This article is intended to show you the ins and outs of what to expect when shipping your goods from India to the USA and the whole process.
As there is a considerable distance between the two places, there is a number of things to be considered before you begin shipping your goods from practically one side of the world to another.
Apart from the distance, you have to consider the time it will take, your preferred mode of transportation, custom restrictions on what type of goods can be transported through what means and what price you are willing to spend on the mode you choose to move the goods.
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Shipping from India to USA – What You Need to Know.
When shipping all the way from India to USA, there are three modes of transport available: air, sea and land. In this section, we shall discuss these in more detail and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Shipping from India to USA by Air.
Shipping by air is considered the fastest method of transporting goods all over the world, including from India to USA. This mode is advised for those who want their goods delivered in a faster time frame or urgently because it takes the shortest amount of time compared to the others.
Of course, when shipping by air, you must know that only some things are permitted to be transported by air. For example, easily combustible substances and some restricted goods are not to be transported through the air, so you must consider that before you choose to go this way.
Shipping from India to USA by Land.
This is the most difficult of all the available options for a number of reasons.
The first is because there is no direct connection either by road or by train from India to USA. This means the goods you ship will go through many countries and checkpoints before reaching USA.
Secondly, the exorbitant cost involved in transporting your goods across various customs and countries, whether you decide to use a train or just a vehicle, will deter anyone from using this mode.
Third, you will likely have to depend on another method of transportation to fully transport your goods to the final location.
Although land transport is generally a cheap form of transport when used over large distances. In this case, crossing over two or three continents becomes unbelievably expensive.
I would advise you not to consider this mode in transporting your goods from India to USA
Shipping from India to USA by Sea.
Shipping by sea freight is a good mode of transportation. Not only is it inexpensive, especially if you are transporting a large number of goods, but a number of goods that are prohibited transport by air due to their fragile or dangerous nature can easily be transported by sea.
Transport by sea, however, also has its cons. First, it’s likely to take way more time than shipping by air because of the large distance that ships have to cross.
Secondly, the risks involved with going by sea include things like pirates hijacking ships and ships running into extreme weather conditions that may lead to goods being lost.
So, this method is recommended if you are not in a hurry to transport your goods from India to USA.
Distance, transit times and potential delays.
In terms of distance, the total distance between the two places in a straight line is over 13,000 km. That is a vast distance, and the only mode of transport that can cover that exact distance will be shipping by air.
Shipping by sea and land will cover a far larger distance because of the routes that must be used.
The time taken for transit will depend on your price range, as multiple courier services cater to all people.
If you need your goods shipped urgently by air, you can decide to go with an express courier, which will take not more than three days; normal air freight will typically take a week to ten days which is still decently fast for one in urgent need of their goods.
Transit by land, which is not advised due to the nature of the lack of a direct land or train route between the two places, would take a minimum of 2 months before the goods are delivered, not inclusive of any customs waiting times.
By sea, it would take between 3 weeks to 1 and a half months or a little bit more, depending on a couple of factors and weather conditions.
However, there may be some delays due to things like container load, where having a less-than-full container load means that your ship and goods will take longer to leave the port, and a full container load will mean that your ship will leave the port faster.
Other reasons for potential delays may include insecurity on the seas from people like pirates, and bad weather conditions talked about above.
How much is shipping from India to USA?
Shipping from India to USA is carried out through the following carriers:
- USPS
- DHL
- FedEx
- India Post
- Your local logistics company.
All these couriers’ prices differ, but below, we shall go into a more detailed explanation.
USPS
Depending on the weight of the items and how urgently you need them. USPS has a number of options for shipping between both countries.
The first is the Global Express Guaranteed option which lets you ship a small number of items, just under 31 kilograms, for prices starting at 71 USD and taking about 1 to 3 business days.
USPS has other sending options that will have your goods delivered within 3-10 business days, depending on which option you choose.
However, if you plan on sending heavy-weight packages, you should use another courier because USPS only offers lightweight shipping services.
DHL.
