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Shipping & Logistics · Iraq

Shipping Surgical Supply from India to Iraq: Sea vs Air to Umm Qasr

4 min read · Updated 2026-03-04 · GlobalSurgicals export desk

Short answer

Sea freight from India to Umm Qasr takes about 10–16 days and is the cheapest option for container orders; air freight takes 3–5 days and suits urgent or high-value items such as sutures and electrosurgical accessories.

Key takeaways

  • Sea: 10–16 days
  • Air: 3–5 days
  • LCL from 1 CBM
  • Export cartons are 5-ply and palletised

Sea freight

Most orders to Iraq move by sea from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Umm Qasr. 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 Umm Qasr

Have your Kimadia (State Company for Drugs & Medical Appliances) registration and import permit ready before the vessel arrives to avoid demurrage.

Incoterms on the India - Iraq 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 Umm Qasr, the Incoterm most Iraq 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 Umm Qasr, ask for desiccant packs in cartons, VCI-treated instruments and marine insurance at full invoice value rather than freight value alone.

Sea freight

10–16 days

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

Air freight

3–5 days

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

Documents we provide for Kimadia (State Company for Drugs & Medical Appliances)

  • 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 Kimadia (State Company for Drugs & Medical Appliances)
  • Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and packing list
  • Batch-wise certificate of analysis and sterilisation validation (for sterile items)

Where healthcare construction is growing in Iraq

  • Baghdad - large reconstruction and new hospital projects
  • Erbil - private hospital investment in Kurdistan

Get the Iraq surgical supply catalogue

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

Frequently asked questions

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

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

How long does shipping from India to Iraq take?+

Sea freight to Umm Qasr takes about 10–16 days; air freight about 3–5 days.

Can you ship DDP to our warehouse?+

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

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