Sea and air freight from India to Ghana
Full container (FCL). A 20ft or 40ft container shipped from Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai, Mundra in Gujarat, or Chennai on the east coast. The port usually follows the supplier: western India ships through Nhava Sheva or Mundra, southern India through Chennai. Heavy cargo such as rice and machinery normally fills a container by weight before volume.
Shared container (LCL). Cartons and pallets consolidated with other shippers, so you pay for the space you use. Useful for spare parts and trial orders. See FCL vs LCL shipping.
Air freight. From major Indian airports to Accra International Airport, for medicines, samples and urgent spare parts. Charged by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
Pharmaceuticals and the FDA
India is one of Ghana's biggest sources of medicines. Every pharmaceutical product needs Food and Drugs Authority approval before customs will release it. In practice that means:
- The importer is registered with the FDA and licensed to deal in medicines.
- Each product is registered with the FDA in Ghana before it ships, which can take a long time, so start early.
- The import permit is applied for through ICUMS and linked to the customs declaration.
- Labels, batch numbers and expiry dates match the registration and leave enough shelf life.
Temperature-sensitive products need the right packing and a fast handover at the airport or port. Read our FDA import permit guide before you place an order.
Rice, machinery, motorbikes and spare parts
- Rice. Shipped in bags in full containers. As a food it needs FDA approval, and bags should be labelled to Ghana requirements. Check the current duty and any import conditions before you buy, as rice policy changes from time to time.
- Machinery. Agricultural, construction and processing equipment. Many capital goods fall in lower duty bands, but the HS code must be right. Oversized units may need flat racks or open-top containers.
- Motorbikes and tricycles. Usually shipped new, crated or partly knocked down, in full containers. They need correct chassis and engine numbers on the invoice for registration with the DVLA after clearance.
- Spare parts. Vehicle and motorbike parts often ship LCL or by air. A detailed packing list by part type speeds up classification.
Documents for cargo from India to Ghana
- Commercial invoice with full descriptions, quantities, unit prices and the currency, plus chassis and engine numbers for motorbikes.
- Packing list with weights and package counts that match the invoice.
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air), naming you as consignee.
- Importer identification: your TIN or Ghana Card number.
- FDA permit for medicines, food including rice, cosmetics and medical devices.
- Certificate of origin and, for medicines, the certificates of analysis your FDA registration calls for.
Your Indian supplier files the export declaration in India. Ask for draft documents before loading so we can check them against what Ghana Customs and the FDA will expect. Most delays at Tema start with a description or value that does not match across documents. See the full import documents checklist.
How long it takes and what drives the cost
By sea, plan for about 25 to 45 days from an Indian port to Tema, depending on the shipping line and transhipment, plus time for collection and clearance. By air, about 3 to 7 days.
The cost of shipping from India to Ghana combines origin charges, ocean or air freight, Ghana import duty and taxes, and local charges at Tema. Duty depends on the HS code of each product, so medicines, machinery and finished goods can land at very different rates. Estimate it with the import duty calculator, and read container shipping cost to Ghana for the full breakdown.
Clearance at Tema and door to door delivery
We arrange collection at origin through our agents, then handle the ICUMS declaration, FDA and other permits, duty payment and examination as licensed customs brokers at Tema and Accra airport. We deliver to your pharmacy, warehouse or site in Accra, Kumasi or anywhere in Ghana, and you can follow each step on our tracking page.
Questions
How long does shipping from India to Ghana take?
By sea, about 25 to 45 days port to port from Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Chennai, depending on the shipping line and transhipment. Add time for collection in India and clearance at Tema. Air freight usually takes about 3 to 7 days.
How much does it cost to ship a container from India to Ghana?
It depends on the container size, the port of loading, the weight and type of goods, and the duty band in Ghana. Send your cargo details through our quote form for a price covering freight, clearance and delivery.
Do I need an FDA permit to import medicines from India?
Yes. The importer and every product must be registered with the FDA in Ghana, and an import permit is needed for each shipment. Customs will not release medicines without it.
Can I import motorbikes from India into Ghana?
Yes. New motorbikes are commonly shipped crated in full containers. Make sure the invoice shows each chassis and engine number so the bikes can be registered after clearance.
What documents do I need for cargo from India?
A commercial invoice and packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, your TIN or Ghana Card number, and permits for regulated goods such as FDA approval for food and medicines. A certificate of origin is also useful.
Do you offer door to door shipping from India to Ghana?
Yes. We arrange collection at origin, the freight, customs clearance and delivery to any address in Ghana.
Talk to our operations desk.
Send your documents or cargo details and we will reply with a full quote: freight, clearance and delivery on one page.