India
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Delhi
Delhi's airport serves the National Capital Region, one of India's largest manufacturing areas.
Services in Delhi
- Air freight in DelhiAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in DelhiFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in DelhiImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Delhi
- AirportIndira Gandhi International
DEL - SeaportInland container depots (ICD), sea via Mundra and Nhava Sheva
Delhi and the National Capital Region are served by Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), one of India's two largest air cargo gateways, with an international cargo terminal handling exports of garments, electronics and auto parts and imports of machinery and components. Delhi has no seaport of its own. Sea freight is handled through inland container depots such as ICD Tughlakabad, ICD Patparganj and ICD Dadri in Greater Noida, which are connected by rail to the Gujarat port of Mundra and to Nhava Sheva near Mumbai. Containers are cleared at the inland depot rather than at the coast.
NH48 and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway connect the region with Jaipur and Gujarat, while the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal and Eastern Peripheral expressways bypass the city for freight traffic. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor starts at Dadri and carries container trains towards the western ports, and the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor links Dadri with Ludhiana and eastern India.
Industries in Delhi and how we support them
The NCR combines automotive production in Gurugram and Manesar, mobile phone and electronics assembly in Noida, garment exporters in Okhla, Noida and Gurugram, and handicraft and home-textile suppliers from the wider region. Many buyers ship garments by air for seasonal collections, while automotive and electronics plants depend on reliable inbound components. Ziem Logistics supports these flows with air freight from DEL under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for line-down situations, On-Board Courier for critical parts, sea freight via the inland container depots and customs clearance by our partner team in the Ziem network.
Operational logistics facts for Delhi
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) cargo terminals | Garments, electronics, auto parts, general cargo | Wide range of direct international flights for air freight under our own air waybills |
| ICD Tughlakabad, ICD Patparganj, ICD Dadri | FCL/LCL with customs clearance inland | Containers cleared close to the shipper or consignee instead of at the port |
| Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors (Dadri) | Rail container transport to Gujarat and Mumbai ports | Rail link between the NCR and the western seaports |
| Gurugram-Manesar and Noida industrial belts | Automotive, electronics, garments | Pick-up and delivery arranged across the whole NCR |
Customs clearance in India
Ziem network
Customs clearance in India is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from India we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in India need an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC).
Frequently asked questions
How does winter fog at Delhi affect air freight?
From December to January, dense fog regularly disrupts departures and arrivals at DEL. For time-critical shipments in that period we plan with buffer, monitor flight status and, where needed, rebook onto alternative flights or routings so that goods keep moving.
Can you arrange Next Flight Out for spare parts to a plant in Manesar or Noida?
Yes. With Next Flight Out we book the first available flight to Delhi, pre-lodge customs data and arrange delivery from DEL to the plant. Availability depends on the origin, the airline network and the commodity, which we confirm when you request the shipment.
Do you collect garment exports from factories across the NCR?
Yes. We arrange pick-up from garment factories in Okhla, Noida, Gurugram and other parts of the NCR, consolidate where useful and book the air freight from DEL under our own air waybills, with cut-off times confirmed for each booking.
Can sea containers for Delhi be cleared at an inland container depot?
Yes. Containers can move under customs bond from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to an inland container depot such as Tughlakabad, Patparganj or Dadri and be cleared there. Clearance is carried out by a partner team in the Ziem network under the Ziem Logistics brand.
Which registrations does an importer in Delhi need?
An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) is required for every commercial import. Depending on the product, further approvals may apply, for example BIS registration for many electronic goods. Declarations are filed electronically through ICEGATE, and clearance depends on complete and consistent documents.
Who prepares the shipping bill for garment exports from Delhi?
The shipping bill is filed via ICEGATE by our partner team in the Ziem network, working to our procedures. We collect the commercial invoice, packing list and exporter details from you in advance so the export declaration matches the air waybill and the goods can be tendered to the airline without delay.