China to India Shipping Cost per kg (2026): Air vs Sea

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.

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.