International shipping from India: Top 10 things to keep in mind

Your very own guide to shipping items from India to different parts of the world. Now send international couriers anywhere in the world safely and smartly!

International shipping is a very complicated process. Along with a lot of paperwork, one must consider the custom regulations, international shipping rates, the delivery time, and a lot of other things. We have sorted the top ten things for you that you must take care of while making an international shipment.

1. Volumetric Weight

The shipping price is calculated based on the greater of the two - actual weight or the volumetric weight of the package. The volumetric weight depends on the volume (size) of the package. Hence, the bigger the package the more the volumetric weight. Volumetric weight can be easily calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height of a parcel (in cm) and dividing that figure by 5000. Some shipping companies like Shoppre helps you to reduce the volumetric weight by consolidating and repackaging service.

2. Customs Clearance

If you wish to send a package overseas, it needs to be cleared by

• Carrier Clearance - The package needs to be cleared by your shipping carrier. You can easily go through the guidelines of popular shipping carriers like DHL, FedEx, etc on their websites.
• Customs Clearance - Once the package gets cleared by the shipping partner, it reaches the customs department two times. Your package needs to be cleared by the customs twice - one in the country where the product is shipped from, and then again in the country where the product is shipped to.

3. Prohibited Items

There are some items that are prohibited from export and import as per the respective country’s government policies to ensure environmental safety, social wellbeing, conservation of natural resources, and avoid trade embargoes. Therefore, make sure to check the list of such items for the country the package is shipped from as well as the destination. The shipping carriers also have a list of prohibited items that need to be checked before making a shipment. When you ship an item that is prohibited, it may get confiscated by the customs authorities and never reach its destination or the sender may be subjected to a penalty or fine. Therefore, avoid sending these items to ensure timely delivery of the package without any hassle.

4. Customs Fee

Whenever your package reaches a different country, it is subjected to the country’s duties and taxes. It is difficult for a shipping company based in one country to calculate the exact customs fee on import for a different country. In this case, the customers need to pay the additional taxes. Along with this, sometimes a brokerage fee is also charged to clear your package from the local customs.

5. Clearance Charges for special items

Certain items like liquids, semi-liquids, homemade food, medicine, ayurvedic products, cosmetic products like nail polish require a special package clearance charge. The clearance charge depends on the weight of the products.

6. Shipping charges

Always check the shipping charges using online tools such as a shipping price calculator on the website of your shipping partner. But sometimes, there are hidden charges such as fuel surcharge, remote areas charge, taxes and duties, and other surcharges for shipping. Make sure to compare a few services before choosing one and then pick the one that suits you best.

7. Transit Time

An international package usually takes up to 3-6 business days to deliver. If you have an urgent package you can opt for express shipping that costs a bit more than normal shipping.

8. Packaging

While sending a courier overseas, you need to make sure to pack the items carefully with a lot of extra padding to avoid damage in transit. You can use newspapers or bubble wrap.

9. Insurance

It is always advisable to insure your package before shipping it overseas, especially, if you are shipping a valuable item. Contact your shipping partner to get the insurance. You should also know what your insurance covers and what will be reimbursed, in case it is damaged or lost.

10. Tracking

Always make sure that you can track your shipment with the shipping partner. It makes it easy to know the whereabouts of the package and ensure timely delivery.

Remember all of these points while making an international shipment to make your shipping process effortless and hassle-free. There are a lot of shipping companies out there that will take care of the process for you. Shoppre is also one such shipping partner that believes in making shipping across the globe easiest and affordable for everyone. Contact our customer support staff for any query.