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India and Malaysia’s trade relationship has flourished over the years. Malaysia’s location as the gateway to ASEAN markets makes it a prime shipping location for India’s vast and rich resources. Bilateral agreements solidify trade relations between India and Malaysia, including a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement that has bolstered trade flows and investments between the two countries.
In 2022, for example, India exported $7.27 billion worth of goods to Malaysia, the top products being refined petroleum, raw aluminum, and frozen bovine meat. The rate of exports from India to Malaysia in the last 27 years has increased at a 10.3% annualized rate.
If you are looking to ship from India to Malaysia, this article will delve into the intricacies of the process, from your ocean and air freight shipping options to customs clearance requirements and more.
Your options for shipping freight from India to Malaysia are ocean freight and air freight.
Ocean freight is the most cost-effective and flexible way to ship goods from India to Malaysia. It can accommodate almost every type of cargo and offers shippers two options to get their goods to their destination port: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).
LCL is best for shippers transporting small goods or in small volumes. This is because it involves the consolidation process, where your goods are consolidated and shipped together with cargo belonging to other shippers. This way, you only pay for the space your cargo occupies.
FCL, on the other hand, is best for those transporting large cargo or large volumes of goods. Here, a shipper rents the space in an entire unit for their goods alone, giving them more control and security for their shipment. However, because they don’t share the cost with other shippers, the cost of FCL can be higher.
Another way to ship goods from India to Malaysia is air freight. This is the fastest international shipping mode, and your goods can be at their destination in a matter of days. Air freight is also considered the most secure, with airport regulations helping protect your cargo during transit.
It’s worth noting, however, that air freight can get expensive. There are also stricter rules on what you can and cannot ship by air.
The cost of shipping goods from India to Malaysia will depend on several factors. These include:
Determine your shipping costs by using our online freight costs calculator. The table below shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from India to Malaysia
TRADE LANE RATES
The duration for shipping goods from India to Malaysia is primarily influenced by the international shipping mode chosen. Other factors that can affect this include:
Ocean freight from India to Malaysia takes 15-50 days.
Air freight from India to Malaysia only takes around 2-8 days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
When your goods arrive in the Malaysian port or airport of your choosing, they must go through the customs clearance process before a successful import. This requires you to prepare and submit the following documentation:
Refer to our full documents list for examples of these customs clearance requirements.
When choosing between ocean and air freight, you must consider your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements.
Ocean freight is best for you if you value cost savings and flexibility. It is also a good option if your goods are large and heavy and cannot be accommodated by air freight. When you select ocean freight as your shipping mode from India to Malaysia, you must choose whether to ship via LCL or FCL.
LCL is the right ocean freight shipping for you if your cargo is:
On the other hand, you might consider FCL if your cargo is:
Air freight is the fastest way to get your goods from India to Malaysia — you can count on them arriving at your Malaysian airport of choice in 2-8 days. It’s also the most secure, perfect for shipping high-value cargo.
Remember that air freight can get expensive, so account for it in your budget before making any commitments. You should also do your research about whether or not your goods can be accommodated by air freight beforehand.
The Cochin Port is one of India’s fastest-growing ports, moving 11 million metric tons of goods annually. It mainly handles goods such as coffee, tea, spices, mineral oils, and fertilizers. The port has a cargo depth of over nine meters and an anchorage depth of almost 14 meters, allowing it to accommodate ships more than 500 feet in length.
The Ennore Port mainly handles coal shipments, with 16 million metric tons coming through the port every year. It has excellent railway and road links, and the seaport boasts an anchorage depth of 16 meters.
The Panambur Port is located in Mangalore, India. It’s a deep, all-weather port with 17 berths, importing products like petroleum, timber, wood pulp, and fertilizer and exporting iron ore, cashew nuts, manganese, and coffee, among others.
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is located in the delta of the Pulai River in Johor, Malaysia. It links Malaysia with Singapore and Indonesia and international shipping routes via the Malacca Strait. The port handles around 9 million TEUs per year.
The Port of Johor is located near the Johor Strait at the Southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula. It is located in the industrial region of Pasir Gudang, making it an essential maritime gateway for major industries like packaged food, engineering, electrical goods, furniture, and petrochemicals.
The Port of Penang is located on the northeast coastline of Pulao Pinang. It is Malaysia's third-busiest container handling facility and has links to North Malaysia and Southern Thailand. The port handles more than 1 million TEUs per year.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport serves Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is a hub for IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and more and handles 895.92 thousand metric tons of goods annually.
The Kempegowda International Airport serves Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It covers a land area of 4,000 acres and is located 30 kilometers north of the city center. The airport is a hub for IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, AIX Connect, Alliance Air, Star Air, Indian Airlines, and FedEx Express.
The Chennai International Airport serves Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 20 kilometers southwest of the city center. The airport is India’s fifth busiest and ranks third by international traffic.
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main international airport in Malaysia. It is located in Sepang District, Sengalor, 45 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur. It is Malaysia's largest and busiest airport, handling over 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year.
The Penang International Airport is located in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, 16 kilometers south of the city center. It serves Malaysia’s second-largest conurbation and is a hub for AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and MASkargo.
The Subang Airport, also called the Subang Skypark or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, is located in Subang, Petaling District, Sengalor, Malaysia. It served as the main airport in Kuala Lumpur before the opening of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
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Shipping cargo involves many factors, such as the season, the size of the shipment, the shipping method, and the origin and destination.
With extensive industry experience, iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services enhanced with modern technology for customer convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Contact us anytime for a free quote. We are always ready to provide you with the information you need.