Buyer guide
Shipping and Export from India
Getting goods out of India cleanly is a discipline of documents, timing and packing. This guide covers the export mechanics that keep a shipment moving and the decisions that quietly control your landed cost.
Agree the Incoterm early
The Incoterm — FOB, CIF, EXW, DDP and so on — decides who arranges and pays for each leg and where risk transfers. Agree it before quoting so that quotations are comparable, and so that responsibility for loading, freight and insurance is unambiguous.
Documentation and consolidation
The core document set is the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin, checked for consistency before the vessel sails. Where several suppliers are involved, consolidation into one shipment simplifies paperwork and can cut cost — one consignment, one document set.
Packaging drives freight on home goods
Home textiles, décor and many handmade goods are bulky and light, so container fill and carton compression drive freight cost more than weight does. Optimising the pack before production regularly saves more than negotiating the unit price. Where goods travel on wooden pallets or in wooden packaging, ISPM 15 treatment applies.
Supervise the loading
A supervised, photographed container load with recorded seal numbers is the final check that the right quantity of the right goods left the factory — and the evidence you will want if anything is wrong on landing.
Frequently asked questions
Which Incoterm should I use for sourcing from India?
It depends on how much of the logistics you want to control. FOB and CIF are common for buyers who arrange their own import; agree the term before comparing quotations so prices are like-for-like.
What is ISPM 15 and when does it apply?
ISPM 15 is the standard for treating wooden packaging to prevent pest transfer. It applies to pallets and wooden crates used in export shipments, not to the product itself.
Why does packaging affect my freight cost so much?
Home and décor goods are light but bulky, so you often pay for volume rather than weight. Efficient carton sizing and container fill directly reduce cost per unit landed.
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