India
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam combines a major port with a large pharma manufacturing zone.
Services in Visakhapatnam
- Air freight in VisakhapatnamAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in VisakhapatnamFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in VisakhapatnamImport 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 Visakhapatnam
- AirportVisakhapatnam
VTZ - AirportHyderabad
HYD - SeaportVisakhapatnam Port
Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ) operates as a civil enclave at a naval air station and handles domestic cargo and a small number of international connections. Larger international air freight is often trucked to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad or to Chennai (MAA). The city's main strength is sea freight: Visakhapatnam Port is one of India's major ports on the east coast, and the neighbouring Gangavaram Port adds deep-water capacity for containers and bulk cargo.
NH16 runs along the east coast, connecting Visakhapatnam with Vijayawada and Chennai to the south and with Bhubaneswar and Kolkata to the north. Rail links connect the port with the steel and mining regions of Odisha and Chhattisgarh and with the Hyderabad area. Roads link the pharma zone at Parawada and the industrial areas around Atchutapuram with both ports.
Industries in Visakhapatnam and how we support them
Visakhapatnam combines the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, a refinery and heavy industry with Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City at Parawada, where many pharmaceutical and active ingredient manufacturers operate. Andhra Pradesh is also a major producer of farmed shrimp for export. Typical flows are API and pharma exports, steel and engineering cargo, and frozen seafood in reefer containers. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with FCL/LCL and reefer sea freight via Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram, pharma air freight via VTZ or HYD under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for plant spares and customs clearance by our partner team in the Ziem network.
Operational logistics facts for Visakhapatnam
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Visakhapatnam Port and Gangavaram Port | Containers, steel, bulk, reefer cargo | Deep-water east-coast ports for Andhra Pradesh and the hinterland |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City, Parawada | Active ingredients and pharmaceuticals | Pick-up arranged at pharma plants for sea or air freight |
| Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and industrial belt | Steel, engineering, project cargo | Inbound spares by Next Flight Out, outbound by sea |
| NH16 east-coast corridor | Road link to Chennai and Kolkata | Trucking to alternative gateways when needed |
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 pharma exports from Visakhapatnam?
Depending on destination and capacity, we fly from VTZ or truck the shipment to HYD, which has dedicated pharma handling facilities and more international flights. Temperature requirements are agreed with you before the routing is fixed.
Do cyclones affect air freight from Visakhapatnam?
Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, in May and from October to November, can disrupt flights and port operations. We monitor warnings and adjust routings, for example via Hyderabad, when operations at VTZ are affected.
Can you rush spare parts to a plant in Visakhapatnam?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to the most suitable airport, pre-lodge customs data and arrange onward delivery by road. For small critical parts an On-Board Courier can carry the goods by hand to Visakhapatnam.
Who clears imports arriving at Visakhapatnam or Gangavaram 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 import raw materials for API production?
Depending on the substance, drug-related registrations or licences may be required in addition to the IEC, and some chemicals are subject to specific controls. We review the product information and tariff classification with you before arrival.
Which documents are needed to export frozen shrimp from Visakhapatnam?
Seafood exports usually require a health certificate under the Export Inspection Council system and an approved processing plant for the destination market, plus the commercial invoice, packing list and IEC. Our partner team files the shipping bill once these are in place.