Shipping from China to India: Ports, BIS, Duties (2026)

Key points

Sea is the main mode: about 14–22 days to Nhava Sheva or Mundra, about 10–16 days to Chennai.
China–India sailings do not pass the Strait of Hormuz or the Red Sea, so the 2026 Gulf disruption does not block them.
BIS registration or licence must exist before shipment; goods covered by BIS cannot be cleared without it.
Duty = Basic Customs Duty + SWS or AIDC + IGST (mainly 5% or 18%), plus any anti-dumping duty.
File the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE before the end of the day before the vessel arrives.

Shipping from China to India at a glance

Almost all commercial cargo from China to India moves in containers on direct or transshipped sailings to India's west and east coast ports. The importer in India needs an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT, a GST registration to claim IGST credit, and a customs broker licensed under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations 2018. Customs is run by CBIC through the ICEGATE portal, where the Bill of Entry is filed and duty is paid online.

14–22days China to Nhava Sheva or Mundra, port to port

10–16days China to Chennai, port to port

5% / 18%main IGST slabs since 22 September 2025

0commercial freight crossings on the India–China border

RailSea

Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Chennai: choosing the port

India's largest container port, at Mumbai
Natural gateway for Maharashtra and western India
Containers can move inland under bond to an ICD such as Tughlakabad or Dadri and be cleared there
Indicative transit from Shanghai, Ningbo or Shenzhen: about 14–22 days

BIS certification: get it before the goods leave China

BIS is the step that most often stops Chinese goods at an Indian port. Two schemes matter. Electronics and IT products under the Compulsory Registration Scheme are tested in a BIS-recognised lab in India and receive a registration number printed with the Standard Mark. Products covered by a Quality Control Order need an ISI licence; a Chinese factory gets it under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme, which includes a factory inspection and an Authorised Indian Representative. The lists change: in November 2025 the government withdrew 14 QCOs on certain chemicals, polymers and synthetic fibres, and others have been delayed or revised.

Scheme	Typical products	What the Chinese factory needs
CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme)	Mobile phones, adapters, power banks, laptops, LED lights, batteries, smart watches, CCTV	Test report from a BIS-recognised lab in India, registration number (R-number) on product and label
ISI mark under a QCO (FMCS)	Toys, steel products, cables, helmets, footwear, some appliances and machinery items	BIS licence with factory inspection and an Authorised Indian Representative
WPC Equipment Type Approval	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio devices	Approval from the Department of Telecommunications
Other agencies	Food and food-contact items, cosmetics, drugs, medical devices, packaged consumer goods	FSSAI, CDSCO, Legal Metrology labelling, EPR registration for plastics, e-waste and batteries

Import duties: how the layers add up

India has no free trade agreement with China. China is a member of APTA, which gives small preferences on a limited list, but most goods pay standard rates. Duty is calculated on the assessable value (CIF plus landing charges; if insurance is not shown, 1.125% of FOB is added notionally). Basic Customs Duty comes first, then the Social Welfare Surcharge (usually 10% of BCD) or, on selected goods, the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess instead, because since Budget 2025 a tariff line carries no more than one cess or surcharge. IGST is charged on the total, including any anti-dumping duty, and is generally creditable for GST-registered importers.

Layer	Base	Worked example (assessable value 100, BCD 10%, IGST 18%)
Basic Customs Duty (BCD)	Assessable value	10.00
Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS)	10% of BCD	1.00
IGST	Assessable value + BCD + SWS (+ any anti-dumping duty)	18% of 111 = 19.98
Total duties and taxes		30.98, about 31% of assessable value

Tap a card to flip it

Anti-dumping duty on Chinese goods

India runs a large number of anti-dumping measures, and products from China account for a big share of them. DGTR investigates and recommends; the Ministry of Finance imposes the duty through a CBIC notification. The rate is often specific to the producer and exporter, so a cooperating Chinese manufacturer may have a lower rate than others, and the Bill of Entry must name the correct producer and exporter. DGTR also looks at circumvention through third countries, and origin claims under trade agreements must meet the CAROTAR 2020 rules.

