Shipping Surgical Supply from India to United Kingdom: Sea vs Air to Felixstowe

Sea freight

Most orders to United Kingdom move by sea from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Felixstowe. 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 Felixstowe

Have your MHRA (UKCA/CE) registration and import permit ready before the vessel arrives to avoid demurrage.

Incoterms on the India - United Kingdom 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 Felixstowe, the Incoterm most United Kingdom 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 Felixstowe, ask for desiccant packs in cartons, VCI-treated instruments and marine insurance at full invoice value rather than freight value alone.