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Australia and India entered an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in 2022, strengthening their trade relations and making more than 85% of Australian goods exports to India tariff-free.
Take advantage of this trade agreement in your shipping venture from Australia to India. This article covers everything you need to know about your ocean and air freight shipping options.
You have two options for shipping freight from Australia to India: ocean freight and air freight.
Ocean freight is the most flexible and economical way to ship goods from Australia to India. It can accommodate a range of cargo types and offers shippers two options for shipping: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).
LCL is ideal for shipping small volumes of goods. Here, your goods will be consolidated with cargo belonging to other shippers. That way, you only need to pay for the space your goods occupy and share the cost of the container with other sellers. It’s an economical way to ship cargo from Australia to India but has long transit times.
On the other hand, FCL is best for larger volumes of goods. The shipper pays for the space in an entire container unit for their cargo alone, which has benefits in terms of security and control. FCL is more expensive than LCL but has faster transit times.
Air freight is the fastest shipping mode, and it’s also more secure, thanks to strict airport regulations. This makes air freight suitable for high-value and time-sensitive shipments. However, it’s worth noting that air freight is strict about what you can and cannot ship. It’s also the most expensive way to ship from Australia to India.
The cost to ship cargo from Australia to India will depend on various factors. These include:
Your choice of ocean or air shipping
Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
Weight and size limits
Use our online freight costs calculator to get an estimate of your shipping costs. The table below provides the current cost for shipping a standard 20-foot container from [PLACE] to [PLACE]:
TRADE LANE RATES
Shipping goods from Australia to India varies in transit time, primarily based on the international shipping mode you choose. Additional factors impacting this include:
Ocean freight from Australia to India takes about 15 to 50 days.
Air freight from Australia to India is much faster, ranging from 2 to 8 days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
When your goods arrive from Australia to India, they will go through the customs clearance process. For this to be a breeze, make sure you prepare and submit the following documents:
You can find examples of these customs clearance documents in our full documents list.
Now that you know your shipping options, it’s time to choose between them. The best shipping mode for you will depend on your needs, priorities, and the requirements of your cargo.
Ocean freight is a good option for prioritizing flexibility and cost savings. It can accommodate various cargo types without burning a hole in your pocket. When opting for ocean freight, you must choose between LCL and FCL.
LCL is the best option if your cargo is:
If LCL is not for you, you might consider FCL, which is ideal for cargo that is:
If you want to complete your shipment quickly, you should opt for air freight. Air freight is the fastest mode of shipment, and it can get your cargo to India in 2-8 days. However, be aware that air freight may not be able to accommodate excessively large cargo and doesn’t allow certain types of goods.
If you opt for air freight, you should also manage your budget properly, as this mode of shipment tends to require a higher investment.
The Port of Hedland is located in Western Australia. It’s the largest bulk export facility in the world, handling commodities like iron ore, ammonium, lithium, fuel oils, salt, sulphuric acid, livestock, and more. It’s hailed as Australia's busiest and biggest port, handling more than 450 million tonnes of cargo annually.
The Port of Adelaide is South Australia’s prime shipping port. It handles container shipments and exports of vehicles, automobile parts, grains, metal, steel, and iron goods. The port handles over 110 million tonnes of cargo annually.
The Port of Brisbane is the third-largest container facility in Australia. It mainly handles agricultural shipments, including dairy goods, sand, sugar, wool, processed meat, and canned food. It sees a traffic of 31,878,000 tonnes of cargo per year.
The New Mangalore Port is located in the northern part of the Gurupura River in India. It was expanded to accommodate larger ships and carry more commodities. Its top shipments include tea, coffee, fertilizers, oil, rubber, fish, and crude oil.
The Mormugao Port is a major iron ore exporter in India. It was one of the country’s first developed ports. It ships commodities such as manganese, cotton, coconuts, iron ores, and other typical cargo.
The Ennore Port, also known as the Kamarajar Port Limited, is India’s first corporate seaport. It is 24 kilometers from the Chennai port and easily accessible by road and rail. The port mainly handles coal shipments, transporting 16 million tonnes every year.
The Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, known as the Sydney International Airport, is located in Sydney, Australia, 8 km south of the central business district. It houses Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia Airlines, Rex Airlines, and more.
The Perth Airport is an international, domestic, and general aviation airport in Western Australia. It’s the country’s fourth-busiest airport, serving the city of Perth. The airport houses airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Australia Airlines, Alliance Airlines, and more.
The Melbourne Airport, also known as the Tullamarine Airport, serves the city of Melbourne, Australia. It’s the second-busiest airport in the country, serving as a hub for Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia Airlines, Rex Airlines, and more.
The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport serves the city of Kolkata and its metropolitan region. It is the primary airport for east and northeastern India. The airport houses IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go First, Alliance Air, Indian Airlines, Zoom Air, Blue Dart Aviation, Zav Airways, and Airways (India), collectively handling 136.02 metric tonnes of cargo per year.
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is an international airport in Gujarat, India. It serves the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. A hub for IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go First, Air Deccan, TruJet, JetLite, Simplifly Deccan, and Blue Dart Aviation, the airport handles 92.34 metric tonnes of cargo per year.
The Cochin International Airport serves the city of Kochi in Kerala, southwestern India. It is the first of its kind to be developed under a public-private partnership model. The airport is a hub for Air India Express, Air Kerala, and Deccan Charters and annually ships 56.77 metric tonnes of cargo.
About Us
Shipping cargo is influenced by various factors, including the season, shipment size, shipping method, and the starting and ending locations.
iContainers, with years of industry expertise, combines traditional freight forwarding services with modern technology to enhance your convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage every aspect of your shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Reach out to us for a free quote whenever you need. We are always ready to assist you with the information you need.