Sectors often affected: chemicals, steel and aluminium products, solar glass and solar cells and modules, glassware, ceramics, rubber, fibres and textiles, electronic and machinery parts, consumer goods.
Recent examples: in March 2025 CBIC notified five-year duties on Chinese soft ferrite cores and vacuum insulated flasks, plus a provisional duty on aluminium foil; in mid-2026 a five-year duty on solar glass from China and Vietnam.
A certificate of origin is needed wherever anti-dumping or other country-specific measures apply.
Check the current notification on the CBIC and DGTR websites for every new product; rates and expiry dates change.

Check your India import knowledge

Your Chinese supplier makes power banks. When must the BIS registration be in place?

On what base is IGST calculated?

Why does the manufacturer's name matter for anti-dumping duty?

Customs clearance in India, step by step

RegisterObtain the IEC from DGFT and GST registration, then appoint a licensed customs broker on ICEGATE.
Classify and checkFind the 8-digit tariff item and check import policy, BCD, SWS or AIDC, IGST, anti-dumping, BIS and other agency rules.
Certify before shippingComplete BIS, WPC or any licence for restricted goods while the order is in production.
ShipThe container sails to Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Chennai or another port; the shipping line files the Import General Manifest.
File the Bill of EntryFile on ICEGATE before the end of the day before arrival and upload documents in e-Sanchit; late filing carries a charge.
AssessmentThe Risk Management System either facilitates the entry or sends it for faceless assessment and possibly examination.
Pay dutyPay online on ICEGATE. AEO Tier-2 and Tier-3 importers can defer payment for up to 30 days since Budget 2026.
Out of ChargeAfter any examination and agency clearance, customs grants Out of Charge and the container is delivered from the terminal, CFS or ICD.

Sizing the shipment and how we can help

For mixed orders from several Chinese suppliers, start by working out the total volume: under about 15 CBM is usually LCL, while a 20ft holds about 25–28 CBM usable and a 40HQ about 65–68 CBM. Use the calculator below with your carton sizes.

Length (cm)Width (cm)Height (cm)CartonsKg per carton

Total volume–

Total weight–

Sea LCL charged (W/M)–

Best fit–

Usable space: 20GP ~25–28 CBM, 40GP ~55–58, 40HQ ~65–68.

Golden Way's China and UAE to India sea service via Nhava Sheva is listed as coming next, not yet a regular route. Our Guangzhou team already collects from suppliers, counts, photographs and consolidates cargo, and can check invoices and packing lists before shipment. Import clearance in India is done by a licensed Indian customs broker. Tell us the goods, volume and ready date, and our team will reply within one working day on what we can arrange today.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to India take?

By sea, about 14–22 days port to port from Shanghai, Ningbo or Shenzhen to Nhava Sheva or Mundra, and about 10–16 days to Chennai. Add time for booking, export customs, Indian clearance and inland delivery.

Can goods be trucked from China to India?

No. The India–China border has no commercial freight crossing. The small border trade points carry only listed local goods. Commercial cargo goes by sea or air.

Does the Strait of Hormuz closure affect China–India shipping?

No. As of November 2026 Hormuz is effectively closed to container ships, but China–India sailings do not pass through it or through the Red Sea.

What import duty does India charge on goods from China?

Basic Customs Duty at the tariff rate, plus the Social Welfare Surcharge (usually 10% of BCD) or AIDC, plus IGST, mainly 5% or 18%, on the total. Many Chinese products also carry anti-dumping duty.

Can BIS certification be done after the goods arrive in India?

No. Goods covered by BIS cannot be cleared without a valid registration or licence, and the mark must be on the product. Arrange it before shipment.

What do I need to import into India?

An IEC from DGFT, GST registration and a licensed customs broker. Then check the tariff item, duties, BIS and any other agency approval before the goods are shipped.

When must the Bill of Entry be filed?

Before the end of the day before the vessel arrives, under Section 46 of the Customs Act. Late filing attracts a charge.

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General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.

Shipping from China to India: ports, BIS certification, duties and transit in 2026