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Shipping & Logistics · Australia

Shipping Surgical Supply from India to Australia: Sea vs Air to Melbourne

4 min read · Updated 2026-01-21 · GlobalSurgicals export desk

Short answer

Sea freight from India to Melbourne takes about 20–26 days and is the cheapest option for container orders; air freight takes 2–4 days and suits urgent or high-value items such as sutures and electrosurgical accessories.

Key takeaways

  • Sea: 20–26 days
  • Air: 2–4 days
  • LCL from 1 CBM
  • Export cartons are 5-ply and palletised

Sea freight

Most orders to Australia move by sea from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Melbourne. Mixing instruments, disposables and garments in one FCL brings freight per unit down sharply.

Air freight

Use air for tender deadlines, emergency stock-outs or light, high-value products. We ship air from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

Which products ship best by which mode

  • Sea: hospital furniture, drapes, gowns, gloves, bandages, incontinence products
  • Air or sea: surgical instruments, catheters, infusion sets
  • Air for urgent orders: sutures, electrosurgical pencils, ophthalmic consumables

Packaging for long transits

Sterile goods are double-packed with moisture-barrier liners; instruments are oiled and sealed in VCI paper to prevent corrosion in humid holds.

Customs clearance at Melbourne

Have your TGA (ARTG) registration and import permit ready before the vessel arrives to avoid demurrage.

Incoterms on the India - Australia lane

  • EXW: you arrange the entire freight yourself from our factory gate
  • FOB: we deliver to the Indian port, you book the ocean freight
  • CIF/CFR: we arrange freight to Melbourne, the Incoterm most Australia buyers choose
  • DAP/DDP: door delivery through a partner forwarder, quoted on request

Reducing transit risk on long lanes

For humid or long transits to Melbourne, ask for desiccant packs in cartons, VCI-treated instruments and marine insurance at full invoice value rather than freight value alone.

Sea freight

20–26 days

To Melbourne from Mundra or Nhava Sheva. Best for FCL/LCL container orders and mixed-category shipments.

Air freight

2–4 days

From Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai. Best for urgent, tender or high-value orders.

Documents we provide for TGA (ARTG)

  • 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 TGA (ARTG)
  • Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and packing list
  • Batch-wise certificate of analysis and sterilisation validation (for sterile items)

Get the Australia surgical supply catalogue

Full catalogue and a CIF price list for Australia, sent within one business day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a surgical supply catalogue for Australia?+

Request it on the GlobalSurgicals catalogue form or WhatsApp our export desk. We send the full catalogue and a Australia price list (CIF Melbourne) within one business day.

How long does shipping from India to Australia take?+

Sea freight to Melbourne takes about 20–26 days; air freight about 2–4 days.

Can you ship DDP to our warehouse?+

For many cities in Australia we can quote DAP or DDP through partner forwarders. Ask the export desk for a door-delivery quote.

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