Ocean and Air Shipping From India to Brazil
Get information and quote for FCL, LCL and Air shipping
Importing from India to Brazil can be a long process. Over 14,500 kilometers separate the two nations—and that’s as the crow flies. There are no direct flights between India and Brazil, and shipping lanes head south across the Indian Ocean, past Mozambique, Madagascar, and South Africa before crossing the Atlantic. But the vast distance doesn’t stop trade between India and Brazil. In 2016, the value of exports and imports between the two reached $5.5 billion per year. Many freight forwarders can organize every aspect of your import from India to Brazil. For example, if you choose a door-to-door service your goods will be:
- Picked up from your supplier or manufacturer in India
- Transported by road or rail to your chosen port of origin
- Shipped by an international carrier via ocean or air to Brazil
- Taken by road or rail from port in Brazil to your final destination
This page outlines your options when shipping from India to Brazil. It features details about key airports and seaports, plus information about customs clearance, shipment times, and the pros and cons of air and ocean shipping.
What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight From India to Brazil?
The only two feasible ways to export from India to Brazil are via air or sea. Both modes of transportation have pros and cons that will be outlined on this page.
Ocean Freight From India to Brazil
Less than Container Load (LCL): Book LCL shipping and a freight forwarder will arrange for your products to be loaded into a container with other goods before being lifted onto a cargo ship bound for Latin America. LCL makes sense if you only have a small consignment to ship. It requires logistics procedures known as consolidation and deconsolidation, which often makes transit times for LCL shipping a little longer than FCL.
Full Container Load (FCL): Sending ocean freight by FCL does not mean you have to wait until you can fill a container with your goods before shipping. FCL means you pay for the use and transportation of a container just for your goods. It’s up to you how much you load inside. Unlike LCL shipping, No consolidation or deconsolidation is required, so FCL shipping is often faster.
Air Freight from India to Brazil
The fastest way to transport goods from India to Brazil is with an air-freight carrier. But it is by far the most expensive option.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From India to Brazil?
Several factors are taken into account when freight forwarders calculate shipping quotes:
- The size, volume, and weight of the consignment
- The type of goods being shipped
- The chosen mode of transportation—air or ocean?
- If the shipper requires a port-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-port, or door-to-door delivery
- How far the goods must be shipped between the origin and destination point
All shipping quotes are affected by the weight of the consignment, which can often be the deciding factor when it comes to choosing between air or ocean shipping. That’s because if your goods weigh under 100 kg, ocean and air shipping are likely to cost about the same. If your consignment tips the scales above 100 kg, ocean freight will typically be more economical than air shipping.
The vast majority of freight forwarders will not quote for shipments weighing 35kg or less. You should contact international couriers to get quotes for such consignments.
How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From India to Brazil?
Over 14,500km separates India from Brazil. So shipping goods between the two is a long haul by air and sea. Air shipping is significantly quicker. You should allow at least three days for air cargo from India to reach Brazil and obtain import customs clearance.
Ocean shipping will take at least 33 days by FCL and can take up to 59 by LCL. Your choice of origin and destination ports will affect timings.
How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From India to Brazil?
With the Indian and Atlantic Oceans to traverse at an average speed of 35km per hour, a cargo vessel’s journey from South Asia to South America is a lengthy one. You should allow at least five weeks for a carrier to transport a shipping container from India to Brazil. Journey duration will depend on your choice of ports and whether you choose LCL and FCL as these examples show:
- Nhava Sheva to Santos—33 days FCL, 40 days LCL
- Chennai to Santos—55 days FCL, 55 days LCL
- Mundra to Santos—33 days FCL
- Chennai to Rio de Janeiro—34 days FCL, 34 days LCL
- Kolkata to Santos—42 days LCL
- Nhava Sheva to Rio de Janeiro—29 days LCL
- Nhava Sheva to Rio Grande—45 days LCL
- Cochin to Itaguai—56 days FCL
- Nhava Sheva to Itapoa—37 days FCL
- Nhava Sheva to Manaus—59 days FCL
- Nhava Sheva to Navegantes—34 days FCL
- Nhava Sheva to Suape—56 days FCL
How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From India to Brazil?
