A treaty route to the sea
Nepal’s transit arrangements with India give its exports a defined passage to Indian ports — the same route Nepal’s garment exporters have used for decades.
Shipping from Nepal
Landlocked, not locked out.
Nepal has no coastline — but it has a treaty route to the sea, rail to the ports, and an international airport. Here is exactly how your garments get from our floor in Gaindakot to your warehouse.
- Our gate, Gaindakot Day 0 Packed, carton-marked and export-cleared under our EXIM licence, with invoice and REX statement on origin. EXW Gaindakot
- Nepal–India border ≈ half a day by road To the Birgunj dry port (rail-linked) or the Bhairahawa crossing, on the East–West Highway.
- Kolkata/Haldia · Visakhapatnam A few days, in transit Moved across India under the Nepal–India transit arrangements — Nepal’s cargo, not Indian imports — by rail or road. FOB Kolkata
- By sea to your port 6–8 wks EU/UK · 7–10 N. America · 5–7 Japan Container sailings with transhipment (e.g. Colombo, Singapore). Times are from our gate and indicative.
- Our gate, Gaindakot Day 0 Samples, top-ups and urgent orders, export-cleared and documented.
- Kathmandu, Tribhuvan Airport ≈ 5 hours by road Handed to your airline or forwarder, cleared for export. FCA Kathmandu
- By air to your airport ≈ 1 week door to door Via Gulf or Indian hubs. Small parcels and samples can go by express courier.
Transit across India under the Nepal–India transit arrangements Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), Government of Nepal (source: Treaty of Trade, Treaty of Transit and related agreements (Kolkata/Haldia transit arrangements), opens in a new tab) ; rail access to Kolkata and Visakhapatnam Press Information Bureau, Government of India (source: India, Nepal ink deal to boost rail trade connectivity (Kolkata and Visakhapatnam cargo access), opens in a new tab) . All times are indicative and depend on carrier, season and transhipment.
From the Himalaya to the ocean
हिमालदेखि सागरसम्म
EveryriverinNepalisbornofHimalayansnowandfindsitswaytotheocean.
Our garments make the same journey — south to the Bay of Bengal, and out to the world.
Snowtosea.Sketchtoshelf.
What begins as your idea in our CAD room ends up on your rails.
Riversdon’tstopatborders.Neitherdoesgoodwork.
From Gaindakot, across India under the transit treaty, to your port.
WhatmeltsonEverestreachestheBayofBengal.
What leaves our floor in Gaindakot reaches your warehouse — by sea in about six to eight weeks.
Patientasariver.Steadyasamountain.
How we run your order: no shortcuts, no surprises, every piece inspected.
LiketheKoshi,theGandakiandtheKarnali,weflowsouthtothesea—andouttotheworld.
Three great river systems, one direction: to you.
Every river in Nepal belongs to the Ganga basin and reaches the Bay of Bengal — the same sea our cargo sails from, through Kolkata.
Outline of Nepal: Survey Department. Rivers © OpenStreetMap contributors; Ganga system and land: Natural Earth. Courses simplified.
Incoterms we quote
Who pays for what, in one table.
FOB is for sea freight only; for air — and for any mode — the right term is FCA. International Chamber of Commerce (source: Incoterms® 2020 — FOB for sea and inland waterway only; FCA for any mode, including air and containers, opens in a new tab) We’ll quote the one that suits how you buy freight.
| Term | Mode | We handle | You handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Gaindakot | Any | Goods packed at our factory gate; we prepare the export documents. | Collection, all freight, insurance and import. |
| FOB Kolkata / Haldia | Sea only | Road or rail transit through India, export clearance, loading on board your vessel. | Sea freight, insurance, import clearance. |
| FCA Kathmandu | Air (any mode) | Transport to Tribhuvan Airport, export clearance, hand-over to your airline or forwarder. | Air freight, insurance, import clearance. |
| CIF / CIP | Sea / air — on request | Everything above plus main freight and insurance to your port or airport. | Import clearance and final delivery. |
Rail to the ports
The Birgunj dry port is rail-linked to Kolkata/Haldia and Visakhapatnam, so containers can move by train instead of long truck runs.
Paperwork done for you
Commercial invoice with the REX statement on origin, packing list, and transit documents — prepared by us, checked before dispatch.
What is the “FOB price” for air freight?
There isn’t one — FOB (Free On Board) is a sea-freight term under the ICC’s Incoterms 2020. For air we quote FCA Kathmandu: the same garment price, delivered export-cleared to your airline or forwarder at Tribhuvan International Airport. It is usually close to our FOB Kolkata price, because the inland leg is shorter; we quote both side by side.
Nepal is landlocked — will my order be slow or stuck?
No. Nepal’s cargo crosses India to the ports of Kolkata/Haldia and Visakhapatnam under the Nepal–India transit arrangements, by road and rail, on a well-used route. Plan roughly 6–8 weeks from our gate to a European port by sea; air takes about a week.
Does transit through India add Indian duty?
No — goods in transit to a seaport move as Nepali export cargo under the transit arrangements; they are not imported into India. (Selling into India itself is different: see our India buyers page.)
Which is cheaper for me, FOB or CIF?
If you have a freight forwarder, FOB Kolkata usually works out cheaper because you buy sea freight at your own rates. If you are new to importing, CIF or CIP keeps it simple — we book the main freight and you take over at your port.
Can samples come by courier?
Yes. Pre-production samples go by express courier from Nepal and usually reach Europe or North America within about a week.
Why do some buyers ask for FCA instead of FOB for containers?
The ICC recommends FCA for containerised cargo, because the container is handed to the carrier at a terminal before it is loaded on the ship. We can quote FCA Kolkata if your forwarder prefers it.
Sources & last verified
Page facts checked
We link every trade claim to the body that publishes it — official sources first. Rules change; if you spot something out of date, tell us.
- 01 Incoterms® 2020 — FOB for sea and inland waterway only; FCA for any mode, including air and containers International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
- 02 India, Nepal ink deal to boost rail trade connectivity (Kolkata and Visakhapatnam cargo access) Press Information Bureau, Government of India · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
- 03 Treaty of Trade, Treaty of Transit and related agreements (Kolkata/Haldia transit arrangements) Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), Government of Nepal · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
Namaste — let’s talk
Tell us your port — we’ll quote it landed.
Send a tech pack, a photo or just an idea. You’ll hear back from the people who run the floor — usually within 24 hours, Nepal time.