India
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Kolkata
Kolkata is the gateway to eastern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Services in Kolkata
- Air freight in KolkataAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in KolkataFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in KolkataImport 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 Kolkata
- AirportKolkata
CCU - SeaportKolkata and Haldia
Kolkata's air cargo is handled at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Dum Dum, the main air gateway for eastern and northeastern India, with connections to Southeast Asia and the Gulf. Sea freight runs through Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, formerly Kolkata Port Trust, which operates two systems on the Hooghly River: the Kolkata Dock System in the city and the Haldia Dock Complex further downstream, which can take larger vessels. The port also serves landlocked Nepal and Bhutan as a transit gateway.
NH19 runs from Kolkata towards Varanasi and Delhi, while NH16 follows the east coast south towards Bhubaneswar and Chennai. The Petrapole land border crossing with Bangladesh lies north-east of the city and handles a large share of India-Bangladesh road trade. Rail and road corridors link Kolkata and Haldia with Nepal via Raxaul and Birgunj and with Bhutan via Jaigaon and Phuentsholing.
Industries in Kolkata and how we support them
Kolkata and its hinterland combine leather processing at the Kolkata Leather Complex in Bantala, the tea trade for Darjeeling and Assam teas, jute products and engineering, while the steel belts of Durgapur in West Bengal and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand ship and import via Kolkata and Haldia. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight from CCU under our own air waybills, FCL/LCL via Kolkata and Haldia, transit shipments towards Nepal and Bhutan coordinated with our road partners, Next Flight Out for urgent machine parts and customs clearance by our partner team in the Ziem network.
Operational logistics facts for Kolkata
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) | Leather goods, tea samples, general cargo | Main air gateway for eastern and northeastern India |
| Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex | FCL/LCL, steel, bulk and project cargo | Two port systems for different vessel sizes on the Hooghly |
| Petrapole-Benapole border crossing | Road freight to and from Bangladesh | Overland option for cross-border shipments |
| Kolkata Leather Complex, Bantala | Leather processing and products | Pick-up arranged for export air and sea freight |
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
Do cyclones in the Bay of Bengal affect air freight from Kolkata?
Cyclones in May and between October and November can disrupt flights at CCU and trucking in the region. We monitor weather warnings, plan with buffer and rebook onto alternative flights or routings when operations are affected.
Can you ship urgent machine parts to steel plants in Durgapur or Jamshedpur?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to Kolkata, pre-lodge customs data and arrange onward road delivery from CCU to the plant. For small critical parts an On-Board Courier can carry the goods by hand to Kolkata.
Do you send tea samples and leather goods by air from Kolkata?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in the Kolkata area, deliver to the CCU cargo terminal and book air freight under our own air waybills. Food-related shipments such as tea may need additional certificates depending on the destination, which we check in advance.
Can you handle transit cargo for Nepal or Bhutan via Kolkata?
Yes. Cargo for Nepal and Bhutan can be landed at Kolkata or Haldia and moved in transit under the applicable bilateral arrangements. Documentation is coordinated by our partner team in the Ziem network, together with the road partner for the onward leg.
Who clears imports arriving at Kolkata or Haldia port?
Clearance is carried out by a partner team in the Ziem network, working under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. The bill of entry is filed via ICEGATE, and release depends on complete documents and the importer's IEC.
What is needed to export leather products from Kolkata?
Typical documents are the commercial invoice, packing list, the exporter's IEC and, depending on the destination and material, certificates of origin or species-related documents. We check the requirements with you before the shipping bill is filed.