Nhava Sheva to Hamburg: sea freight from India
Sea freight from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) near Mumbai to Hamburg, for full containers and LCL. We coordinate with your Indian supplier, prepare German customs and deliver onward.
The lane in short
Typical values, not a quote. Dates and routing change with the carrier.
- Typical transit
- 25 to 35 days port to port via the Suez Canal, depending on the service. Add roughly 10 to 14 days when the ship goes around the Cape of Good Hope.
- Origin ports
- Nhava Sheva, also called JNPT (code INNSA), near Mumbai. We also quote from Chennai and other Indian ports when the supplier is better served there.
- Destination
- Port of Hamburg (DEHAM), with onward delivery by truck to Germany and the EU.
- Typical cargo
- Textiles and garments, auto components, machinery parts, chemicals, handicrafts and food products.
- Equipment
- 20GP, 40GP and 40HC for FCL, or LCL from a consolidation warehouse near Mumbai.
How a shipment moves on this lane
Booking and inland pickup
We book the sailing. Cargo from suppliers inland, for example around Delhi or Pune, moves by truck or by rail to Nhava Sheva first.
Export clearance in India
The Indian exporter files the shipping bill. Origin certificates and any inspection papers must be ready before the vessel cut-off.
Ocean transit
The carrier issues the bill of lading. We follow the vessel and tell you if the arrival date moves.
Hamburg arrival and delivery
We file the German import declaration before arrival and arrange delivery by truck to your address.
What to know on this lane
Inland pickups add days. Allow extra time for cargo that starts far from Mumbai, and ask your supplier when the container will reach the port, not only when it leaves the factory.
Check the duty rate and any preference by commodity code before you order. Rules differ by product, and your customs broker can confirm what applies today.
Steel, aluminium and some chemicals can fall under the EU carbon border mechanism (CBAM) and under anti-dumping measures. Check the commodity code first.
Textiles and garments often need clear fibre composition on the invoice and labels that match the EU rules. Ask your supplier to state the composition for each item.
Customs and costs in Germany
Every importer needs an EORI number. The import declaration is based on the commodity code, the customs value and the origin. Import duty depends on the code, and German import VAT is 19 percent at the standard rate and 7 percent at the reduced rate. A VAT-registered business can normally reclaim import VAT.
Your price is made up of ocean freight, origin charges, terminal and handling charges in Hamburg, customs clearance, and delivery. We list each of them separately in the quote. Read more about customs clearance and sea freight, or run the numbers with the CBM calculator and the container loading calculator.
Questions about shipping from Nhava Sheva
How long does it take to ship from Nhava Sheva to Hamburg?
Typically 25 to 35 days port to port via the Suez Canal. Cargo that starts inland needs extra days for the move to the port, and routing around the Cape of Good Hope adds roughly 10 to 14 days.
Can you collect from suppliers outside Mumbai?
Yes. Tell us where the supplier is and the Incoterm you agreed, and we quote the inland leg together with the sea freight.
Do I pay duty on goods from India?
Usually yes. The rate depends on the commodity code and origin. The import duty and VAT calculator gives an estimate once you know the rate, and import VAT in Germany is 19 percent at the standard rate.
What documents do I need?
A commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, and where needed a certificate of origin. See customs clearance in Germany for what the import declaration needs.
Other lanes
Shanghai to Hamburg, Shenzhen to Hamburg, Karachi to Hamburg. See all trade lanes.
Get a quote for Nhava Sheva to Hamburg
Send us the origin, cargo volume and weight, and the Incoterm. You will have an itemised quote within 24 business hours.
