Trade Routes
Shipping from India to the USA: Ocean & Air Freight Guide
7 min read
The United States is a major export market for Indian businesses. Routing, transit time and US import compliance all depend on whether your cargo lands on the east or west coast.
Routes and ports
Exports usually leave from Nhava Sheva or Mundra. For the US East Coast (New York/Newark, Savannah, Norfolk) services often route westbound via the Suez Canal. For the US West Coast (Los Angeles/Long Beach), services route eastbound across the Pacific, often via a Southeast Asian hub.
Typical transit times
- US West Coast: approximately 20 to 35 days by ocean FCL.
- US East Coast: approximately 25 to 40 days by ocean FCL.
- Air freight: generally 3 to 7 days.
US import requirements
- Importer Security Filing (ISF, the "10+2") must be filed before ocean cargo loads at origin.
- A US customs bond and a US importer of record are required.
- FDA, USDA or other agency rules may apply to food, cosmetics, wood and regulated goods.
- ISPM-15 treated wood packaging is required for pallets and crates.