Tea Shipping from India | FOB Kolkata & CIF Ocean Freight
Navigating cross-border tea logistics requires careful inland transport management, experienced port terminal coordination, and proper container protection. Operating from Siliguri—the primary trading junction connecting Assam, Dooars, and Darjeeling—Byahut Tea Company manages the entire logistics chain from origin warehouse receipt to container stuffing and ocean vessel loading. We coordinate commercial freight on FOB Kolkata/Haldia and CIF destination port terms, ensuring export compliance and cargo protection across global maritime lanes.
Logistics Network Snapshot
- • Ocean Gateways: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata & Haldia Dock Complex.
- • Inland Movement: Transported via covered road transit to Kolkata port container freight stations (CFS).
- • Container Types: Standard 20ft GP (General Purpose) and 40ft HC (High Cube) ocean containers.
- • Cargo Protection: Fitted with container desiccants and protective lining to mitigate maritime condensation.
- • Trade Terms: FOB Kolkata/Haldia, CIF Destination Port, CFR, and Ex-Warehouse Siliguri.
Incoterms Division of Responsibility (FOB vs. CIF vs. CFR)
Clear allocation of operational milestones, freight booking, and customs responsibilities.
| Incoterm | Named Place / Point | Exporter (Byahut) Scope | Buyer Scope | Insurance Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOB (Free on Board) | Kolkata / Haldia Port | Inland road transit, terminal handling (THC), export customs clearance, stuffing, loading on vessel | Ocean freight booking, marine cargo insurance, destination import clearance | Buyer arranges marine transit insurance policy |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) | Named Destination Port | All FOB obligations + ocean freight booking + marine cargo insurance policy | Destination port discharge, import customs duty, terminal fees, local inland haulage | Byahut coordinates marine transit insurance per contract terms |
| CFR (Cost & Freight) | Named Destination Port | All FOB obligations + ocean freight booking to destination discharge port | Marine insurance, destination port discharge, customs duties, local inland haulage | Buyer covers own marine cargo policy |
| Ex-Warehouse Siliguri | Siliguri Warehouse | Tea procurement, lot grading, sack packing, loading onto buyer-designated transport | All transport from Siliguri, port forwarding, export documentation, customs | Buyer assumes risk upon warehouse handover |
Container Configurations & Density Considerations
Container payload depends on tea density, packing configuration, and carrier/road-weight limits. Explore our specialized FCL container load tea guide for detailed maritime stuffing protocols.
20ft General Purpose (GP)
Suited for single-lot shipments and trial container orders. Sizing and loading depend on whether the tea is high-density granular CTC or volumetric Orthodox whole leaf.
- • CTC Granular: High bulk density enables efficient payload utilization within shipping line limits.
- • Orthodox Leaf: Volumetric leaf styles require more cubic space per metric ton.
- • Stuffing: Multiwall kraft paper sacks floor-loaded or palletized to buyer specification.
- • Moisture Protection: Clean cardboard container lining and industrial hanging desiccants.
40ft High Cube (HC)
Ideal for large-scale commercial wholesale contracts and volumetric Orthodox or leaf-heavy blends that require additional vertical cubic volume.
- • Volumetric Efficiency: Additional cubic capacity accommodates bulky orthodox invoices.
- • Commercial Scale: Cost-effective per-ton ocean freight for long-haul maritime routes.
- • Stuffing: Multiwall sacks arranged with ventilation gaps and protective lining.
- • Weight Governance: Monitored to adhere strictly to destination road and port axle limits.
Frequently Asked Questions: Indian Tea Export Logistics
Which Indian ocean ports are used to export Byahut tea consignments?
Byahut Tea Company coordinates containerized ocean shipments primarily through Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (Kolkata Dock System) and the Haldia Dock Complex. These terminals provide primary maritime feeder connections to international transshipment ports including Colombo, Singapore, and Port Klang.
What Incoterms does Byahut support for international tea trade?
We coordinate shipments on FOB (Free on Board - Kolkata/Haldia Port), CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight - Destination Port), CFR (Cost & Freight), and Ex-Warehouse Siliguri terms. For CIF agreements, marine cargo insurance is arranged per contract specifications.
How is tea protected against moisture during ocean voyages?
Containers are pre-inspected for cleanliness and watertight integrity, lined with protective cardboard, and fitted with industrial container desiccants. Tea is packed in multiwall kraft paper sacks with food-grade moisture barrier liners to mitigate maritime condensation.
How much tea fits in a 20ft and 40ft container?
Container payload depends on tea density, packing configuration, and carrier/road-weight limits. Granular CTC black tea loads at higher bulk density compared to leafy Orthodox grades; exact payload calculations are confirmed per quotation and packing list.
In-Depth Logistics & Shipping Decision Guides
Technical shipping references covering container optimization, port gateway infrastructure, maritime risk management, and transport economics in bulk Indian tea export.
Comparative analysis of maritime delivery terms, freight booking economics, and port risk transfer.
2. FCL vs LCL Tea Shipping →Full container economics vs consolidation perils, co-loading odor taint hazards, and minimum thresholds.
3. Tea Container Loading Guide →Loose floor loading vs palletized stowage trade-offs, volume payload loss, and SOLAS VGM compliance.
4. Tea Container Stuffing →Empty container pre-inspection, food-grade kraft dressing, desiccant poles, and sweat prevention.
5. Kolkata Port Tea Shipping →SMP Kolkata infrastructure (INCCU1), riverine Hooghly draft dynamics, and regional feeder loops.
6. Haldia Port Tea Shipping →HDC deep-water riverine berths (INHAL1), draft advantages over Kolkata, and heavy container routing.
7. Tea Cargo Insurance Guide →Institute Cargo Clauses (Tea), ICC (A) All Risks, freshwater and taint claims, and survey protocols.
8. Tea Shipping Weight & Volume →CTC vs Orthodox bulk density differences, container cubic capacity, payload modeling, and formulas.
9. Tea Export Transit Planning →Farm-to-port milestone scheduling, Siliguri and Assam highway transit, port dwell times, and vessel cut-offs.
10. Tea Sample Courier Protocol →Pre-Shipment Sample (PSS) drawing, hermetic aluminum pouch packing, express air dispatch, and approval.
Request Ocean Freight Quotation & Shipping Advice
Submit your required tea grade, volume scale, and destination discharge port to receive FOB or CIF shipping proposals with transit schedules.