Mumbai, India
Sea freight in Mumbai
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Mumbai, via Nhava Sheva. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Mumbai
- AirportChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
BOM - SeaportNhava ShevaJNPT
Air cargo for Mumbai moves through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), whose cargo complex at Sahar handles a large share of India's international air freight, including pharma and high-value consignments such as gems and jewellery. Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) on the mainland side of the harbour adds a second airport to the region. For sea freight, Mumbai is served by Jawaharlal Nehru Port at Nhava Sheva (JNPT), India's busiest container port, while the older Mumbai Port handles bulk and general cargo. Most FCL and LCL volumes for the city and the wider Maharashtra hinterland are routed via Nhava Sheva.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) connects the city with Nhava Sheva and Navi Mumbai across the harbour. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway leads to the Pune and Chakan industrial belt, NH48 runs north towards Gujarat, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway links Mumbai with Nagpur. Container trains connect JNPT with inland container depots across northern and central India, and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor is designed to carry container trains between JNPT and the Delhi region.
Operational logistics facts for Mumbai
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| BOM Air Cargo Complex, Sahar | Pharma, gems and jewellery, express and general air cargo | Direct long-haul and Gulf connections for air freight under our own air waybills |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Nhava Sheva (JNPT) | FCL/LCL for western and northern India | India's busiest container port, with rail links to inland container depots |
| SEEPZ SEZ and Bharat Diamond Bourse | Gems, jewellery and electronics | High-value cargo handled with secure air routings or On-Board Courier |
| Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) | Road link between the city, Navi Mumbai and JNPT | Shorter trucking routes between Mumbai shippers and the port area |
Industries in Mumbai and how we support them
Mumbai is the headquarters city of many Indian pharmaceutical groups and a base for chemical producers along the Thane-Belapur belt and in Navi Mumbai. The SEEPZ special economic zone in Andheri and the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Bandra Kurla Complex make the city a centre for gems and jewellery trade, alongside textiles, consumer goods and engineering imports. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills from BOM, temperature-aware pharma routings, Next Flight Out for urgent spare parts, On-Board Courier for critical documents and samples, FCL/LCL via Nhava Sheva and customs clearance through our partner team in the Ziem network.
FCL and LCL via Nhava Sheva
Full containers are booked directly with the shipping line; for smaller volumes we use LCL consolidation services. Pre-carriage from Mumbai to Nhava Sheva, or on-carriage after arrival, is arranged by road or rail as part of the same booking.
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 Mumbai?
Usually Nhava Sheva. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.