Visakhapatnam, India
Customs clearance in Visakhapatnam
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Visakhapatnam. Customs clearance in India is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
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 |
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.
One contact, local customs expertise
Our partner team in India files the declarations locally, under the Ziem Logistics brand. You send documents and questions to our operations desk, which coordinates with the team and keeps you informed.
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).
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in India can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
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.