--- title: "Shipping between India and China: trade and documents · SSL" description: "India-China trade in 2024: exports USD 14.9 B, imports USD 127 B (UN Comtrade). Documents, gateways and SSL's road leg in India." url: https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/china/ canonical: https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/china/ updated: 2026-11-11 lang: en-IN publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited --- East Asia & Pacific · CN # India and China India exported USD 14.9 B to China in 2024, led by HS 26, and imported USD 127 B. Here are the documents, the gateways and how SSL moves your cargo on the India side. - AgreementAsia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) - CurrencyCNY ¥ - Time+0h30 to +2h30 vs IST - CapitalBeijing - AccessLand border with India [Get a quote for China](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/?to=CN&service=international-sea) [How exporting works](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/export-procedure-india/) - Road - Sea - Air 1. Road leg in India to the gateway, SSL fleet · Road 2. Sea leg to China · Sea 3. Air leg to China · Air **Road in India, then sea or air onward** **Exports from India**: USD 14.9 B **Imports into India**: USD 127 B **Trade partner rank**: #1 Happiness, on this lane, is the buyer in Beijing whose goods arrive on the promised day, and the shipper in India who never has to chase. ## At a glance **Region**: East Asia & PacificEastern Asia **Income group**: Upper middle incomeWorld Bank **Currency**: CNYChinese yuan **Languages**: Chinese **Capital**: Beijing **Time**: +0h30 to +2h30 vs ISTUTC+06:00, UTC+08:00 **Access**: Land border with India **Trade partner rank**: #112.53% of India's trade Trade agreements: Preferential access under: Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). Sources: World Bank country classification; ISO 4217 and languages via mledoze/countries; IANA time zones; agreements per India Briefing FTA tracker and Invest India. ## Ship from India to China **USD 14.9 B** India's exports to China, 2024 (FOB) **3.43%** of India's exports to the world **USD 141.9 B** two-way trade, 2024 India's top exports to China, 2024 1. HS 26 [Ores, slag and ash](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/26/) **USD 2.5 B** 17% 2. HS 29 [Organic chemicals](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/29/) **USD 1.2 B** 8% 3. HS 27 [Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/27/) **USD 1.2 B** 8% 4. HS 84 [Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/84/) **USD 1.1 B** 8% 5. HS 03 [Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/03/) **USD 1.1 B** 8% ### Gateways in China **Seaports:** Shanghai (CNSHA) · Ningbo-Zhoushan (CNNGB) **Airports:** Our desk books the air leg from Delhi to the cargo airport nearest your buyer. ### Transit time By road to Chennai port, then by sea to Shanghai, or by air from Delhi. One desk accountable end to end. Our desk gives you the current sailing or flight time for your cargo and your date with the quote. Source: UN Comtrade, 2024. India as reporter; exports FOB, imports CIF; general trade, all modes; HS 2022 (H6) chapters. Retrieved 29 Sep 2026. ## Import from China to India **USD 127 B** India's imports from China, 2024 (CIF) **89%** of the two-way trade is India buying India's top imports from China, 2024 1. HS 85 [Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/85/) **USD 47.7 B** 38% 2. HS 84 [Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/84/) **USD 27 B** 21% 3. HS 29 [Organic chemicals](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/29/) **USD 11.1 B** 9% 4. HS 39 [Plastics and articles thereof](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/39/) **USD 6.3 B** 5% 5. HS 72 [Iron and steel](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/72/) **USD 3 B** 2% On arrival in India the importer files a bill of entry on ICEGATE; customs assesses basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST on the assessable value. To pay the lower rate under Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), the importer must hold origin proof and answer CAROTAR 2020 origin checks. [Read the import guide →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/import-procedure-india/) ## How SSL moves it Road in India, then sea or air onward ### India leg: by road to the Indian gateway SSL's fleet moves your cargo by road to and from India's ports and airports. **International leg.