CargoForce books over 800 sea-freight shipments a month between the UK and India. Here is the full picture in 2026 — which ports we use, how long each route takes, how pricing breaks down, and when to choose LCL versus FCL.
UK origin ports
Felixstowe
The UK's largest container port and our primary loading point for sailings to Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) and Mundra. Vessel cut-off Wednesday 12:00 for Friday sailings. Best for shipments originating in London, the Midlands, East Anglia and the South East.
Southampton
Used for sailings to Chennai and Kolkata via Colombo transhipment. Vessel cut-off Tuesday 17:00 for Thursday sailings. Best for shipments originating in the South West, Wales and the Channel Islands.
London Gateway
Tertiary hub for high-volume corridors. Same Friday sailings as Felixstowe.
Indian destination ports
Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) — JNPT
India's busiest container port. Sailing time 24–28 days from Felixstowe. Inland coverage to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa within 2–3 days.
Mundra
Adani-operated, the fastest-growing gateway. Sailing time 26–30 days from Felixstowe. Excellent rail and road links to Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR.
Chennai
Primary gateway for South India. Sailing time 30–34 days from Southampton via Colombo. Inland coverage to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka (4–5 days), Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.
Kolkata
For East and North-East India. Sailing time 32–38 days from Southampton. Inland coverage to West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and the North-East.
LCL versus FCL
LCL — Less than Container Load
Your cargo is consolidated with other shippers into a shared container. £2.50/kg with £250 minimum. Best for shipments under 8 cubic metres or 3 tonnes.
FCL — Full Container Load
You book the whole container. Pricing per container, not per kg. Typical 2026 rates:
- 20-foot container (28 m³ / 22 tonnes): £1,800–£2,400 all-in.
- 40-foot standard container (58 m³ / 26 tonnes): £2,400–£3,200 all-in.
- 40-foot high-cube (66 m³ / 26 tonnes): £2,600–£3,400 all-in.
FCL becomes cheaper than LCL once your shipment exceeds about 8 m³ or 4 tonnes.
The break-even maths
A 5,000 kg shipment by LCL costs 5,000 × £2.50 = £12,500. The same shipment in a 40-foot container costs £2,800–£3,200 all-in. FCL is cheaper by an order of magnitude — but only if you have the volume to fill it.
What is included in the quote
Whether LCL or FCL, the CargoForce price includes:
- UK doorstep collection.
- Consolidation, palletisation and export documentation.
- Port handling at the UK origin.
- Ocean freight.
- Bill of Lading and shipping line fees.
- Indian port handling and CFS charges.
- Customs clearance, Customs duty and IGST.
- Final-mile delivery to the consignee's door.
