国家地区

印度
India

1. Port Overview

Nhava Sheva Port (officially Jawaharlal Nehru Port, JNPT) is located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, on the eastern coast of the Arabian Sea. It is India's largest and busiest container port. The port consists of five container terminals (JNPCT, NSICT, GTI, APM Terminals, BMCT) with a water depth of 13–16 meters. Nhava Sheva Port handles an annual container throughput of approximately 5.5 million TEU (as per JNPT 2025), accounting for about 55% of India's container traffic.

India is the world's most populous country (over 1.4 billion) and one of the fastest-growing major economies. Nhava Sheva Port serves as the maritime gateway for India's economic core—the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the industrial areas of Maharashtra.

2. Port Size and Facilities

Nhava Sheva Port has five container terminals (JNPCT, NSICT, GTI, APM Terminals, BMCT) with a water depth of 13–16 meters. BMCT is one of India's largest container terminals, equipped with the most modern equipment. The terminals are connected via rail and road networks to Mumbai and major industrial cities in Maharashtra (Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, etc.).

3. Main Routes from China

Port of Origin Reference Transit Time Common Shipping Lines
Guangzhou Port 10–14 days COSCO, CMA CGM
Shenzhen Port 11–15 days MAERSK, MSC
Shanghai Port 12–16 days COSCO, ONE

4. China-India Trade and Logistics Key Points

China is India's largest trading partner. Major imports from China include: electronic components, machinery, chemicals, and steel. A large portion of electronic components imported from China is used in India's rapidly growing mobile phone manufacturing industry.

Suitable goods for transport via Nhava Sheva Port: Electronic components, machinery, chemicals, steel. Electronic products require BIS certification (processing time 3–6 months), and food products require FSSAI registration.

Bofeng Logistics Experience Sharing: Indian import customs clearance requires special attention to the following: ① Consignee information on the Bill of Lading (BL) must match the importer's IEC certificate; ② Electronic products must have BIS certification (mandatory, processing time 3–6 months); ③ The free storage period at Nhava Sheva Port is only 3 days (one of the shortest among major Indian ports), and demurrage fees are high; ensure customs clearance documents are prepared before arrival; ④ Indian customs have a relatively high inspection rate for goods from China; it is recommended to budget $200–300 for potential inspection fees. Congestion at Nhava Sheva Port is common (waiting for berth 1–3 days, 3–5 days during peak season); allow extra time.

5. Transport Notes

Factor Description
BIS Certification Electronic products must have BIS certification; processing time 3–6 months
Very Short Free Period Only 3 days; demurrage fees increase daily
IEC Certificate Consignee must have a valid IEC (Import-Export Code)
Peak Season September–December import peak; freight rates increase by 10–15%
Congestion Waiting for berth 1–3 days (3–5 days during peak season)
Inspection Rate Indian customs have a relatively high inspection rate for goods from China

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the free storage period at Nhava Sheva Port so short? What happens if it is exceeded? A: The free storage period at major Indian ports is generally short (only 3 days at Nhava Sheva). Demurrage fees increase daily in a stepped manner—free for the first 3 days, approximately $10–20/day for days 4–7, and rising sharply from day 8 onward. It is recommended to prepare customs clearance documents before the vessel arrives.

Q: What is BIS certification for Indian imports? How to obtain it? A: BIS is a certification requirement from the Bureau of Indian Standards. Electronic products, toys, chemicals, etc., need BIS certification for import. The applicant must have a registered company in India or an authorized agent. Processing time is 3–6 months; it is recommended to plan ahead.

6. Bofeng Logistics Services

  • FCL (Full Container Load): 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ
  • LCL (Less than Container Load): Fixed consolidation from Guangzhou/Shenzhen to Nhava Sheva
  • Customs Brokerage: China export + India import customs clearance consultation (including BIS certification advisory)
  • Inland Distribution in India: Nhava Sheva to Mumbai/Pune/Ahmedabad and other locations

📍 Feel free to contact us for real-time freight rates.

Related Port: Mundra Port (the two major ports on India's west coast complement each other)