhou or Yiwu warehouse, ships by sea or air, clears customs in India, pays duty, and delivers to the buyer.

That is different from DAP or CIF, where the buyer arranges Indian clearance and pays duty separately. If you are weighing the two models, read our comparison of DDP vs DAP shipping for Indian importers.

How does DDP door-to-door shipping work step by step?

1. Fix the product and HS code. The forwarder confirms what the goods are, the 8-digit HS code, and whether BIS, WPC, FSSAI or another approval applies. This decides duty and whether the cargo can be cleared at all.
2. Supplier delivers to the China warehouse. Your supplier sends the cartons to the forwarder’s warehouse in Guangzhou, Yiwu or another consolidation point, with an invoice and packing list.
3. Receiving, weighing and measuring. The warehouse checks carton count, marks, weight and CBM, and photographs the goods. Chargeable weight or CBM is fixed here.
4. Export paperwork in China. The forwarder prepares the export declaration, the bill of lading or air waybill, and the final commercial invoice and packing list for India.
5. Main transport. Sea cargo moves port to port, for example Guangzhou or Shanghai to Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra or Chennai. Air cargo flies to Delhi, Mumbai or another airport.
6. Bill of Entry and duty payment. A customs broker (CHA) files the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE, customs assesses the value and HS code, and duty and IGST are paid.
7. Examination and Out of Charge. Customs may inspect the goods. After clearance, customs issues the Out of Charge order. Our customs clearance guide walks through this stage.
8. Port or CFS release and trucking. The forwarder pays the delivery order and CFS or terminal charges, collects the cartons and trucks them to your warehouse.
9. Delivery and invoice. You receive the goods, sign the proof of delivery, and get a GST invoice that you can use for your accounts.

Where do delays usually happen?

Delays come from three places: a wrong or vague product description, a missing approval such as BIS registration, and a mismatch between invoice value and the value customs expects. A good forwarder catches these before the cargo sails, not after it lands.

Who is the importer of record in a DDP shipment?

The importer of record is the party whose Import Export Code (IEC) and GSTIN appear on the Bill of Entry. In many DDP arrangements the forwarder imports under its own IEC and sells the cleared goods to you on a GST invoice. In others, you import under your own IEC and the forwarder only arranges freight, clearance and delivery. See our guide to documents required for import from China to India if you plan to use your own IEC.

Ask in writing which model applies, because it changes who is responsible for compliance, how you claim input tax credit, and what happens if customs raises a query.

Point to confirm	Forwarder’s IEC	Your own IEC
Name on Bill of Entry	Forwarder	You
Invoice you receive	Forwarder’s GST invoice for the cleared goods	Supplier invoice plus forwarder’s service invoice
Who answers customs queries	Forwarder, with your product details	You, assisted by the CHA
IEC needed by you	No	Yes
Best for	New or small importers, mixed LCL cargo	Regular importers with their own IEC and GST set-up

What does a DDP price include, and what does it leave out?

A real DDP price covers the whole chain. A cheap-looking rate that leaves out duty is not DDP, it is a freight quote. Use this table to test any offer.

Cost item	Usually in a DDP quote	Often excluded, ask first
China pickup and warehouse handling	Yes	Special packing or re-labelling
International freight (sea or air)	Yes	Peak-season surcharge
Customs duty (BCD, SWS) and IGST	Yes, at the declared HS code	Anti-dumping duty or duty from a re-assessment
CHA fees, DO, CFS and port charges	Yes	Demurrage, detention and examination or labour charges
Trucking to your door	Yes, to the agreed city	Waiting time and remote-area surcharge
BIS, WPC, FSSAI or CDSCO approvals	Not normally	Always confirm; the product may be held without them
Marine insurance	Sometimes	Often optional; ask for the cover in writing

What does DDP shipping from China to India cost? A worked example in rupees

Here is a simple sea shipment of plastic kitchenware, HS 3924 10 90. We assume a supplier invoice of USD 5,000 (FOB) and USD 600 for sea freight and insurance, which makes the CIF value USD 5,600. We use the customs exchange rate of about ₹96.80 per USD notified for 1 October 2026; check the current rate on ICEGATE before filing.

