Ocean and Air Freight Shipping From India to Finland

Bilateral trade between India and Finland exceeds $1.2 billion annually. The main goods exported from the subcontinent to the Nordic nation are electronics, mineral oils, garments, and coffee.

Your business might already be importing from India to Finland. Or you could be looking to make your first shipment. Either way, this is the page for you. It contains much of the information you need to know to export from India to Finland more successfully and with greater ease.

What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight From India to Finland?

Shippers typically import and export using ocean and air shipping from India to Finland. Each mode of transport has its benefits and drawbacks. This page will help you decide which is best for you.

Ocean Freight From India to Finland

Less than Container Load (LCL): There’s no need to pay for shipping a full container from India to Finland if you don’t have enough goods to fill it. LCL shipping allows you to transport a smaller load in a shared container. It could work out the most cost-efficient way for you to export or import from India to Finland.

Full Container Load (FCL): FCL ocean shipping requires that you pay for the use and transportation of a container exclusively for your goods. You can choose whether to fully or partially fill it and you can have it sealed in India. It’s usually the quickest form of ocean shipping and sometimes the cheapest.

Air Freight from India to Finland

The fastest way to transport goods from India to Finland 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 Finland?

When working out your quote, a freight forwarder needs to take into account key information about your cargo. That information includes:

• The volume, size, and weight of your shipment
• The nature of your freight
• Whether it is to be shipped by air or ocean
• If you want a port-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-port, or door-to-door delivery
• The distance between the origin and destination of your shipment

The weight of your goods will affect the cost of your shipment and could impact the mode of transport you choose. If your goods weigh less than 100 kg, ocean and air shipments are likely to cost about the same, so many companies choose the fastest, which is usually air freight. For consignments weighing over 100 kg, sea freight usually works out more economical than air freight.

Shipa Freight, like many freight forwarders, does not quote for shipping weighing 35kg or less. Such shipments are the domain of international couriers.

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From India to Finland?

As well as a price difference, there’s often a substantial time difference between air and ocean shipping. Air freight is by far the quickest way to transport your freight from India to Finland. It typically takes between four and eight days.

Transporting a shipping container from India to Finland by ocean is a process that takes weeks. The precise transit time will depend on the port of origin in India and the port of arrival in Finland.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From India to Finland?

Below are some sample times that show how long ocean shipments take to reach Finland from India:

• Nhava Sheva to Helsinki – 25 to 53 days LCL, 39 days FCL
• Chennai to Helsinki – 25 to 53 days LCL, 25 to 40 days FCL
• Nhava Sheva to Rauma – 25 to 53 days LCL, 25 to 40 days FCL

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From India to Finland?

Nearly all freight forwarders will route air freight from India into Helsinki Airport. You should anticipate your shipment taking five to eight days to reach and clear customs at the Finnish capital from any of India’s major international airports as the samples below show:

• Mumbai to Helsinki – 5 to 8 days
• Bangalore to Helsinki – 5 to 8 days
• Ahmedabad to Helsinki – 5 to 8 days

Customs Clearance Procedures in India and Finland

All commodities being exported from India to Finland must be accompanied by specific documents. These have to be ready for inspection at the port of origin and port of arrival.

Customs compliance is such a complicated process that many businesses prefer to leave it in the hands of experts. Freight forwarders have the skills and experience needed to advise shippers on the documents their consignment requires. Using a forwarder will minimize the risk of delay to your shipping, while assuring compliance with rules and regulations.

Your business will be required to submit various documents with your consignment. The paperwork you’ll need for customs clearance at the points of export and import will almost certainly include the following:

1. Commercial Invoice

2. Packing List

3. Certificate of Origin

4. Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)

5. Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)

You can see examples of these on the documents list page we have compiled. Please note that you may be required to send additional paperwork with your consignment, such as a permit, certificate, or license. Your freight forwarder should be able to advise you about these.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean Freight

If you choose ocean shipping as your means of transport, a cargo vessel will take your goods in their container from India to Finland. Most consignments will ship on pallets inside a 20ft or 40ft container. Perishable, fragile, or extremely large or heavy goods may require a special type of container. Your freight forwarder will outline your options.

