Freight Rates India to East Africa | FCL Shipping & Transit Times

East Africa's imports from India in 2024 were about US$8.9B. Direct sailings like India → East Africa can be as low as 12–20 days. Get live prices, schedules and documents.

Total trade

US$8.9B

East Africa imports from India, 2024 (UN Comtrade/DGCIS)

Two-way trade

US$14.2B

Two-way trade 2024/25

Typical transit

12–20 days

Direct services ~12–18d; Transshipment up to ~20d.

Port throughput

1.4M TEU

Mombasa handles 1.4M+ TEU annually. East Africa's largest port. Dar es Salaam handles 0.9M+ TEU.

Trade Snapshot: India → East Africa

Updated: 2025-12-08

US$8.9B
East Africa imports from India, 2024 (UN Comtrade/DGCIS)
YoY:↑ 7.8% vs 2023
US$14.2B
Two-way trade 2024/25
Indicative of sustained interdependence.
12–20 days
Typical FCL transit
Direct services ~12–18d; Transshipment up to ~20d.
1.4M TEU
Mombasa port throughput 2024
Mombasa handles 1.4M+ TEU annually. East Africa's largest port. Dar es Salaam handles 0.9M+ TEU.

Top Commodities Traded (IndiaEast Africa)

From DGCI&S / analysis briefs & sector reports

Pharmaceutical Products (HS-30)

Medicines, pharmaceutical products. Major export category. US$2.8B (2024).

Textiles & Apparel (HS-50-63)

Garments, fabrics, textile products. US$1.9B (2024).

Machinery & Equipment (HS-84)

Industrial machinery, equipment, vehicles. US$1.5B (2024).

Organic Chemicals (HS-29)

Chemical products, pharmaceutical intermediates. US$1.2B (2024).

Major Ports & Transit Benchmarks

Benchmarks are indicative; use live schedules for ETAs

Origins (India):

Nhava ShevaMundraChennaiKattupalliKolkata

Destinations (East Africa):

MombasaDar es SalaamDjiboutiZanzibar

Carriers:

MSCMaerskCMA CGMHapag-LloydCOSCOONEEvergreen
Unable to load map for this port pair. Please try another row.
Port PairServiceTransitCut-off (typ.)Free Days
Nhava Sheva → MombasaDirect / T/S12–18 daysVGM D-2 / CY D-114–21
Mundra → Dar es SalaamDirect / T/S14–20 daysVGM D-2 / CY D-114–21

Instant Rate Levels

Selected: Nhava Sheva → Mombasa 20' GP
USD 1,500 2,200

Spot all-in (Ocean+BAF) illustration; excludes local charges & taxes

730
112

On click we'll redirect to Cogoport booking flow

Quick Compare

  • Contract rates ↓ ~3–8% as tenor ↑.
  • Each extra free day can ↑ all-in by ~USD 4–6.
  • Peak windows: pre-CNY (Jan–Feb), back-to-school (Aug–Sep).

Why Choose Cogoport for IndiaEast Africa?

Data-backed guidance • Transparent pricing • Reliable execution

Wide Carrier Coverage

Direct + T/S options across major services, balanced for time vs cost.

Transparent Rate Build-ups

See base, surcharges, and local charges before you book.

Compliance & Docs

AD Code, ICEGATE, COO, fumigation, license checks—built in.

Saved 9% on our container runs
CogoAI lane suggestions optimized our India to East Africa shipments. – Importer
Reliable space in peak weeks
Contract bench helped us lock volume smartly. – Trader

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?
For assistance, please visit our Contact Us page.
Our dedicated team is ready to help you on your journey to a greener, more sustainable future