Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From India to Bangladesh

India was one of the countries that immediately recognized Bangladesh and established a diplomatic relationship with the nation after its independence in 1971. Since then, the two countries have developed strong trade relationships. 

Bangladesh is one of India’s biggest trading partners and the second-biggest export partner. Every year, 12% of the total imports to Bangladesh come from India, with a total trade turnover of over $14.22 billion. 

If your India-based business is looking to take advantage of this trade relationship and ship your goods to Bangladesh, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about ocean and air freight shipping from India to Bangladesh. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From India to Bangladesh?

To ship freight from India to Bangladesh, you can either do so via ocean freight or air freight. 

Ocean Freight From India to Bangladesh

Ocean freight is the most economical shipping option to get goods from India to Bangladesh. It offers shippers two modes of container shipping: less than container load (LCL) or full container load (FCL). 

LCL is best for small shipments. Here, goods are consolidated with consignments from other shippers and shipped in a single container. This allows shippers to achieve cost savings, sharing the cost with other shippers. However, because of the consolidation and deconsolidation processes, LCL can be costly. 

FCL, on the other hand, is ideal for larger shipments. The shipper pays for the entire space in a container for their goods alone, allowing them to ship larger volumes of goods and gain control over their cargo. FCL can get expensive, but it has faster transit times than LCL. 

Air Freight from India to Bangladesh

Air freight is the fastest way to get goods from India to Bangladesh. As such, it’s best for time-sensitive shipments. It’s also the most secure, thanks to stricter airport regulations. However, air freight can get expensive due to higher airplane fuel costs. It also has more stringent regulations about what you can and cannot ship. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From India to Bangladesh?

The cost of shipping cargo from India to Bangladesh will depend on a variety of factors, which include: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

To determine your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. Additionally, you can find the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from India to Bangladesh in the table below:

How long does it take to ship cargo from India to Bangladesh?

The transit time for goods shipped from India to Bangladesh depends mainly on the international shipping mode you select. Additional factors influencing the transit time are:

• The shipping season (peak or low)
• Direct or indirect shipment route
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Potential incidents at ports

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from India to Bangladesh?

Ocean freight from India to Bangladesh takes anywhere from 15 to 50 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from India to Bangladesh?

Air freight from India to Bangladesh only takes between 2 to 8 days, sometimes more depending on the season. 

For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.

Customs Clearance in India and Bangladesh

Before your goods can be imported to Bangladesh, it must go through customs clearance. For this to run smoothly, you’ll need to prepare and submit the following documents: 

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

Check out our comprehensive documents list for examples of each customs clearance document. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

The choice between ocean freight and air freight will depend on the nature of your cargo and your priorities as a shipper. Here are some pointers to help you make the right decision. 

Ocean Freight

If your priority is cost savings, then ocean freight might be the right choice for you. Ocean freight is the cheapest way to get goods from India to Bangladesh. However, ensure you’re comfortable with longer transit times when choosing this shipping mode. You also need to choose between LCL and FCL. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL freight shipping is best for you if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity 
• Lightweight
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Not requiring special handling or movement 

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

On the other hand, you may be inclined to choose FCL freight shipping if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity 
• Heavy or overweight
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Requiring special handling or movement 

Air Freight

If your priority is getting your goods from India to Bangladesh quickly and securely, you should ship by air. Air freight is the fastest way to transport goods around the world. And thanks to stricter airport regulations, it can also ensure the safety of your cargo during transit. 

However, air freight comes at a higher cost. It’s also less flexible about what you can and cannot ship. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in India

Ennore Port

The Ennore port is one of India’s primary seaports for coal, handling over 16 million metric tons of coal shipments annually. It is located near the Chennai Port and has excellent railway and road links connections. 

Panambur Port

The Panambur Port in Mangalore is an all-weather port housing 17 berths. It operates all year, serving primarily as a trading point for Kerala and Karnataka. The port primarily handles manganese, coffee, cashew nuts, and iron ore exports. 

Vizag Port

The Vizag Port, also called Visakhapatnam, is India's oldest seaport and one of the only natural harbors in the Bay of Bengal. The port handles 1.2 million metric tons of cargo annually, most of which are coal, oil, aluminum, pellets, and iron ore. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Bangladesh

Port of Chittagong

The Port of Chittagong is the main ocean port in Bangladesh. It is also the go-to port for countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal. It’s hailed as the 58th busiest container port in the world, handling shipments of leather, raw resources, fertilizers, and sea fruit. 

Port of Mongla

The Port of Mongla, located in the Bagerghat district, is Bangladesh’s second busiest seaport. It is one of the major ports of Bengal Deltam, with connections to major inland river ports. Its main commodities include leather, tobacco, shrimp, frozen fish, and jute. 

Port of Payra

The Port of Payra is a small seaport in the southern region of Bangladesh. It is used as a governmental route for import and export. Located near the Bay of Bengal, the port draws investment from several countries, including India, Denmark, and China. 

Air Freight from India to Bangladesh: An airport guide

Airports of origin in India

Chennai International Airport

The Chennai International Airport serves Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India. It houses a range of cargo airlines, such as IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, and more, which help it handle 342.74 thousand metric tons of cargo annually. 

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport serves Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, India. It replaced the Begumpet Airport in 2008. Serving as a hub for IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, Amazon Air, TruJet, JetLite, Blue Dart Aviation, Flyington Freighters, and more, the airport handles 142.43 thousand metric tons of cargo per year. 

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport

The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport serves Kolkata and its metropolitan area. It is northern India’s primary aviation hub. It handles 136.02 thousand metric tons of cargo per year with its airlines, which include IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go First, Alliance Air, Indian Airlines, Zoom Air, Blue Dart Aviation, Zav Airways, Airways (India), and more. 

Airports of arrival in Bangladesh

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

The Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the main international airport serving Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka. It is also the nation’s largest airport. It’s a hub for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Novoair, and more.