Another decision you will have to make concerns the two forms of ocean shipping: FCL and LCL. The type of goods you’re transporting will have a bearing on your decision. So too the total volume and weight of your goods and perhaps the port locations you wish to ship from and to. Below, we outline the pros and cons of both ways to ship sea freight.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

Less-than-container-load shipping will entail your goods sharing a container with other goods belonging to other shippers. LCL could be the right choice for you if any of the following apply:

• You are shipping 14 cubic meters or less of freight (equivalent to six standard pallets)
• Your consignment is not urgently required in Finland
• Your cargo can be safely shipped inside the same container as other goods
• You’re OK with not having control over the goods your products will share a container with
• Air shipping is out of the question

LCL might not be right for your business if:

• You want to ship goods that are fragile or perishable
• You don’t want your cargo moved or handled too often
• Your shipment has to be in Finland by a certain date
• The goods you are sending are extremely large and/or very heavy.

Learn more about Less than Container Load on our dedicated page on LCL shipping.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

If LCL shipping doesn’t meet your requirements, full-container-load shipping is the other option. This entails your goods having exclusive use of a shipping container from India to Finland. It could be the best option for you if:

• Your goods have to arrive in Finland by a certain date
• Your consignment is over 14 CBM—about half of the capacity of a standard 20ft container
• You want to seal your container in India and for it to remain sealed until arrival in Finland
• Your freight is delicate or extremely heavy, or otherwise unsuitable for transport in a shared container

Learn more about Full Container Load on our dedicated page on FCL shipping.

Air Freight

If the speed of your shipment is more important than cost, air shipping from India to Finland is your best option, especially if: Your cargo has a short shelf-life and will benefit from the shortest possible journey time Your consignment is high value and requires the robust security offered by airlines and airports You’re shipping a relatively small consignment—at most two or three pallets Your supplier and consignee are nearer to an international airport than they are to a seaport

Learn more about Air Freight on our dedicated page by clicking here.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo Ports of Origin in India

####Krishnapatnam

Port Facts:

• Widely known as KPCL
• Located on the east coast of India, 18 kilometers east of Nellore
• Its container terminal has five Panamax gantry cranes
• Easy road, rail, and air access to the port for any supplier based in Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka

Owned By: Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >481,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: INKRI.

Nhava Sheva

Port Facts:

• Is also referred to as Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT)
• Situated to the east of Mumbai
• Its five terminals handle over 50% of India’s containerized goods traffic
• A useful port of origin if your supply chain involves the transit of goods from Mumbai, Bori, Rasayani, or Jasia.

Owned By: Government of India.

Annual Container Volume: >5 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: INNSA.

Kolkata

Port Facts:

• Serves the capital city of West Bengal
• Kolkata is a major center for business and finance
• The sea freight hub was renamed Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port in 2020
• It is located over 200 kilometers inland
• Ideal when moving goods from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam

Owned By: Kolkata Port Trust & the Ministry of Shipping.

Annual Container Volume: >830,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: INMAA.

Visakhapatnam

Port Facts:

• Situated on India’s east coast between the ports of Kolkata and Chennai
• Easy rail access to the port, thanks to links with the South Central Railway and East Coast Railway
• Road links to the port are also strong, with connections to the Chennai-Howrah NH-16 road
• Will suit manufacturers or suppliers based in Lambasingi, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, or Narsipatnam.

Owned By: Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

Annual Container Volume: >350,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: INVTZ.

Haldia

Port Facts:

• A major port in eastern India close to the border with Bangladesh
• Widely regarded as one of the most environmentally-friendly ports on the planet
• The heavy-lifting machines and vehicles in use at the port are powered by eco-friendly bio-diesel
• Shippers requiring the movement of goods from Puri, Bhadrak, and Ranchi should consider using Haldia as their port of origin instead of nearby Kolkata

Owned By: Kolkata Port Trust.

Annual Container Volume: >150,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: INHAL.

Other Ports of Origin in India

These are the other ports in India that can be used to ship goods to Finland:

• Hazira
• Pipavav
• Tuticorin
• Chennai
• Mormugao
• Kattupalli
• Mundra

Cargo Ports of Arrival in Finland

Helsinki (Helsingfors)

Port Facts:

• 14.7 million tonnes of goods were processed here in 2018
• Ranks as the busiest passenger seaport in the world
• Cargo throughput accounts for around one-third of all Finnish trade
• Container traffic moves through the Vuosaari Harbor

Owned By: City of Helsinki.