Four days will almost certainly be the quickest time a freight forwarder can import from India to Brazil using air freight, as evidenced by these examples:
- Cochin or Bangalore to Sao Paulo—8 days
- Chennai to Rio de Janeiro—7 days
- Mumbai to Sao Paulo or Curitiba—6 days
- Mumbai or Chennai to Salvador—7 days
- Delhi to Sao Paulo—4 days
- Hyderabad to Sao Paulo—7 days
Customs Clearance Procedures in India and Brazil
All consignments for ocean and air shipping from India to Brazil, no matter how big or small, need to be accompanied by the correct paperwork to pass customs checks in both countries. Whatever the nature of your shipment, you will need to complete the following:
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Commercial Invoice
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Packing List
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Certificate of Origin
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Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)
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Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)
You can see examples of the above paperwork on the documents list page we have compiled. The list is not comprehensive and you may need to provide additional paperwork to accompany your shipment, such as a permit, certificate, or license.
With so much paperwork required, customs clearance is undoubtedly one of the most complex aspects of international shipping. As a result, many companies prefer to leave the process in the hands of a freight forwarder. This is a good way to ensure your shipment complies with rules and regulations, and avoids unnecessary delays.
Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?
Ocean Freight From India to Brazil
Shipping contaiuners from India to Brazil typically requires goods to be packed first onto pallets, although they can be loose-loaded in the container if that makes more sense. Special types of containers are likely to be required for perishable, delicate, or excessively large, heavy, or awkwardly-shaped goods. Your freight forwarder will inform you of your choices.
Another choice to make is between FCL and LCL ocean shipping. This will be influenced by the type of goods you will ship, their volume and weight, as well as your choice of port of origin and port of arrival. Let’s look at the pros and cons of FCL and LCL sea freight.
Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping
Less-than-container-load shipping entails your freight sharing a container with consignments belonging to other shippers. The process of filling containers with goods from different shippers is known as consolidation—and it will happen in your chosen port in India. Deconsolidation will occur upon arrival in Brazil. Both are logistics procedures that can make LCL shipping take a little longer than FCL.
LCL could be the best option for your business if:
- Your consignment is 14 cubic meters or less (equal to six standard pallets)
- Your freight is not urgently required in Brazil
- Your cargo is safe to be shipped in the same container as other products
- You’re OK with not having any control over what those other products are
- Air shipping is not an option
LCL should perhaps be avoided if:
- Your freight is fragile or perishable
- You want minimal handling and moving of your goods
- Your consignment must be in Brazil by a certain date
- Your freight is awkwardly shaped, extremely large, and/or very heavy.
Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping
Full-container-load shipping is the alternative option when transporting a shipping container from India to Brazil. Your products will have exclusive use of a container, which could make FCL the best option if:
- Your cargo must reach the buyer in Brazil by a specified date
- Your consignment totals over 14 CBM
- You can seal your container in India and want it to remain sealed until it arrives in Brazil
- Your cargo is fragile, an unusual shape, or extremely heavy, making it unsuited for shipping in a shared container
Air Freight
When the speed of shipment is more vital than the cost, choose air shipping. It’s the fastest way to export from India to Brazil. And if you can afford the price tag, it’s ideal for:
- Cargo with a short shelf-life that needs to arrive in Brazil quickly
- High-value freight that requires the robust security controls offered by airlines and airports
- A relatively small consignment—no more than three pallets
- Supplier and consignees based closer to an international airport than a seaport (thus saving on overland transport costs)
Ocean Cargo Port Guide
Cargo Ports of Origin in India
Nhava Sheva
Port Facts:
- Also known as Jawaharlal Nehru or JNPT
- India’s largest port
- Over 50% of the nation’s containerized trade is processed here
- In 2019, it became the first port in India to reach an annual throughput of over five million TEUs
- The presence of five container terminals and excellent road and rail connections from Central and Western India help explain the port’s popularity
Owned By: Government of India.
Annual Container Volume: >5 million TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: INNSA.
