Shipping times and costs from Cape Town, South Africa to Chennai (Madras), India

Shipping Container Costs to India

Shipping belongings to Chennai is relatively simple. You have two options to choose from: sea freight, or air freight. Sea freight is the cheaper option by far, but the final price will depend on what you’re shipping, where you’re travelling to and from, and how much you’re moving. Alternatively, if you’re in a bit of a rush, you can opt for air freight – but this will cost roughly 12-16 times more.

 

How to get quotes for shipping to Chennai

If you want a more accurate idea of how much shipping to Chennai will cost you, pop your details in this short form. What can you expect from the form?

• You’ll be asked a few questions about your belongings, and when you want to ship them
• If we have shipping partners who can help you, they’ll contact you with quotes
• You’ll then be able to compare these quotes and pick the deal that suits you best

By doing this, you’ll be making the whole moving process that much smoother. Most of our shipping suppliers will also be able to deliver door-to-door, and help you prepare your shipment for customs.

 

Should you choose sea freight or air freight?

There are pros and cons to both options – it all comes down to which one works best for you. Benefits of sea freight:

• A 99.99% safety record
• Sea freight is typically around 12-16 times cheaper than air freight
• You’re usually able to fit much more in a shipping container than on a cargo plane
• A container ship creates 44 times less CO2 than a plane
• The International Maritime Organisation has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by 40% by 2030

  Benefits of air freight:

• An equal 99.99% safety record
• Faster than sea freight

 

Clearing customs at the Indian border

All goods imported into India need to be examined – this helps authorities charge the proper tax amount, and check that goods don’t qualify as illegal imports. So what can you expect from this procedure? Before your goods arrive in India, make sure to keep all the documents required for import clearance on standby. You’ll need to file an Import General Manifest (IGM) and a Bill of Entry to the customs department.

• An IGM is a document that contains the details of any goods arriving at that destination – this should be completed by the carrier of the goods at the destination customs location
• A Bill of Entry is a document that is completed by an importer or a customs house agent. This needs to be filled out in order to pass import customs clearance procedures

Once the Bill of Entry document has been assessed, your goods will be examined electronically, under the supervision of necessary customs officials. When the inspection has been approved, your belongings will be released and ready to be sent to your new home.

 

Is there a shipping port in Chennai?

If you’re shipping your belongings to Chennai, you’ll be pleased to know that the city is home to Chennai Port, India’s second-largest port (formerly known as Madras Port). Alternatively, you can look into Kamarajar Port Ltd – formerly known as Ennore Port – which is located on the Coromandel Coast, about 18km north of Chennai.

 

Will COVID-19 impact shipping?

When it comes to COVID-19, unfortunately, India has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world. Not only has this impacted the nation’s health, but it’s also increased border controls – slowing down the shipping process to and from India. On top of this, India is one of the biggest providers of shipping employees, and with many Indians having to self-isolate, there’s likely to be a bit of a backlog of work.