Shipping Marks for Indian Exporters: The Complete Guide
Whether you ship garments from Tirupur or engineering goods from Pune, the marks on your cartons are the first thing customs officers, shipping lines and warehouse staff read. Shipping marks identify every package against the shipping bill, the manifest and the packing list — and poorly marked cargo is the classic recipe for misrouting, inspection delays and handling claims.
What are shipping marks in export?
Shipping marks are the identification symbols and text printed on export cartons: consignee, exporter, port of discharge, carton number as a fraction (1/25), gross and net weight, dimensions, country of origin, and the ISO 780 handling pictograms. Every export shipment from India must carry them for smooth customs clearance at both origin and destination.
Standard shipping mark format
- Consignee: buyer's name or initials for identification
- Exporter: your company name and country
- Port of Discharge: destination port with UN/LOCODE (e.g. INNSA1 - Nhava Sheva)
- Carton Number: sequential fraction (1/25, 2/25 … 25/25)
- Gross / Net Weight: total vs product weight in kilograms
- Dimensions: carton size in centimetres (L×W×H)
- Country of Origin: “Made in India” / “INDIA”
- ISO 780 Symbols: fragile, this side up, keep dry, hazard
- QR code (recommended): machine-readable carton identity for warehouses and destination customs
Why shipping marks matter for Indian exporters
- Customs compliance: Indian customs and destination customs verify cargo against shipping bills and manifests using the marks.
- Prevent misrouting: clear marks keep transhipment cargo on the right port and consignee.
- Reduce handling damage: ISO 780 pictograms instruct warehouse staff at a glance, in any language.
- Faster clearance: well-marked cargo moves through inspection queues quickly.
- Insurance claims: marks tie damaged cartons back to the packing list when you file.
ISO 780 handling pictograms
ISO 780 is the international standard for package handling symbols. The four used most on Indian export cartons are fragile (wine glass), keep upward / this side up (upward arrows), keep dry (umbrella with raindrops) and the hazard triangle for dangerous goods. This generator draws them as black-and-white vector graphics so they survive photocopying, thermal printing and rough handling — unlike emoji, which render differently on every device and can drop out entirely in print.
Batch PDF and the QR code
Real shipments rarely have one carton. Enter the From-To range once and the batch PDF assembles every label from 1/25 to 25/25 into one file, in sequence — email it straight to the packing team or your CHA. The QR code on each label encodes consignee, port, carton number of total, weights and dimensions, so anyone with a phone can verify a carton against the packing list without reading the fine print.
Official references
- ISO 780 — packaging graphics for handling of goods.
- UN/LOCODE — the port code standard (INNSA, INMAA, INCCU…).
- ICEGATE — Indian Customs e-filing for shipping bills and export declarations.
- DGFT — India's foreign trade policy and IEC administration.
Last updated: 11 September 2026. Reviewed by One Link Exim Solutions — trade documentation advisors for Indian importers and exporters. Label content follows common carrier and customs practice; always confirm any dangerous-goods marking with the shipping line's DG department.