Chennai
Port Facts:
- Regarded as the gateway to Southern India
- Located in the Bay of Bengal
- Facilities include two container terminals
- Popular with international shippers who have a supply chain link or manufacturing hub in this part of the subcontinent
Owned By: Chennai Port Trust, Ministry of Shipping.
Annual Container Volume: >1.5 million TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: INMAA.
Mundra
Port Facts:
- Situated in Gujarat, India’s westernmost state
- Ranks in the world’s top-50 busiest container ports
- A privately-owned sea freight facility
- Infrastructure includes four container terminals
- Ideal for suppliers and manufacturers based in North or Northwestern India
Owned By: Adani Group.
Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: INMUN.
Visakhapatnam
Port Facts:
- Has a lower container throughput than many Indian ports
- The only sea freight hub in Andhra Pradesh
- A useful gateway for an export from India to Brazil if your goods are produced in Eastern India
Owned By: Visakhapatnam Port Trust.
Annual Container Volume: >350,000 TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: INVTZ.
Kattupalli
Port Facts:
- An alternative to the nearby Port of Chennai
- Congestion-free approach roads make getting goods here quick and easy
- Self-sealed containers can benefit from direct port entry status to speed things up
Owned By: Kattupalli Port Private Ltd.
Annual Container Volume: >345,000 TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: INKAT.
Other Ports of Origin in India:
Here is a selection of other ports in India from which you can ship to Brazil:
- Tuticorin
- Pipavav
- Haldia
- Hazira
- Krishnapatnam
- Kolkata
- Mormugao
Cargo Ports of Arrival in Brazil
Santos
Port Facts:
- Brazil’s busiest port for containerized goods
- South America’s largest ocean port
- Serves the bustling city of Sao Paulo
- Its sea freight handling facilities are the country’s most modern
- Road and rail links into the port currently exceed their capacity.
- The port’s owners—the Brazilian government—are taking steps to improve the flow of goods, with several projects in the pipeline
Owned By: Federal Government of Brazil.
Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: BRSSZ.
Rio de Janeiro
Port Facts:
- Better known for cruise ships than container vessels
- Its biggest pier stretches for nearly 900 meters
- Occupies a seven-kilometer stretch of Eastern Brazilian coastline
- Warehouse facilities cover an area of over 65,000 square meters
Owned By: Companhia Docos do Rio de Janeiro.
Annual Container Volume: >380,000 TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: BRRIO.
Belem
Port Facts:
- Located just one degree south of the Equator
- A tropical river port about 20 km north of Belem city center in the State of Pará
- A small sea freight facility situated in the delta of the River Amazon
- 130 kilometers inland from the Atlantic Ocean
Owned By: Companhia Docas do Pará-Autoridade Portuária.
Annual Container Volume: Unknown.
UN/LOCODE: BRBEL.
Rio Grande du Sol
Port Facts:
- A medium-sized river port 12 kilometers from the mouth of the Rio Grande in Southern Brazil
- The second-busiest port in Brazil with a Super Porto handling containers from all over the world
- Excellent road and rail links to destinations across the south of Brazil
Owned By: Superintendencia Porto de Rio Grande.
Annual Container Volume: >760,000 TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: BRRIG.
Vitoria
Port Facts:
- The main port serving the State of Espirito Santo in Eastern Brazil
- Just over 400km north of Rio de Janeiro
- Regarded as the most difficult port in Brazil to access from the sea
- Has an extremely narrow entrance to the docks
Owned By: Companhia Docas do Espírito Santo (CODESA).
Annual Container Volume: >192,000 TEUs.
UN/LOCODE: BRVIX.
Other Ports of Arrival in Brazil:
You could also choose to discharge your commercial goods from India at these ports:
- Salvador
- Suape
- Navegantes
- Pecem
- Paranagua
- Haguali
- Itapoa
- Itajai
- Manaus
Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide
Airports of Origin in India
Cochin
Airport Facts:
- Serves the city of Kochi in the State of Kerala
- The area’s biggest and busiest airport
- Its dedicated cargo terminal occupies 20 hectares
- Awarded ‘Champion of the Earth’ status in 2018 by the United Nations in recognition of being the first airport in the world to be fully solar-powered
Brazil Airports Served: None.
