Ocean freight, explained
There are two ways to go by sea: a full container (FCL — 20ft or 40ft, you pay for the box) or LCL, where you share a container and pay by volume. FCL wins once you're filling roughly 15 cbm. Keep an eye on free-time at India ports so you don't hit demurrage.
Ocean freight from China to India — FAQ
How long is sea freight from China to India?
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Port to port runs about 12–20 days, plus pickup and customs on each end. The estimate above shows the live window for your lane.
FCL or LCL to India?
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Filling a container? FCL is cheaper per unit. Less than that, and LCL lets you pay only for the space you use. Try both in the estimator.