Short answer
Key takeaways
- Freight is cheapest per unit in FCL
- Many surgical items attract low or zero duty
- Ask for CIF pricing to compare like-for-like
- Annual contracts stabilise price
The five cost components
- Product price (EXW/FOB India)
- Freight to Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road)
- Marine insurance (≈0.3–0.5%)
- Import duty and VAT/GST where applicable
- Clearance, port charges and inland delivery
How to lower landed cost
Consolidate categories into one container, order on a quarterly schedule and buy CIF so freight is negotiated at volume.
India vs other origins
Compared with Europe, Indian products are typically far cheaper for equivalent certified quality; compared with other Asian origins, India offers stronger instrument craftsmanship and English-language documentation suited to the Department of Drug Administration (DDA).
Getting an accurate quote
Request our catalogue and we return a CIF Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road) price list for your selected items.
Costs buyers often forget to ask about
- Demurrage if customs clearance is delayed at Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road)
- Local currency conversion spread on international payments
- Inland transport from Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road) to the final warehouse
- Bank charges on L/C or wire transfers
Comparing two quotes fairly
Always compare CIF-to-CIF or FOB-to-FOB, never a CIF quote against an FOB quote. Ask both suppliers for the same Incoterm, the same packaging standard and the same certification set before comparing numbers.
Sea freight
10–16 days
To Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road) from Mundra or Nhava Sheva. Best for FCL/LCL container orders and mixed-category shipments.
Air freight
1–3 days
From Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai. Best for urgent, tender or high-value orders.
Documents we provide for Department of Drug Administration (DDA)
- ISO 13485:2016 certificate of the manufacturing site
- CE certificate or declaration of conformity per product family
- Certificate of Free Sale issued in India
- Technical file / product dossier formatted for the Department of Drug Administration (DDA)
- Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and packing list
- Batch-wise certificate of analysis and sterilisation validation (for sterile items)
Get the Nepal surgical supply catalogue
Full catalogue and a CIF price list for Nepal, sent within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a surgical supply catalogue for Nepal?+
Request it on the GlobalSurgicals catalogue form or WhatsApp our export desk. We send the full catalogue and a Nepal price list (CIF Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road)) within one business day.
How long does shipping from India to Nepal take?+
Sea freight to Kolkata (for Kathmandu, by road) takes about 10–16 days; air freight about 1–3 days.
Do you quote in USD for Nepal?+
We quote in USD by default; EUR and GBP quotes are available.