Annual Container Volume: >491,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: FIHEL.

Hamina-Kotka

Port Facts:

• Situated on the northern shores on the Gulf of Finland
• Created by the merger of the ports of Kotka and Hamina
• Located on the border between the European Union and Russia (which is just 50 km away)
• Just 280 km from St Petersburg

Owned By: Hamina-Kotka Satama Oy.

Annual Container Volume: >55,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: FIKTK.

Rauma

Port Facts:

• Biggest container port on the Finnish west coast
• The container terminal covers an 18-hectare site
• Features three quays and three gantry cranes
• Ideal port of arrival for goods required in Nurmes, Kolla, and Unaja

Owned By: Euroports Rauma Ltd.

Annual Container Volume: >278,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: FIRAU.

Oulu

Port Facts:

• Located at the mouth of the Oulujoki River
• It’s the largest general port in Bothnian Bay
• Over 3.6 million tonnes of cargo is processed here annually
• Container freight is handled at the Oritkari docks
• The seaport is a major logistics center for Northern Europe

Owned By: City of Oulu.

Annual Container Volume: >52,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: FIOUL.

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide

Airports of Origin in India

Chennai

Airport Facts:

• Located 21km outside Chennai City Center in Meenambakkam
• The annual cargo tonnage processed here exceeded 411,000 tonnes in 2019
• Infrastructure includes facilities for perishables
• Automated docks for quicker cargo processing

Finland Airports Served: None.

Chennai to Finland Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: MAA.

Mumbai

Airport Facts:

• This air facility is also called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
• Situated in Western India
• Around 900,000 tonnes of air freight is handled here every year
• Ideal port of origin for suppliers and manufacturers based in Nashik, Pune, and Mumbai
• Shipments to Helsinki can be completed in four days

Finland Airports Served: None.

Mumbai to Finland Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: BOM.

Coimbatore

Airport Facts:

• Serves the city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu
• About ten kilometers outside of the city center
• Ranked as the 15th-busiest cargo airport in India

Finland Airports Served: None.

Coimbatore to Finland Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: AMD.

Kolkata

Airport Facts:

• Is also referred to as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
• The air facility is located in Dum Dum, West Bengal
• It’s the biggest air cargo hub in Northeastern India
• All air freight to Helsinki will be transported on indirect flights

Finland Airports Served: None.

Kolkata to Finland Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: CCU.

Delhi

Airport Facts:

• Ranks as India’s largest air cargo hub and Southeast Asia’s biggest air cargo gateway
• Occupies a site of over 2,000 hectares
• Situated 16km southwest of Central Delhi

Finland Airports Served: Helsinki.

Delhi to Finland Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: DEL.

Other Airports of Origin in India

Shipa Freight can also arrange for your consignment to be flown to Finland from Cochin, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, or Bangalore.

Airport of Arrival in Finland

Helsinki

Airport Facts:

• Officially called Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport
• Located five kilometers west of Tikkurila
• It’s the biggest airport in Finland
• The airport has three runways
• A new freight terminal opened here in 2018

Connected Airports in India: Delhi.

India to Finland Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: HEL.

Why Ship From India to Finland With Shipa Freight?

Shipa Freight makes it easy to ship air or ocean freight from India to Finland. We’re an online-focused freight forwarder with a platform that brings simplicity to international shipping.

Our services are provided in conjunction with our parent company Agility Logistics, making us a world leader in our field.

If you are looking for a forwarder you can trust to ship your goods safely by ocean or air from India to Finland, choose Shipa Freight. We can bring you the following benefits:

• Quick shipping quotes based on real-time rates
• Easy comparison of quotes
• Online bookings and payments
• Simple access to the information you need about the paperwork your freight requires
• We will manage the complicated customs process so you don’t have to
• See all your exports and imports in one place
• Get access to a friendly customer service team 24/7
• Be reassured that your shipping will comply 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.

• Aft
• Deconsolidation