** The international sea or air leg is arranged by our desk, and our desk arranges customs clearance. [Ask our desk for a quote](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/?to=CN&service=international-sea) [Email the desk](mailto:corporatesales@sslpl.in?subject=Freight%20enquiry%3A%20India%20to%20China) Outside India? Email (corporatesales@sslpl.in) is the easiest way for our desk to reply across time zones. WhatsApp +91 75062 45557 works too. ## Documents General guidance: verify every shipment with your customs broker and the current DGFT and CBIC notifications. **IEC**: An Importer-Exporter Code from DGFT is needed for any commercial shipment to or from China. [Guide →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/importer-exporter-code-iec/) **HS code**: Classify every line under the HS nomenclature; India's largest export chapter to China in 2024 was HS 26. The 8-digit ITC(HS) code goes on the shipping bill. [Guide →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/documents-checklist/) **Incoterms**: State one Incoterms 2020 rule on the invoice. FOB or CIF suit a port-to-port sea leg; FCA or CPT suit containers handed over inland. [Guide →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/incoterms-2020/) **Certificate of origin**: Preferential CoO available under: Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) [Guide →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/documents-checklist/) ## Questions about shipping between India and China **Does India have a free trade agreement with China?** Yes. Goods can qualify for preferential duty under Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), provided they meet the rules of origin and carry a preferential certificate of origin. Source: India Briefing FTA tracker / Invest India, 2026. **What does India export to China?** India exported USD 14.9 B of goods to China in 2024. The largest chapters were HS 26 ores, slag and ash (USD 2.5 B), HS 29 organic chemicals (USD 1.2 B), HS 27 mineral fuels, mineral oils and product… (USD 1.2 B). That is 3.43% of India's exports to the world. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024, exports FOB. **What does India import from China?** India imported USD 127 B from China in 2024, mainly HS 85 electrical machinery and equipment and… (USD 47.7 B), HS 84 machinery and mechanical appliances, bo… (USD 27 B), HS 29 organic chemicals (USD 11.1 B). To claim a lower agreement rate on these goods, the importer needs origin proof under CAROTAR 2020. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024, imports CIF. **How big is India-China trade?** Two-way goods trade between India and China was USD 141.9 B in 2024, 12.53% of India's total, which ranks China number 1 among India's trading partners. India imports more than it exports on this lane. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024. **How long does shipping from India to China take?** By road to Chennai port, then by sea to Shanghai, or by air from Delhi. One desk accountable end to end. Our desk confirms the current sailing or flight time for your cargo and your date when it quotes. Source: SSL global dataset, 29 Sep 2026. **What certificate of origin do I need to export to China?** A preferential certificate of origin under Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) lets the buyer in China claim the lower duty; both kinds are issued through the DGFT e-CoO platform (coo.dgft.gov.in). Check the buyer's letter of credit or import rules for the exact form. Source: DGFT, 2026. **Can I send goods from India to China by road?** Not a freight corridor for SSL; India-China cargo moves by sea/air. **What is the time difference between India and China?** Beijing runs at UTC+06:00, UTC+08:00 in 2026, which is +0h30 to +2h30 vs IST. Plan calls and cut-offs with our desk in IST; we reply by email across time zones. Source: IANA time-zone database, 2026. **Does Safe & Secure Logistics clear customs for China shipments?** Yes. Our desk arranges clearance for your shipment, or works with your own broker, while SSL's fleet runs the road leg in India. Our desk shares the operator's licence and documents for your shipment on request. Source: SSL site facts, 29 Sep 2026. ## Keep exploring - [East Asia & Pacific: all countries →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/regions/east-asia-and-pacific/) - [India ↔ Indonesia](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/indonesia/) - [India ↔ South Korea](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/south-korea/) - [India ↔ Japan](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/japan/) - [India ↔ Australia](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/australia/) - [India ↔ Singapore](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/singapore/) - [India ↔ Malaysia](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/malaysia/) - [Trade guides](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/) - [World movement map](https://safeandsecure.in/global/) Data: UN Comtrade 2024 · retrieved 29 Sep 2026. Company figures appear only where sourced from SSL's own register. --- Source: https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/china/ (the HTML page is the record; this markdown twin was generated from it on 2026-11-11). Publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited, https://safeandsecure.in/. Figures and their periods: https://safeandsecure.in/facts/