Vegetables & Fruit air freight from Thailand to India

Fresh vegetables & fruit: air freight as the only option

Fresh vegetables and fruit have a shelf life of days — not weeks. Products like asparagus, strawberries, mangoes or avocados from distant destinations simply cannot be shipped by sea without quality loss. Air freight is the only way to bring fresh produce from the field to the supermarket within the product life cycle.

The Netherlands is the logistics hub of the European fresh produce trade. The proximity of Schiphol, the flower auction in Aalsmeer and the large cold stores in Haarlemmermeer make it the ideal hub for fresh air freight.

Popular routes

• Kenya, Ethiopia → NL: French beans, sugar snaps, avocados
• Peru, Chile → NL: berries, asparagus, grapes (winter season)
• Morocco → NL: tomatoes, peppers (but also by road)
• NL → worldwide: Dutch tomatoes, peppers, strawberries

Exporting to Thailand

Thailand is one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia and a key market for Dutch machinery, automotive parts, agri-technology, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech products. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Bangkok (BKK) via Thai Airways Cargo and KLM Cargo. Cargo-to-cargo transit usually takes 11–14 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The Thai customs operate with the e-Customs (NSW) system and are largely digitized. Most shipments require a commercial invoice, packing list, and — depending on the type of goods — an import license. Food products, cosmetics, and medical devices require prior FDA Thailand registration. Electrical products must comply with TISI certification requirements.

Practical Tips

• Always work with a registered Thai importer — clearance is not possible without a Thai business number
• FDA Thailand registration can take weeks — plan well in advance
• Be aware of Songkran (April) and King’s Day periods when processing is halted

Aircargo.nl works with fixed agents in Bangkok and manages the complete documentation chain — including FDA coordination — for smooth handling.

Importing from India

India is a leading producer of pharmaceutical APIs and generics, textiles, precious and semi-precious stones, and IT hardware. The Indian pharma industry supplies hundreds of Dutch and European importers — and air freight is the standard mode for time-critical pharmaceutical raw materials.

Specific points of attention

• Pharmaceutical APIs require GMP certificates and European registration
• Precious stones and jewelry require detailed value declarations and insurance proof
• Textiles may be subject to anti-dumping measures — verify the HS code

Aircargo.nl assists importers through European customs clearance of Indian goods and ensures all necessary certificates are in place.

Thailand as a Crosstrade Hub

Bangkok (BKK) is one of the largest cargo hubs in Southeast Asia and a natural transit point for crosstrades within the region (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar). Schiphol regularly routes shipments via Thai Airways Cargo, KLM Cargo, and Lufthansa Cargo to BKK for further distribution within ASEAN.

Aircargo.nl has agency relationships in Bangkok and can coordinate crosstrade shipments — including Thai customs clearance and transit documentation — without the shipment needing to physically enter the Netherlands.

Considerations for vegetables & fruit air freight

Cold chain

Fresh vegetables and fruit are extremely temperature sensitive. Depending on the product, the optimal transport temperature varies from 0–1°C (berries, leafy greens) to 10–14°C (tropical fruit). Aircargo.nl arranges specialized cold cargo handling at Schiphol and monitors the temperature chain from start to finish.

Phytosanitary inspections

All fresh products from non-EU countries undergo phytosanitary inspection upon entry into the EU. This can add 4–8 hours of extra processing time. Aircargo.nl notifies your shipment in advance to the NVWA to minimize delays.

Customs & import duties

Fresh fruit and vegetables fall under the EU Common Customs Tariff (CCT) and may incur high seasonal import duties — especially for products that compete with EU cultivation (tomatoes, strawberries, citrus).