Quick answer
For Surat importers and exporters, Hazira Port is the nearest sea port and suits many container shipments. ICD Sachin lets you clear customs inside Surat, with containers moved to and from the sea port. Mundra Port has the widest choice of mainline shipping services. Kandla (Deendayal Port) handles large volumes of bulk, break-bulk and liquid cargo. Ahmedabad Air Cargo is the option for urgent or high-value goods. The right choice depends on the shipping services on your route, the transit time, and the total cost including transport to and from Surat.
Key takeaways
- Compare the total door-to-door cost, not just the ocean freight.
- Hazira gives the shortest road haul for Surat factories.
- ICD Sachin brings customs clearance and examination close to Surat's industrial areas.
- Mundra usually offers the most sailings and direct services, but the road haul from Surat is long.
- Air cargo through Ahmedabad suits urgent, light or high-value shipments.
In this guide
Ports and ICDs Surat businesses use
| Location | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Hazira Port | Container cargo on services that call at Hazira. The shortest haul to and from Surat. | Check which shipping lines and services call here for your route. |
| ICD Sachin | Clearing customs in Surat, close to factories in Sachin and nearby areas. | Moving the container between the ICD and the sea port is part of the cost and transit time. |
| Mundra Port | The widest choice of shipping lines and sailings, including many direct mainline services. | A long road or rail haul from Surat adds cost and time. |
| Kandla (Deendayal) Port | Bulk, break-bulk and liquid cargo, plus container services. | Also a long inland haul from Surat. |
| Ahmedabad Air Cargo | Urgent, light or high-value shipments. | Air freight costs much more per kg than sea freight. |
Hazira Port
Hazira is on the coast just outside Surat, at the mouth of the Tapi river. For many Surat importers and exporters it means the shortest truck journey, which saves transport cost and gets cargo to the factory faster. Container services that call at Hazira connect to major trade lanes, and shipping lines can also move cargo through transhipment hubs. When your line has a suitable service, Hazira is often the simplest choice for Surat-based cargo.
ICD Sachin
An inland container depot (ICD) is a dry port where customs clearance happens inland instead of at the sea port. ICD Sachin is in Surat's Sachin industrial area. For imports, the shipping line moves the container from the sea port to the ICD, where it is cleared. For exports, the container is cleared and sealed at the ICD and then moved to the port. Clearing at the ICD means examination takes place in Surat, close to your factory.
Mundra Port
Mundra, in Kutch, is one of India's largest commercial ports and is connected by rail. It has a very wide choice of shipping lines and direct services to China and the Far East, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. That choice can mean better sailing schedules and competitive freight. For Surat cargo, the trade-off is the long inland journey, so compare the total cost, not just the ocean freight.
Kandla (Deendayal Port)
Deendayal Port at Kandla, also in Kutch, is one of India's major government ports. It handles very large volumes of bulk and liquid cargo, such as edible oils, fertilisers and petroleum products, along with break-bulk and container cargo. It is a common choice for bulk and break-bulk shipments that need its berths and storage.
Ahmedabad Air Cargo
The air cargo complex at Ahmedabad airport is the nearest major air cargo gateway for many Gujarat businesses. Use it for samples, urgent spare parts, small high-value consignments, and shipments where transit time matters more than freight cost.
How to choose: five questions
- Which services run on my route? Check which shipping lines and sailings serve your origin or destination from each port.
- What is the total landed cost? Add ocean or air freight, port and CFS charges, and transport to or from your factory.
- What type of cargo is it? FCL, LCL, bulk, break-bulk or air cargo each fit some locations better than others.
- Where do I want examination to happen? Clearing at ICD Sachin keeps examination in Surat.
- How many free days do I get, and where is the empty container returned? These affect detention and transport costs.
For LCL cargo, also check where the consolidator's CFS is. Your cargo is cleared there, and the CFS charges and delivery time depend on it.
We clear at all five
Neptoria's customs team works at Hazira Port, ICD Sachin, Mundra Port, Kandla Port and Ahmedabad Air Cargo. We compare the options for your shipment and handle the clearance, ocean freight and transport from one team. See our customs clearance service, or send us your route on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Hazira Port, on the coast just outside Surat, is the nearest sea port and handles container, bulk and liquid cargo.
ICD Sachin is an inland container depot in Surat's Sachin industrial area. Import and export containers can be cleared by customs there instead of at the sea port.
It depends on the route and the shipping line. Mundra may offer more sailings and competitive freight, while Hazira saves on road transport to and from Surat. Compare the total door-to-door cost for your shipment.
Yes. The cargo is cleared at Mundra and then moved to Surat by road or rail. We arrange the clearance and the transport.
Yes. Our customs team works at Hazira Port, ICD Sachin, Mundra Port, Kandla Port and Ahmedabad Air Cargo.
Related services
Neptoria customs team
Written by the customs and documentation team at Neptoria Clearing And Logistics, a customs house agent in Surat that clears cargo at Hazira, ICD Sachin, Mundra, Kandla and Ahmedabad Air Cargo.
Rules and rates change. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last updated 9 November 2026.
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