Short answer
Key takeaways
- Sea: 10–16 days
- Air: 1–3 days
- LCL from 1 CBM
- Export cartons are 5-ply and palletised
Sea freight
Most orders to Nepal move by sea from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road). 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 Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road)
Have your Department of Drug Administration (DDA) registration and import permit ready before the vessel arrives to avoid demurrage.
Incoterms on the India - Nepal 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 Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road), the Incoterm most Nepal 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 Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road), ask for desiccant packs in cartons, VCI-treated instruments and marine insurance at full invoice value rather than freight value alone.
Sea freight
10–16 days
To Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road) from Mundra or Nhava Sheva. Best for FCL/LCL container orders and mixed-category shipments.
Air freight
1–3 days
From Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai. Best for urgent, tender or high-value orders.
Documents we provide for Department of Drug Administration (DDA)
- 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 Department of Drug Administration (DDA)
- Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and packing list
- Batch-wise certificate of analysis and sterilisation validation (for sterile items)
Get the Nepal surgical supply catalogue
Full catalogue and a CIF price list for Nepal, sent within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a surgical supply catalogue for Nepal?+
Request it on the GlobalSurgicals catalogue form or WhatsApp our export desk. We send the full catalogue and a Nepal price list (CIF Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road)) within one business day.
How long does shipping from India to Nepal take?+
Sea freight to Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road) takes about 10–16 days; air freight about 1–3 days.
Can you ship DDP to our warehouse?+
For many cities in Nepal we can quote DAP or DDP through partner forwarders. Ask the export desk for a door-delivery quote.