Cochin to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: COK.
Chennai
Airport Facts:
- A major airport serving Southern India
- India’s third-busiest air cargo hub
- Cargo terminal houses specialist facilities for vegetables, fruit, and flowers
Brazil Airports Served: None.
Chennai to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: MAA.
Coimbatore
Airport Facts:
- Situated just ten kilometers from the city of Peelamedu in Tamil Nadu
- India’s 15th-busiest cargo-handling airport
- Second-largest freight hub in its State
- Three foreign and five homegrown carriers serve this single-runway facility
Brazil Airports Served: None.
Coimbatore to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: CJB.
Mumbai
Airport Facts:
- Processes around 900,000 tonnes of air freight annually
- India’s second-busiest cargo airport after Delhi
- Located close to the West Coast
- Its large cargo terminal includes facilities for handling perishable goods
Brazil Airports Served: None.
Mumbai to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: BOM.
Delhi
Airport Facts:
- 2015 saw Delhi eclipse Mumbai as India’s busiest cargo airport
- Annual throughout now exceeds one million tonnes
- Air cargo teams are well-versed in swiftly processing and loading goods onto flights to destinations all over the world, including Brazil
Brazil Airports Served: None.
Delhi to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: DEL.
Other Airports of Origin in India:
Shipa Freight will also be able to arrange for your goods bound for Brazil to depart from these ports in India:
- Bangalore
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Kolkata
Airports of Arrival in Brazil
Viracopos
Airport Facts:
- Located close to the city of Campinas not far from São Paulo
- Brazil’s second-busiest airport for cargo throughput
- Freight is processed in a 77,000 square meter handling area
Connected Airports in India: None.
India to Viracopos Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: VCP.
Rio de Janeiro
Airport Facts:
- Only Sao Paulo handles more air freight in Brazil
- Boasts Brazil’s longest runway
- Home to one of Latin America’s busiest logistics terminals
- Cargo handling services are provided by some of the biggest names in the industry
Connected Airports in India: None.
India to Rio de Janeiro Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: GIG.
Port Alegre
Airport Facts:
- Ideal airport of arrival for goods destined for Southern Brazil
- One of the smaller air freight hubs in Brazil
- Handles about 30,000 tonnes per year
- Conveniently located to ensure fast movement of goods into Grande Do Sul and Catarina states
Connected Airports in India: None.
India to Port Alegre Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: POA.
Manaus
Airport Facts:
- Ranked third-busiest in Brazil for air freight handling
- Infrastructure includes three cargo terminals, one of which is dedicated to imports
- Handles over 12,000 tonnes of air freight every month
Connected Airports in India: None.
India to Manaus Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: MOA.
Salvador
Airport Facts:
- The airport’s official name is Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
- No direct flights operate from India to Brazil
Connected Airports in India: None.
India to Salvador Cargo-Only Operators: None.
IATA Code: SSA.
Other Airports of Arrival in Brazil:
Additionally, Shipa Freight can arrange for your goods to be shipped to these ports in Brazil:
- Recife
- Belo Horizonte
- Curitiba
- São Paulo Guarulhos
Why Ship From India to Brazil With Shipa Freight?
Shipa Freight’s digital-first approach to international shipping makes it easy to ship air or ocean freight from India to Brazil. If you are looking for a forwarder you can trust to ship your goods safely, choose Shipa Freight. We can bring you the following benefits:
- Fast quotes based on real-time shipping rates
- Easy comparison of quotes
- Online booking and payment
- We let you know the paperwork your freight requires for customs clearance
- You can leave it to us to manage the complicated customs process
- You can see and manage all your imports and exports in one place
- You can access to our friendly customer service team 24/7
- You’re assured that your consignment will be compliant with all relevant rules and regulations
Know Your Shipping Terminology
Some of the jargon and complicated terminology used by shipping experts can be confusing. To help build your understanding of the language of shipping, we’re explaining some of the confusing terms in common usage on our country-to-country pages. Two examples are below.