Line	Working	Amount (₹)
Assessable value (CIF)	USD 5,600 × ₹96.80	5,42,080
Basic customs duty (BCD)	15% of assessable value	81,312
Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS)	10% of BCD	8,131
IGST	18% of (value + BCD + SWS) = 18% of 6,31,523	1,13,674
Total duty and tax	BCD + SWS + IGST	2,03,117
Goods + freight + duty	4,84,000 + 58,080 + 2,03,117	7,45,197

The ₹7,45,197 is before Indian clearance, CFS and trucking charges, which a DDP rate bundles in. Rates as of October 2026; confirm for your exact HS code on our India import duty rates page, or run your own numbers in the IFC shipment calculator.

Notice that duty and IGST are about 27% of the total in this example. That is why the HS code matters more than a few rupees of freight difference, and why a quote given without an HS code should not be trusted.

Sea vs air DDP: which should you choose?

Choose by the value and urgency of the goods, not only by freight rate. Our full comparison of air freight vs sea freight from China to India covers chargeable weight in detail. The short version is below. All figures are indicative, October 2026.

Factor	Sea (LCL or FCL)	Air cargo
Door-to-door time	About 3 to 6 weeks for LCL	About 5 to 10 days
Port-to-port sea transit	Roughly 12 to 20 days to Nhava Sheva	Not applicable
Indicative door-to-door cost	LCL roughly ₹9,000 to ₹16,000 per CBM	IFC DDP: ₹750 per kg (50+ kg general cargo); ₹1,350 per kg for battery, liquid, cosmetic or magnet goods
Best for	Bulky, lower-value-per-kg goods	Samples, urgent, high-value or light goods
Rate basis	Per CBM or per container	Chargeable weight (higher of actual and volumetric)

If you are unsure about LCL economics, read how LCL shipping from China to India is priced, and when a full container becomes cheaper in our FCL vs LCL guide.

What are the risks of DDP shipping, and how do you reduce them?

DDP is convenient, but convenience can hide weak spots. These are the ones we see most often with Indian buyers.

• Under-declared value. A very low rate may rely on a low invoice value. If customs challenges it, the cargo is delayed and the cost lands on you.
• Wrong HS code. A cheaper code can mean a re-assessment later. Check the code against the CBIC tariff and the India import duty rates page.
• Restricted or approval-linked goods. Electronics, toys, footwear, furniture and food contact items can need BIS, WPC or FSSAI compliance. Confirm before you buy, not after the goods arrive.
• Vague quote. If the quote says “all inclusive” without listing duty, clearance, CFS and delivery, ask for the line items.
• No tracking. You should get the warehouse receipt, bill of lading or air waybill number, Bill of Entry number and delivery proof.

Official references worth bookmarking are the customs tariff and notifications on cbic.gov.in, Bill of Entry status on ICEGATE, and import policy on DGFT.

How to compare two DDP quotes

1. Give both forwarders the same product description, HS code, carton count, weight, CBM and destination pincode.
2. Ask each to list duty, IGST, clearance, port or CFS, freight and delivery as separate lines.
3. Ask whose IEC will be used and what invoice you will receive.
4. Ask for the validity of the rate and what happens if weight or CBM changes at the warehouse.
5. Ask for the transit time from warehouse receipt, not from the day you pay.
6. Compare the all-in landed cost per piece, not only the per-kg or per-CBM rate.

How IFC helps with DDP shipping from China to India

IFC, Imports From China Inc, has been moving cargo between China and India since 2004, which is more than 20 years of experience. IFC has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with translators and English-speaking staff, loads mixed containers and air cargo daily, and keeps a warehouse at its headquarters.

• Services: sourcing, supplier verification, quality inspection, LCL and FCL sea freight, air cargo, customs clearance and door-to-door DDP delivery.
• Delivery cities: major Indian cities including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
• Clear costing: share your product, HS code, weight and CBM and IFC can give a line-by-line landed cost before you commit.

