Air and sea freight from Finland to India

Which airports and ports in India do you ship to?

• Air: Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA) and Hyderabad (HYD) handle most international cargo. We also ship to Kolkata (CCU), Ahmedabad (AMD) and other cities. Shipments connect in a hub in Europe, in Istanbul or in the Gulf, chosen by price, capacity and schedule.
• Sea: Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port, near Mumbai) and Mundra are the largest container ports. Chennai, Kolkata and other ports also have regular services, and containers can continue by rail to inland container depots (ICDs), for example near Delhi. Full containers (FCL) and smaller shipments (LCL) both work.

How long does freight from Finland to India take?

Indicative, updated 14 October 2026. Times run from handover in Finland and assume complete documents. Customs in India is not included.

What India requires on the documents

Indian customs compares the documents with each other and with the goods. A mismatch can mean a query, an examination or storage costs. Before shipping we check that:

• The consignee can import: it has an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and, as a rule, a GSTIN. The consignee name and address are the same on the commercial invoice, packing list and waybill.
• The invoice is complete: full goods description, HS code, quantity, unit price, total value, currency, Incoterm, country of origin, gross and net weight. Vague descriptions such as “spare parts” cause queries.
• Certificates and approvals are in place when the goods need them. Many electronic and electrical products need BIS registration, and food, medicines, medical devices, cosmetics, chemicals and telecom equipment have their own rules. Used machinery is also regulated. The buyer’s broker confirms what applies before the goods leave.
• Wooden packaging is ISPM 15 treated and marked: India’s plant quarantine rules require it.
• Dangerous goods and lithium batteries are classified and packed under the IATA DGR before booking. Dangerous goods

Export from Finland

A shipment to India leaves the EU, so it needs an export declaration. Send us the commercial invoice, packing list and your EORI number. Dual-use goods, such as certain electronics, sensors, software or machinery, need an export licence from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland before shipping. If you sell goods on the EU’s lists of sanctioned or high-priority items to a buyer outside the EU’s partner countries, which includes India, your contract must forbid re-export to Russia and Belarus. Once the goods have left the EU, Finnish Customs confirms the export. Keep that confirmation: it proves the sale is zero-rated for VAT.

Duties and trade agreements

No EU–India free trade agreement is in force, so goods from Finland pay India’s standard import duty plus IGST. A certificate of origin is not usually needed for a normal shipment, but the buyer may ask for one. The buyer’s broker gives the duty estimate from the HS code. Foreign trade consulting

Common problems on the India lane, and how we avoid them

1. No IEC, or different consignee details on the invoice and the waybill: clearance stops. We match the details before booking.
2. A missing BIS registration or other approval: the goods arrive but cannot be released. We ask the buyer to confirm approvals before the goods leave.
3. A vague goods description or HS code: customs opens a query or examines the cargo. We check the invoice wording before shipping.
4. Untreated wooden pallets or crates: India can order them treated or sent back at the importer’s cost. We check the ISPM 15 mark.

How it works

1. Send the pickup address, destination, goods description, dimensions, weights and Incoterm.
2. You get a price, routing and transit time.
3. We collect the goods, check the documents and clear export in Finland.
4. You get the AWB or B/L number for tracking.
5. Our partner clears import in India and delivers.

Updated 14 October 2026 · Reviewed by Artem Tchervonni, Managing Director