This is another good courier service that ships to and from anywhere in the world. It provides shipping services from India to USA and the prices depend on the item’s weight and the delivery urgency.
For the fastest delivery by DHL express, an item of max 70 kilograms will cost about 1,200 USD to deliver and about three business days.
In order to get an accurate quote for price using DHL, you must enter the max weight of the package or package you are shipping. It typically takes between 2-3 business days for all package deliveries.
However, DHL is also a medium-weight shipping service and is not advised for shipping heavy or large numbers of goods.
FedEx.
FedEx is an internationally recognized and dependable courier service that ships worldwide, but especially to and from India and USA.
This is a much better option for those shipping heavy as it offers a max weight of 25kg via FedEx packaging and 997 kilograms via your own packaging. To get a proper price for your package, you need to enter the exact weight and dimension of your package or packages, but a max weight package of 996 kgs costs about 22,000 USD.
FedEx offers two options for delivery which are:
- FedEx International Economy Freight (Economy)
- FedEx International Priority Freight (Express)
This is a well-recommended courier service if you intend to ship heavy goods, but it is a bit on the pricey end.
India Post.
India Post is a government entity under the postal department in India. It provides courier services virtually all over the world and is a good option to ship from India to USA.
It offers a maximum package weight limit of 20 kilograms and is relatively inexpensive.
To get an accurate quote for your packages, you must choose the size and length of your package from the India Post website.
However, this option is advised if you intend to ship lightweight packages to the destination, but it is overall a good option.
Your local logistics company.
Depending on where you are shipping from in India, there are a number of logistics companies available for you to choose from for your package delivery. These can all provide custom quotes on price and delivery times according to your needs.
The Cheapest Shipping Option from India to USA.
First class postal service: USPS and India Post.
These two couriers offer first-class postal services to anyone shipping from India to USA. They both provide unbelievably cheap options for package delivery within a short amount of time and are an ideal choice.
However, they both come with a disadvantage as they have a max weight limit. 31kgs for USPS and 20kgs for India Post. In terms of price, USPS starts at 71 USD, while India Post uses custom quotes via weight and size.
Courier Services like DHL, FedEx and UPS.
Courier services offer better package delivery options in terms of weight limits, insurance over package loss and price quotes.
For example, DHL has a max weight limit of 70kgs per package, which is a decent weight limit but has a high tariff price of about 1200 USD. This is a high price for casual package delivery, especially if you are shipping a high number of packages.
FedEx also has a high weight limit of 996 kgs, which is countered by its absurdly high prices.
Other international courier services offer custom quotes and have higher weight limits than postal services; however, if your budget is small, they are not advisable to ship your goods from India to USA.
Freight Forwarder.
Although Freight Forwarder is an internationally recognized shipping service, its extra service charges are a nightmare to deal with. Offering custom price quotes, it may come off as an inexpensive option, until you start to incur the other charges that inevitably come with it. In general, this service is not recommended for first-time shippers and instead is better for regular shippers who can easily navigate and negotiate on the price of using Freight Forwarder.
Introducing NextSmartShip as your 3PL partner from India to USA and China to the USA.
The best recommended inexpensive shipping option is NextSmartShip. This logistics and fulfilment service company from China offers the best value for your money.
Get Custom Solutions
With custom price quotes, packaging, labelling and even printing of your packages, this is my recommended go-to choice for a cheap shipping service. Using their well-established network of warehouses and courier partners, this is an excellent option for a 3rd party Logistic partner and can even completely manage your supply chain, turning keeping track of it from a nightmare ordeal to a breeze.
This is possible through the software dashboard provided on their website that can easily integrate into any retailer’s site or online store.
It offers the cheapest shipping option from India to USA and China to USA.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, when shipping to USA from India, several factors must be considered before you select the right courier for you. The weight of the packages, the number of packages, how urgently you need them, and how much you are willing to pay are all big considerations when choosing the right service to use.
With NextSmartShip, you are presented with unbelievably affordable prices and care, professionalism and a top-of-the-line tracking system to easily keep track of your packages as they make their way to USA. This is the best choice in terms of money, time and quality of services delivered.
