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Shipping & Logistics · Ghana

Shipping Surgical Supply from India to Ghana: Sea vs Air to Tema

4 min read · Updated 2026-05-27 · GlobalSurgicals export desk

Short answer

Sea freight from India to Tema takes about 24–30 days and is the cheapest option for container orders; air freight takes 3–5 days and suits urgent or high-value items such as sutures and electrosurgical accessories.

Key takeaways

  • Sea: 24–30 days
  • Air: 3–5 days
  • LCL from 1 CBM
  • Export cartons are 5-ply and palletised

Sea freight

Most orders to Ghana move by sea from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Tema. Mixing instruments, disposables and garments in one FCL brings freight per unit down sharply.

Air freight

Use air for tender deadlines, emergency stock-outs or light, high-value products. We ship air from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

Which products ship best by which mode

  • Sea: hospital furniture, drapes, gowns, gloves, bandages, incontinence products
  • Air or sea: surgical instruments, catheters, infusion sets
  • Air for urgent orders: sutures, electrosurgical pencils, ophthalmic consumables

Packaging for long transits

Sterile goods are double-packed with moisture-barrier liners; instruments are oiled and sealed in VCI paper to prevent corrosion in humid holds.

Customs clearance at Tema

Have your Food and Drugs Authority Ghana registration and import permit ready before the vessel arrives to avoid demurrage.

Incoterms on the India - Ghana lane

  • EXW: you arrange the entire freight yourself from our factory gate
  • FOB: we deliver to the Indian port, you book the ocean freight
  • CIF/CFR: we arrange freight to Tema, the Incoterm most Ghana buyers choose
  • DAP/DDP: door delivery through a partner forwarder, quoted on request

Reducing transit risk on long lanes

For humid or long transits to Tema, ask for desiccant packs in cartons, VCI-treated instruments and marine insurance at full invoice value rather than freight value alone.

Sea freight

24–30 days

To Tema from Mundra or Nhava Sheva. Best for FCL/LCL container orders and mixed-category shipments.

Air freight

3–5 days

From Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai. Best for urgent, tender or high-value orders.

Documents we provide for Food and Drugs Authority Ghana

  • ISO 13485:2016 certificate of the manufacturing site
  • CE certificate or declaration of conformity per product family
  • Certificate of Free Sale issued in India
  • Technical file / product dossier formatted for the Food and Drugs Authority Ghana
  • Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and packing list
  • Batch-wise certificate of analysis and sterilisation validation (for sterile items)

Where healthcare construction is growing in Ghana

  • Accra - the Agenda 111 district hospital programme and private clinics

Get the Ghana surgical supply catalogue

Full catalogue and a CIF price list for Ghana, sent within one business day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a surgical supply catalogue for Ghana?+

Request it on the GlobalSurgicals catalogue form or WhatsApp our export desk. We send the full catalogue and a Ghana price list (CIF Tema) within one business day.

How long does shipping from India to Ghana take?+

Sea freight to Tema takes about 24–30 days; air freight about 3–5 days.

Can you ship DDP to our warehouse?+

For many cities in Ghana we can quote DAP or DDP through partner forwarders. Ask the export desk for a door-delivery quote.

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