You can see how IFC structures the service on the DDP shipments from China to India page or ask for a quote through Get a Quote.

Conclusion

DDP shipping from China to India works best when the product, HS code and approvals are settled first, the quote is itemised, and the importer of record is agreed in writing. Do those three things and door-to-door shipping saves time, paperwork and cost surprises.

Frequently asked questions

In DDP vs DAP shipping, the difference is who imports the goods into India. Under DAP, the seller delivers to your door, and you clear customs and pay duty and IGST under your own IEC. Under DDP, the seller or its agent clears customs and pays the duty, so you receive goods with all taxes paid. GST-registered businesses usually save more with DAP. Small buyers without an IEC usually find DDP simpler.

This guide covers the Incoterms 2020 rules, who pays for what, whose IEC and GSTIN go on the Bill of Entry, input tax credit, a worked ₹ example, and red flags in cheap “DDP” quotes.

What is DDP shipping, and what is DAP?

DDP and DAP are two of the 11 Incoterms® 2020 rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). They decide who pays for each step, who handles customs, and where risk passes from seller to buyer. They do not decide price or ownership; your contract does.

DAP: Delivered at Place

Under DAP, the seller arranges and pays for transport to a place you name, such as your warehouse in Bhiwandi or your shop in Karol Bagh. It also clears the goods for export in China. Delivery is complete when the goods arrive at that place on the truck, ready for unloading. You handle Indian import clearance and pay Basic Customs Duty (BCD), the Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS), IGST and any other import charges.

DDP: Delivered Duty Paid

DDP covers everything in DAP, plus import clearance and every import duty and tax. The ICC describes DDP as the term with the most obligations for the seller. A Chinese factory has no Indian IEC or GSTIN and cannot file a Bill of Entry, so in China-to-India trade, “DDP” almost always means an Indian import agent or forwarder imports the goods under its own IEC and then delivers them to you.

DDP vs DAP shipping: who pays for what?

Who handles each step on a typical Guangzhou or Ningbo to India shipment:

Step / cost	DAP (buyer imports)	DDP (seller side imports)
Packing, loading at the factory in China	Seller	Seller
China export clearance	Seller	Seller
Sea or air freight to India	Seller	Seller
Destination port/CFS charges, delivery order	Usually buyer (agree in writing)	Seller
Bill of Entry filing on ICEGATE (CHA fee)	Buyer	Seller
BCD, SWS, AIDC, anti-dumping duty	Buyer	Seller
IGST at customs	Buyer (credit available if GST-registered)	Seller (charged to you as GST on its invoice)
BIS, WPC, FSSAI, CDSCO, EPR compliance	Buyer as importer	Importer of record, but the goods must comply either way
Inland delivery to your door	Seller	Seller
Unloading at your premises	Buyer	Buyer
Demurrage if customs holds the goods	Buyer	Seller

Where does risk pass to the buyer?

Under both DAP and DDP, risk passes to you only when the goods arrive at the named place, ready for unloading. Damage at sea or on the truck from Nhava Sheva to Pune is the seller’s risk. The practical difference is customs: under DAP, delays and port storage from an examination or valuation query are your problem; under DDP, they are the seller’s.

Who files the Bill of Entry, and whose IEC and GSTIN are used?

Every commercial import into India is cleared on a Bill of Entry. A licensed customs broker (CHA) files it on ICEGATE in the importer’s name. The Bill of Entry shows the importer’s IEC, GSTIN, invoice value, HS code and the duty assessed. Whoever’s name appears there is the importer of record in the eyes of Indian customs.

• Under DAP: your IEC and GSTIN go on the Bill of Entry. You or your CHA pays duty through ICEGATE e-payment. You are responsible for correct value, HS code and product compliance.
• Under DDP: the agent’s IEC and GSTIN go on the Bill of Entry. The agent pays the duty and owns the customs record, then sells or delivers the goods to you in India.
• What you need for DAP: an IEC from DGFT (PAN-based, applied for online), a GSTIN if you want IGST credit, a CHA at the arrival port (Nhava Sheva/JNPT, Mundra, Chennai, Kolkata, or an ICD such as Tughlakabad or Patparganj for Delhi NCR), plus invoice, packing list, bill of lading and any BIS/WPC/FSSAI papers.

