Kochi, India
Sea freight in Kochi
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Kochi, via Cochin Port and Vallarpadam. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
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.
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 |
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.
From the port to your door in Kochi
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Cochin Port and Vallarpadam, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Kochi area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
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
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Kochi?
Usually Cochin Port and Vallarpadam. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.