Freight Forwarding & Customs Clearance for Metals & Scrap
Imports · Kandla and Mundra
What documents are needed to import metal scrap into India?
Metal scrap imports need a pre-shipment inspection certificate from an approved inspection agency confirming the cargo is free of explosives and radioactive material, plus the invoice, packing list, bill of lading and Bill of Entry. Steel imports may also need SIMS registration and BIS certification. Missing any of these holds the cargo.
Metals and scrap are import-heavy and documentation-heavy: most holds come from a certificate that was never obtained before loading. We check the requirements for your material before the vessel sails, then clear and handle it at Kandla or Mundra.
- Cargo
- Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, steel coils, sheets and bars
- Ports
- Kandla (Deendayal), Mundra, Pipavav
- Key document
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate for scrap
- Steel imports
- SIMS registration and BIS certification where applicable
Documents
What documents do metal and scrap imports need?
Scrap and steel carry extra inspection and registration requirements. They must be in place before loading.
Not sure what you have? Send photos of your documents on WhatsApp for a first check.
Send on WhatsApp| Document | Scrap | Steel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Required | Required | Grade, weight and bundle or container count |
| Bill of lading | Required | Required | Carrier's document of title |
| Bill of Entry | Required | Required | Filed by us on ICEGATE |
| Pre-shipment inspection certificate | Required | — | From an approved agency: no explosives or radioactive material |
| Radiation check | At the port | — | Scrap is screened on arrival |
| SIMS registration | — | Most steel | Steel Import Monitoring System registration before import |
| BIS certification | — | Covered products | Required for steel products under quality control orders |
| Mill test certificate | — | Often | Grade and chemistry of the steel |
Requirements change with the destination, the product and the rules in force, so we confirm the list for your consignment with every quote.
Packing & handling
How is metal and scrap cargo handled?
Heavy, loose and easily mis-declared. Handling and weighing matter as much as the paperwork.
Weighment
Weighed at the weighbridge; declared weight has to match.
Radiation screening
Scrap screened on arrival before it can be cleared.
Examination
Customs often examines scrap to check the grade against the declaration.
Breakbulk handling
Steel coils and bundles discharged and moved with the right equipment.
Road delivery
Trailers and tippers to the buyer's yard or plant.
Storage
Yard or warehouse storage while documents are completed.
Scrap or steel
How do scrap and steel import requirements differ?
Both are metal, but the checks that apply before loading are different.
| Metal scrap | Steel products | |
|---|---|---|
| Before loading | Pre-shipment inspection certificate from an approved agency | SIMS registration of the import |
| Quality rules | Declared grade checked at examination | BIS certification for products under quality control orders |
| At the port | Radiation screening before clearance | Standard assessment and examination |
| Common hold | Missing or invalid inspection certificate | Mill without a BIS licence for the product |
| Handling | Containers or bulk, weighed on arrival | Coils, plates and bundles as breakbulk or containers |
Process
How is a scrap import cleared at Kandla or Mundra?
The inspection certificate is issued before loading. Everything after arrival depends on it.
- Documents checked before filing
- Examination attended at the port
- Clearance desk open 24 hours
-
01
Metals & Scrap
Requirements checked
Certificates and registrations confirmed before the cargo is loaded.
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02
Metals & Scrap
Pre-shipment inspection
Certificate issued at origin by an approved agency.
-
03
Metals & Scrap
Bill of Entry filed
On ICEGATE with the certificates, before arrival.
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04
Metals & Scrap
Radiation check and examination
Screening and any customs examination at the port.
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05
Metals & Scrap
Duty paid and out-of-charge
Duty paid online; customs releases the cargo.
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06
Metals & Scrap
Delivery
Weighed and delivered by road to your yard.
Quote
Get a quote for Metals & Scrap cargo
Rates and the document list for your consignment, back within 24 hours.
- A team at the port, in Gandhidham
- Clearance desk open 24 hours
- Document list with every quote
Ports
Which ports handle metal and scrap imports?
Kandla and Mundra handle most of our metal and scrap cargo, close to our Gandhidham office.
Related services
What is usually booked with metal imports?
What is a pre-shipment inspection certificate for scrap?
It is a certificate from an approved inspection agency confirming that metal scrap has been inspected before loading and is free of explosives, arms and radioactive material. Scrap imports without it are held at the port.
Is scrap checked for radiation?
Yes. Imported metal scrap is screened for radiation on arrival at the port. Contaminated cargo is detained, which is why the pre-shipment inspection at origin matters.
What is SIMS for steel imports?
SIMS is the Steel Import Monitoring System run by the DGFT. Importers of most steel products register each import on it in advance and quote the registration on the Bill of Entry.
Do steel imports need BIS certification?
Many steel products fall under quality control orders requiring BIS certification. The foreign mill must hold a BIS licence for the product, or the goods cannot be cleared.
Why is scrap often examined by customs?
Scrap is easy to mis-declare: the grade, the metal and the weight all affect the duty. Customs often examines it to check the cargo against the declaration, so accurate documents save time.
Can you handle steel coils as breakbulk?
Yes. We handle discharge of coils, plates and bundles at Kandla and Mundra, the movement to the yard and road delivery, alongside the customs clearance.
Which port is best for scrap imports?
Kandla and Mundra handle large volumes of metal and scrap and are close to our office. The choice depends on the shipping line and where the material is going.
What happens if a document is missing when the cargo arrives?
The cargo waits at the port while storage and container charges build up, and some certificates cannot be issued after loading. We check every requirement before the vessel sails for that reason.