Short answer
Key takeaways
- Sea: 18–24 days
- Air: 2–4 days
- LCL from 1 CBM
- Export cartons are 5-ply and palletised
Sea freight
Most orders to South Africa move by sea from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Durban. 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 Durban
Have your SAHPRA registration and import permit ready before the vessel arrives to avoid demurrage.
Incoterms on the India - South Africa 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 Durban, the Incoterm most South Africa 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 Durban, ask for desiccant packs in cartons, VCI-treated instruments and marine insurance at full invoice value rather than freight value alone.
Sea freight
18–24 days
To Durban 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 SAHPRA
- 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 SAHPRA
- Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and packing list
- Batch-wise certificate of analysis and sterilisation validation (for sterile items)
Get the South Africa surgical supply catalogue
Full catalogue and a CIF price list for South Africa, sent within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a surgical supply catalogue for South Africa?+
Request it on the GlobalSurgicals catalogue form or WhatsApp our export desk. We send the full catalogue and a South Africa price list (CIF Durban) within one business day.
How long does shipping from India to South Africa take?+
Sea freight to Durban takes about 18–24 days; air freight about 2–4 days.
Can you ship DDP to our warehouse?+
For many cities in South Africa we can quote DAP or DDP through partner forwarders. Ask the export desk for a door-delivery quote.