Transport opportunities for Indian export and import. Shipping from India to European and CIS countries

India is a country in South Asia, located on the Indian subcontinent. By population, it ranks second, and by area, seventh in the world. Economically, India is a country of contrasts. Rapid industrial growth, including in high-tech sectors, coexists with extreme poverty for much of the population. At the same time, its GDP is the third largest in the world, surpassed only by the USA and China.

Indian transport infrastructure

By population, economic volume, and area, India is a gigantic country. The volumes of transport infrastructure are also enormous. Naturally, all modern modes of transport are present: aviation, water, road, and rail. At the same time, rickshaws with bicycle or human power still exist in the country. Cargo transportation to and from India is possible to all countries of the world.

India shares borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, and Myanmar. The relationships between India and China and Pakistan are complex, so the main transport flows between India and the world are sent by sea transport.

Indian roads

India's roads account for 80% of domestic passenger transport and 65% of cargo transport. Foreign drivers, when first encountering Indian roads, often feel bewildered.

The transport flow consists of a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from elite cars to elephants and camels. There are many old cars and motorcycles on the roads that would only belong in a junkyard in other countries. Road markings are often absent. The lanes designated for vehicle movement are about 20% narrower than what Europeans are used to. Road lighting is virtually non-existent. Sidewalks and shoulders are almost non-existent. Pedestrians walk on the roads, and drivers do not yield to them. Road signs and traffic lights are very rare. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is sufficient to understand the complexity of managing transport in India.

The total length of Indian roads is 5.6 million kilometers. However, only the so-called national highways, which connect major cities and the capitals of Indian states, are in relatively decent condition. The length of national highways is about 67,000 km.

Aviation transport in India

India has 355 civil airports, of which 250 are equipped with paved runways. 19 airports are international. Here are just a few of them:

• Delhi.
• Mumbai.
• Panaji.
• Chennai.
• Hyderabad.
• Bangalore.
• Kochi.
• Ahmedabad.

Of course, air freight is the most expensive, but the infrastructure for receiving and sending cargo by this method exists in India.

Sea ports of India

India has 200 sea ports. 187 of them are classified as small and medium. The 13 largest ports handle the majority of sea cargo turnover. The most well-known ports are Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Kolkata. Sea transport allows for the movement of cargo to any continent.

Indian railways

The total length of railway tracks exceeds 63,000 km. Approximately 46,000 km are standard gauge tracks. The standard railway gauge in India is 1676 mm, which differs from the gauge in the CIS — 1520 mm and Europe — 1435 mm. The same gauge as in India is used in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Argentina, and Chile.

What goods does India supply to the international market

The main items of Indian export are: automobiles, chemicals, clothing, and pharmaceutical products.