India
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Kochi
Kochi is India's spice export centre, with seafood and perishables flown to the Gulf and Europe.
Services in Kochi
- Air freight in KochiAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in KochiFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in KochiImport 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 Kochi
- AirportCochin International
COK - SeaportCochin Port and Vallarpadam
Cochin International Airport (COK) at Nedumbassery, north of the city, is Kerala's main air cargo gateway and handles large volumes of perishables, especially seafood, fruit and vegetables, with strong connections to the Gulf and onward to Europe. For sea freight, Kochi has Cochin Port on Willingdon Island and the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, the main container terminal for Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
NH66 runs along the Kerala coast north towards Mangaluru and south towards Thiruvananthapuram, and NH544 leads inland through the Palakkad Gap to Coimbatore and Salem. A dedicated road and rail link connects the Vallarpadam terminal with the mainland. The Cochin Special Economic Zone at Kakkanad lies within the city area.
Industries in Kochi and how we support them
Kochi is India's spice trading centre and hosts the headquarters of both the Spices Board and the Marine Products Export Development Authority. Pepper, cardamom and other spices, frozen shrimp and fish, and coir products from nearby Alappuzha are typical exports, while the Cochin Shipyard and the Kochi refinery generate inbound machinery and spare parts. Ziem Logistics supports exporters with perishables air freight from COK under our own air waybills, reefer containers via Vallarpadam, Next Flight Out for shipyard and refinery spares, and customs clearance by our partner team in the Ziem network.
Operational logistics facts for Kochi
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Cochin International Airport (COK) | Seafood, fruit, vegetables, general cargo | Gulf connections for perishables under our own air waybills |
| ICTT Vallarpadam | FCL/LCL and reefer containers | Kerala's container terminal for spices and seafood |
| Spices Board and MPEDA (Kochi) | Spice and seafood export regulation | Export documents prepared close to the issuing bodies |
| Cochin SEZ, Kakkanad | Electronics, IT and export manufacturing | Pick-up arranged for zone-based exporters |
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 do you ship fresh seafood from Kochi by air?
We agree packaging, temperature and documents with you, book capacity from COK on suitable flights, often via the Gulf, and coordinate delivery to the cargo terminal close to cut-off. The cut-off time is confirmed with every booking.
Does the southwest monsoon affect air freight from Kochi?
From June to September heavy rain can disrupt road transport to the airport and ground handling. We plan collection with buffer and monitor flight operations at COK during that period.
Can you send urgent spare parts to Cochin Shipyard or the refinery?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to COK, pre-lodge customs data and arrange delivery to the site. For small, critical items an On-Board Courier can hand-carry the parts to Kochi.
Which certificates are needed to export seafood from Kochi?
Seafood exports to many markets require a health certificate issued under the Export Inspection Council system, and the processing plant must be approved for the destination. We check the requirements with you before the shipping bill is filed via ICEGATE.
Do spice exporters in Kochi need a special registration?
Spice exporters generally need a registration with the Spices Board in addition to the IEC. Depending on the destination, quality or phytosanitary certificates may also be required. Our partner team in the Ziem network prepares the export declaration once these documents are in place.
Who clears imports arriving at Vallarpadam or Cochin airport?
Clearance is done by a partner team in the Ziem network, working under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. Release depends on complete documents, including the importer's IEC and any product-specific approvals.