--- title: "Shipping between India and Japan: trade and documents · SSL" description: "India-Japan trade in 2024: exports USD 5.7 B, imports USD 19.9 B (UN Comtrade). Documents, gateways and SSL's road leg in India." url: https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/japan/ canonical: https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/japan/ updated: 2026-11-11 lang: en-IN publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited --- East Asia & Pacific · JP # India and Japan India exported USD 5.7 B to Japan in 2024, led by HS 87, and imported USD 19.9 B. Here are the documents, the gateways and how SSL moves your cargo on the India side. - AgreementIndia-Japan CEPA - CurrencyJPY ¥ - Time+3h30 vs IST - CapitalTokyo - AccessCoastal [Get a quote for Japan](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/?to=JP&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 Japan · Sea 3. Air leg to Japan · Air **Road in India, then sea or air onward** **Exports from India**: USD 5.7 B **Imports into India**: USD 19.9 B **Trade partner rank**: #11 Happiness, on this lane, is the buyer in Tokyo 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**: High incomeWorld Bank **Currency**: JPYJapanese yen **Languages**: Japanese **Capital**: Tokyo **Time**: +3h30 vs ISTUTC+09:00 **Access**: Coastal **Trade partner rank**: #112.26% of India's trade Trade agreements: Preferential access under: India-Japan CEPA. 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 Japan **USD 5.7 B** India's exports to Japan, 2024 (FOB) **1.32%** of India's exports to the world **USD 25.6 B** two-way trade, 2024 India's top exports to Japan, 2024 1. HS 87 [Vehicles](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/87/) **USD 899.7 M** 16% 2. HS 29 [Organic chemicals](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/29/) **USD 573.7 M** 10% 3. HS 84 [Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/84/) **USD 506.4 M** 9% 4. HS 85 [Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/85/) **USD 488.6 M** 9% 5. HS 38 [Chemical products n.e.c.](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/38/) **USD 449.1 M** 8% ### Gateways in Japan **Seaports:** Tokyo (JPTYO) · Yokohama (JPYOK) **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 Tokyo, 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 Japan to India **USD 19.9 B** India's imports from Japan, 2024 (CIF) **78%** of the two-way trade is India buying India's top imports from Japan, 2024 1. HS 84 [Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/84/) **USD 3.4 B** 17% 2. HS 85 [Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/85/) **USD 2.7 B** 14% 3. HS 28 [Inorganic chemicals](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/28/) **USD 2.2 B** 11% 4. HS 74 [Copper and articles thereof](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/74/) **USD 2.1 B** 11% 5. HS 72 [Iron and steel](https://safeandsecure.in/global/commodities/72/) **USD 1.9 B** 10% 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 India-Japan CEPA, 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=JP&service=international-sea) [Email the desk](mailto:corporatesales@sslpl.in?subject=Freight%20enquiry%3A%20India%20to%20Japan) 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 Japan. [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 Japan in 2024 was HS 87. 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: India-Japan CEPA [Guide →](https://safeandsecure.in/global/guides/documents-checklist/) ## Questions about shipping between India and Japan **Does India have a free trade agreement with Japan?** Yes. Goods can qualify for preferential duty under India-Japan CEPA, 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 Japan?** India exported USD 5.7 B of goods to Japan in 2024. The largest chapters were HS 87 vehicles (USD 899.7 M), HS 29 organic chemicals (USD 573.7 M), HS 84 machinery and mechanical appliances, bo… (USD 506.4 M). That is 1.32% of India's exports to the world. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024, exports FOB. **What does India import from Japan?** India imported USD 19.9 B from Japan in 2024, mainly HS 84 machinery and mechanical appliances, bo… (USD 3.4 B), HS 85 electrical machinery and equipment and… (USD 2.7 B), HS 28 inorganic chemicals (USD 2.2 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-Japan trade?** Two-way goods trade between India and Japan was USD 25.6 B in 2024, 2.26% of India's total, which ranks Japan number 11 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 Japan take?** By road to Chennai port, then by sea to Tokyo, 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 Japan?** A preferential certificate of origin under India-Japan CEPA lets the buyer in Japan 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. **What is the time difference between India and Japan?** Tokyo runs at UTC+09:00 in 2026, which is +3h30 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 Japan 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 ↔ China](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/china/) - [India ↔ Indonesia](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/indonesia/) - [India ↔ South Korea](https://safeandsecure.in/global/countries/south-korea/) - [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/japan/ (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/