A great supplier deal is worth nothing if the shipment sits at Nhava Sheva for three weeks because the Incoterm, HS code, or documentation wasn't right. We plan the freight and clearance before the goods leave the factory, not after.
Freight forwarding is a commodity service — dozens of forwarders will quote you a container rate. What actually determines whether your shipment moves cleanly through Indian customs is decided weeks earlier: the Incoterm you agreed with the supplier, the accuracy of the commercial invoice and packing list, and whether the HS code on the paperwork matches what customs will assess when they look at the goods. VIAQEX treats logistics and customs as one discipline because in practice they are — a freight decision made in Guangzhou determines a customs outcome in Mumbai three weeks later.
FOB, CIF, EXW, DDP — each shifts risk, cost, and control to a different point in the journey, and first-time importers routinely accept whichever term the supplier offers without understanding what they're giving up. EXW looks cheapest on the quote but leaves you (or your agent) responsible for export clearance in China, which you have no visibility into. DDP looks convenient but usually has Indian duty and GST buried in a marked-up unit price you can't audit. We help you choose — and negotiate — the term that actually fits your shipment size, experience level, and need for cost transparency, most often landing on FOB for importers who want to see and control every cost line.
A 200-carton first order doesn't need its own container. We consolidate LCL (less-than-container-load) shipments with other cargo moving the same route to bring per-unit freight down, and step up to FCL (full container) once volume justifies it — along with air freight for time-sensitive or high-value-to-weight categories where the freight premium is smaller than it looks once you price in working-capital days saved.
Clearance through Indian customs runs on the accuracy of three things: HS code classification (which determines your duty rate and whether the item needs a specific license or certification), the Bill of Entry filed against your Importer Exporter Code (IEC), and whether the declared value and documentation match what a customs officer sees on physical or scanner inspection. We work with licensed Customs House Agents (CHAs) at your port of entry, prepare the classification and documentation before the shipment sails, and flag any BIS, FSSAI, or WPC certification requirement early enough to resolve it before the goods are afloat — not while they're sitting in a bonded warehouse accruing demurrage.
Before the PO is finalised, we model freight, duty, and GST so the landed cost is known — not estimated — before you commit.
We agree the Incoterm with your supplier and confirm the commercial invoice, packing list, and HS classification are correct before the goods leave the factory.
LCL, FCL, or air, booked at competitive rates through our forwarder network, with tracking visibility from pickup to port.
Bill of Entry filed by a licensed CHA, duty paid, and any BIS/FSSAI/WPC requirement resolved — ideally before the vessel arrives, not after.
Cleared cargo delivered to your warehouse, fulfilment centre, or 3PL, with proof of delivery and all clearance documents handed over for your records.
Under FOB, you (or your agent) arrange and pay for freight from the Chinese port onward, giving you full visibility and control over that cost. Under CIF, the supplier arranges freight and insurance and bakes it into the price — convenient, but you lose the ability to audit or shop that cost. We generally recommend FOB once you're past your first one or two shipments.
With accurate documentation and no compliance flags, clearance at a major Indian port typically runs a few days after vessel arrival. Incomplete paperwork, missing certification, or a mismatched HS code are the most common causes of multi-week delays — which is exactly what this service is built to prevent.
Yes — air freight costs more per kilo but can be cheaper overall once you account for faster inventory turnover, and it's often the right call for samples, high-value electronics, or a launch deadline you can't miss.
Yes, our CHA partners can take on clearance for an in-transit shipment, though we'll have less room to fix documentation issues created before we were engaged.
A 30-minute call is usually enough for us to tell you exactly what this will cost and how long it will take.
