India
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Ludhiana
Ludhiana is Punjab's industrial centre, known for bicycles, auto parts and knitwear.
Services in Ludhiana
- Air freight in LudhianaAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in LudhianaFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in LudhianaImport 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 Ludhiana
- AirportDelhi
DEL - AirportAmritsar
ATQ - SeaportMundra and Nhava Shevavia inland container depots
Ludhiana has only a small domestic airport, so international air freight is trucked to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi or to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) in Amritsar, with Chandigarh International Airport (IXC) as a regional option. Delhi offers the widest choice of flights and cargo capacity. Ludhiana is far from the coast; sea freight is handled through inland container depots in and around the city and moved by rail to Mundra, Pipavav or Nhava Sheva, where containers connect with ocean services.
NH44, the historic Grand Trunk Road, links Ludhiana with Jalandhar and Amritsar to the north-west and with Ambala and Delhi to the south-east. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor starts at Sahnewal near Ludhiana and runs towards eastern India, while rail container services connect the inland depots with the western ports.
Industries in Ludhiana and how we support them
Ludhiana is Punjab's main industrial city and India's centre for bicycle and bicycle-component manufacturing. It also produces auto parts, hand tools, sewing machine parts and woollen knitwear and hosiery, much of it from small and medium-sized firms. Exports go to Europe, North America and neighbouring regions, while imports include steel, machinery and yarn. Ziem Logistics supports these manufacturers with air freight via DEL under our own air waybills, consolidated sea freight through the inland container depots, Next Flight Out for machine spares and customs clearance by our partner team in the Ziem network.
Operational logistics facts for Ludhiana
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Inland container depots in the Ludhiana area | FCL/LCL with inland customs clearance | Containers cleared near the factory, then railed to the ports |
| Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (Sahnewal) | Rail freight towards eastern India | Rail link starting at the edge of Ludhiana |
| Bicycle and auto parts cluster | Bicycles, components, auto parts, hand tools | Pick-up arranged directly at manufacturers |
| NH44 to Delhi and Amritsar | Trucking to DEL and ATQ | Choice of airports for international air 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
Which airport do you use for air freight from Ludhiana, Delhi or Amritsar?
Most international shipments go via DEL, which offers far more flights and cargo capacity. Amritsar (ATQ) can be an option for certain routings. We choose the airport per shipment and confirm the trucking schedule and cut-off time with the booking.
Does winter fog in Punjab affect shipments from Ludhiana?
From December to January dense fog in North India regularly disrupts flights and slows trucking on NH44. We plan with buffer during that period, monitor flight operations and rebook where necessary.
Can you fly urgent knitwear orders from Ludhiana?
Yes. We collect garments from manufacturers in Ludhiana, prepare the export documents and book air freight from DEL under our own air waybills, consolidating smaller orders where this suits the destination.
Can export containers from Ludhiana be cleared at an inland depot?
Yes. Containers can be stuffed and cleared at an inland container depot in the Ludhiana area and then moved by rail to the port. Clearance is carried out by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
What documents do bicycle exporters in Ludhiana need?
Typically the commercial invoice, packing list, the exporter's IEC and, for many destinations, a certificate of origin. Some markets apply trade remedy duties to bicycles and parts, so accurate origin documents matter. Our partner team files the shipping bill via ICEGATE.
Can Ludhiana exporters claim duty drawback or RoDTEP?
Exporters may be eligible for duty drawback or RoDTEP, depending on the product and their registration. Since the claim is linked to the shipping bill, we make sure the declaration contains the required details. Eligibility is decided by the authorities.