Always ask a DDP provider whose IEC the goods will clear under, and ask for a copy of the Bill of Entry or at least its number. If a provider won’t say, don’t use it.

DDP vs DAP in India: how does GST input tax credit change the cost?

For a GST-registered business, this question matters more than any other. IGST paid at customs is not a final cost if you can claim it back. CBIC’s GST guidance note for importers says the importer can claim IGST credit based on the GSTIN declared in the Bill of Entry. BCD is not creditable. The IGST appears in the import section of your GSTR-2B and is claimed in GSTR-3B.

1. DAP under your own IEC: you pay IGST at customs and claim the full amount as credit. Only BCD, SWS (and AIDC or anti-dumping duty, where they apply) become real costs.
2. DDP with a proper GST tax invoice: the agent claims the customs IGST and then charges you GST on its sale price. If the invoice shows your GSTIN and the agent files its returns, you claim that GST. You lose nothing on tax, but you pay the agent’s margin.
3. DDP with no tax invoice (cash or “kachha” bill): you claim nothing. The goods also sit in your stock with no valid purchase record, a problem at GST audits or when Amazon or Flipkart asks for purchase invoices.

If you are not GST-registered, credit does not help you either way. You bear the IGST or GST in full, so compare total rupees out of your pocket and the hassle involved.

DDP vs DAP: a worked example in rupees

Take one LCL shipment of plastic kitchen storage containers (HS 3924 10 90) by sea from Ningbo to Nhava Sheva, delivered to a warehouse in Bhiwandi. In IFC’s duty data, this code carries BCD 15%, SWS 10% of BCD, no AIDC and IGST 18%, with no anti-dumping duty. These rates are as of October 2026; confirm them for your exact HS code on the India import duty rates page.

Assumptions: the CIF value at Nhava Sheva (goods, sea freight and insurance, converted at the customs exchange rate) is ₹5,00,000. The assessable value equals CIF, with no extra landing charges added. Port-to-door delivery is ₹15,000. Port, CFS, delivery order and CHA charges under DAP are ₹30,000. The ₹6,50,000 DDP price is an assumed figure for illustration, not an IFC price. Freight and port charges are indicative for October 2026.

Step 1: the duty maths (the same for every honest import)

• Assessable value: ₹5,00,000
• BCD at 15% of ₹5,00,000: ₹75,000
• SWS at 10% of BCD: ₹7,500
• IGST at 18% of (₹5,00,000 + ₹75,000 + ₹7,500 = ₹5,82,500): ₹1,04,850
• Total paid at customs: ₹1,87,350, of which ₹82,500 is real cost and ₹1,04,850 is IGST

Step 2: compare the three ways to buy

Item	DAP, your own IEC	DDP with GST invoice	“Cheap DDP”, cash, no invoice
Price to seller / provider	₹5,15,000 (CIF + delivery)	₹6,50,000 + GST ₹1,17,000	₹6,10,000 all-in
BCD + SWS paid by you	₹82,500	Included	“Included”
IGST paid by you at customs	₹1,04,850	None	None
Port, CFS, CHA charges	₹30,000	Included	Included
Cash out	₹7,32,350	₹7,67,000	₹6,10,000
Credit if GST-registered	−₹1,04,850	−₹1,17,000	₹0
Net cost, GST-registered buyer	₹6,27,500	₹6,50,000	₹6,10,000 plus legal risk
Net cost, unregistered buyer	₹7,32,350 (needs IEC)	₹7,67,000	₹6,10,000 plus legal risk

What the numbers tell you

• Registered business: in this example, DAP under your own IEC is ₹22,500 cheaper than proper DDP. The gap is the DDP provider’s margin and the clearance risk it takes on.
• Unregistered buyer: DDP costs about ₹34,650 more here, because GST is charged on the provider’s full price. In return, you need no IEC, no CHA and no follow-up at the port.
• The “cheap DDP” quote: an honest import of this cargo costs ₹6,27,500 before anyone earns a margin. A ₹6,10,000 all-in price can only work if duty was underpaid, usually through a lower declared value or a false description.

