Most containerised oilseeds from Gujarat ship through Mundra or Pipavav. Kandla, also called Deendayal, is used too, and Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai is a common alternative when it has a better service to your destination.
There is no single best port. The right one depends on where the processor is, which shipping lines serve your destination, the transit time and the freight on offer that month.
The main options
- Mundra: a large container port in Kutch with many direct services to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. Commonly used for sesame, groundnut and castor from Saurashtra and north Gujarat.
- Pipavav: a container port on the Saurashtra coast, closer to parts of the groundnut and onion belts around Amreli and Bhavnagar. Fewer services than Mundra, but often convenient.
- Kandla (Deendayal): a major port near Gandhidham handling bulk and container cargo.
- Nhava Sheva (JNPT): near Mumbai, with a very wide choice of lines, at the cost of a longer road haul from Gujarat.
How to choose
- Shipping line and service: which lines run direct to your port, and how often.
- Transit time: a direct service may save a week over a transhipment route.
- Freight: rates differ by port and change often, so compare at booking time.
- Inland haul: distance and road conditions from the processor to the port.
- Container availability: food-grade containers can be scarce at some ports in peak season.
- Your terms: on FOB terms you, or your forwarder, usually choose the line, so the port follows from that.
Port services oilseeds need
Oilseed shipments often need phytosanitary inspection, fumigation where required, and sometimes inspection by a third party at the port. Most processors stuff containers at their own factory, then truck them to the port. Some use a container freight station near the port instead.
Check that the plant protection inspection and fumigation you need are available for your port and timing. Your broker will also need a full document pack, as listed in the document pack your broker will ask for.
Quoting with a port
Indian suppliers usually quote FOB a named port, such as FOB Mundra, or CIF your destination. A supplier quoting FOB Mundra while trucking from far away is building that cost into the price. Compare quotes on the same port and terms. What each term covers is explained in what FOB Mundra or CIF Rotterdam include.
Monsoon weather, roughly June to September, can slow trucking and cause rain at loading. Allow extra time and insist on loading under cover in those months.
How we help
We compare port and line options with your forwarder, then plan factory loading to meet the vessel cut-off. We supervise stuffing at the plant and send you photos and the seal number before the truck leaves. Ask for a free sourcing review.