Logistics FAQs &Trade Knowledge

International shipping from India typically costs ₹15,000–₹2,00,000+ depending on weight, destination, and mode (air vs sea).

Freight charges depend mainly on weight, volume (CBM), destination, shipping mode, and current fuel surcharges.

You can reduce shipping costs by consolidating cargo (LCL groupage), choosing sea over air for non-urgent goods, and planning shipments in advance.

Yes — ONS Logistics provides door-to-door freight services from Ludhiana, Amritsar, and across Punjab to 150+ countries.

No — ONS Logistics handles everything from small parcels to full container loads (FCL).

ONS Logistics provides international freight forwarding, customs clearance, air and sea cargo, and door-to-door delivery across India and 150+ countries.

Yes — ONS Logistics offers complete door-to-door import and export services, including pickup, customs clearance, and last-mile delivery.

ONS Logistics ships to 150+ countries, including the UAE, USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Germany, and all major markets.

Yes — ONS Logistics provides customs clearance at ICD Ludhiana, JNPT Mumbai, Delhi Air Cargo, and all major Indian ports.

ONS Logistics combines local expertise in Punjab with a global partner network, handling everything from documentation to customs so you can focus on your business.

Yes — ONS Logistics assists new importers and exporters in applying for their IEC (Importer Exporter Code) from DGFT.

Most import customs clearances in India are completed in 1–3 working days under the SWIFT system, though some shipments take longer.

Sea freight from India takes 8–30 days depending on destination — UAE is 6–10 days, USA is 22–30 days, and UK is 18–25 days.

Air freight from India takes 2–7 days depending on the destination and airline schedule.

An IEC code is typically issued by DGFT within 2–3 working days of submitting a complete online application.

Shipping from India to UAE takes 6–10 days by sea and 1–2 days by air freight.

Choose air freight for urgent, high-value, or lightweight goods; choose sea freight for heavy, bulky, or non-urgent cargo where cost matters most.

FCL (Full Container Load) is cheaper per unit for large shipments; LCL (Less than Container Load) is better when you have less than 15 CBM of cargo.

Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) is best for small parcels under 70 kg; cargo freight forwarding is more economical for larger, heavier shipments.

These are Incoterms — international rules that define who (buyer or seller) pays for and is responsible for freight, insurance, and customs at each stage.

India Post is cheapest for very small B2C parcels; couriers are faster for small B2B samples; a freight forwarder is best for commercial export shipments.

Importing means bringing foreign goods into India; exporting means sending Indian goods to another country.

An IEC is a mandatory 10-digit number issued by DGFT — without it, you cannot legally import or export from India.

A CHA is a licensed professional who files import/export customs documents on your behalf and handles clearance with Indian customs authorities.

Customs clearance in India involves filing a Bill of Entry on ICEGATE, paying duties, and obtaining a release order — most take 1–3 days.

If your goods are held at customs, you'll receive a notice requiring you to provide documents or clarification — act quickly to avoid demurrage charges.

An HS Code is an international product classification number — in India, it's 8 digits and determines your customs duty rate.

The core documents for India import are: Bill of Entry, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and Bill of Lading or Airway Bill.

A Certificate of Origin proves where your goods were made — it's required to claim reduced or zero duty under Free Trade Agreements.

A Bill of Lading is for sea freight; an Airway Bill is for air freight — both are the key transport documents needed for customs clearance.

Import duty in India is calculated on the CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight) and includes Basic Customs Duty, IGST, and a Social Welfare Surcharge.

IGST is levied on all imports into India — registered GST businesses can claim it back as Input Tax Credit (ITC) against their output GST.

Yes — India classifies goods as Free, Restricted, Canalised, or Prohibited under its Foreign Trade Policy. Restricted goods need special licenses.

Incoterms are international shipping rules that define who (buyer or seller) pays for freight, insurance, and customs at each stage of delivery.

Track your import/export shipment using your Bill of Entry or Shipping Bill number on the ICEGATE portal at icegate.gov.in.

India's FTP 2023 governs all import and export activity and offers schemes like Advance Authorization, EPCG, and RoDTEP to reduce costs for exporters.

All food products imported into India require FSSAI clearance — the importer must hold an FSSAI Central License and every consignment is tested at the port.

India's main export schemes include RoDTEP, Advance Authorization, EPCG, SEZ, and EOU — all designed to reduce costs and boost export competitiveness.