For a full breakdown of each duty component, read import duty from China to India. To get a door-to-door number for your own product, use the IFC shipment calculator.

When should you choose DDP, and when DAP?

DDP usually makes sense if you:

• Are importing for the first time, or only a few times a year, and have no IEC or CHA.
• Are not GST-registered: an interior designer buying fittings for one project, a hotel owner buying furniture for one property, or a start-up testing samples.
• Buy mixed small lots from several suppliers (for example from Yiwu or Guangzhou markets) that are consolidated into one LCL shipment.
• Want one fixed delivered price and no exposure to demurrage, examination delays or port follow-up.

DAP usually makes sense if you:

• Are GST-registered and want IGST credit in your own name, straight from the Bill of Entry.
• Import regularly, in full containers or large LCL lots, where the provider’s margin adds up.
• Need import documents in your own name for government tenders, BIS licences, marketplace invoice checks or bank finance.
• Can deal with customs queries quickly and have a reliable CHA at your port.

Many businesses start with DDP and move to DAP once volumes grow, often with the same forwarder clearing the goods under your own IEC. Transit time is the same either way. Sea freight from China to Nhava Sheva usually takes about 12 to 20 days port to port. LCL usually takes 3 to 6 weeks door to door, and air cargo 5 to 10 days door to door (indicative, October 2026).

What are the red flags in cheap “DDP” quotes from China?

Many “DDP India” quotes on WhatsApp and Alibaba chats are not DDP in any legal sense. Watch for these signs:

• A price below the duty maths: if the all-in price per kg or per CBM is lower than goods value plus BCD, SWS and freight, the duty is not being paid in full.
• Under-invoicing: the provider asks for a “customs invoice” at a fraction of your real price. Customs can reject a declared value under the valuation rules, and mis-declared goods can be confiscated under Section 111 of the Customs Act, and penalties can follow under Section 112.
• Courier misuse: bulk commercial cargo is split into many parcels declared as samples or gifts to avoid regular assessment. When a consignment is held, you usually have no documents and no way to get the goods back.
• Wrong product description or HS code: for example, electronics declared as plastic household goods to avoid BIS, WPC or a higher duty rate.
• No IEC disclosure and no GST invoice: the provider will not say whose IEC the goods clear under and offers only cash or a non-GST bill.
• “Compliance included”: DDP does not remove BIS, WPC, FSSAI or CDSCO requirements. If the product needs an ISI mark under a Quality Control Order, the goods can be stopped no matter who pays the duty.

Before you pay, ask any DDP provider four questions. Whose IEC will the goods clear under? Will you issue a GST tax invoice with my GSTIN? What declared value and HS code will you use? What costs are not included (unloading, storage, re-delivery, upstairs carry)? You can check customs rules and notifications on CBIC. Our guide to choosing a China buying agent for India lists more checks.

How IFC helps with DDP and DAP shipments from China

IFC – Imports From China has more than 15 years of experience in China–India import and export. The team has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu, with translators and English-speaking staff who deal with suppliers for you. IFC loads mixed containers and air cargo daily and runs a warehouse at its headquarters.

• Door-to-door DDP: DDP delivery to major Indian cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
• Customs clearance: for buyers who prefer to clear goods in their own name.
• Before shipping: sourcing, supplier verification and quality inspection in China.
• Freight options: LCL and FCL sea freight, plus air cargo for urgent goods.

Share your product, quantity and GST status with IFC to compare DDP with clearing in your own name, or request a quote online.

Conclusion: which is better for Indian importers?

Neither term is better for everyone. DAP gives a GST-registered business the lowest net cost and an import record in its own name, but you take on customs work and port risk. DDP gives first-time and unregistered buyers one delivered price and no clearance work, at a margin. Whichever you choose, run the duty maths yourself: a quote that doesn’t cover goods value, freight, BCD, SWS and IGST is passing the risk to you.

Frequently asked questions