How to ship products from Kerala, India to US customers?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A Shopify merchant in Kerala, India seeks guidance on shipping products to US customers affordably.

Main Challenge:

  • Shipping costs calculated through India Post exceed product prices, making international fulfillment financially unviable.

Recommended Solutions:

  • Carrier Options: FedEx and UPS offer reliable service; India Post provides cost-effective rates with USPS partnership for US delivery.
  • Rate Optimization: Consider flat-rate or free shipping offers at checkout; use carrier-calculated rates apps as business scales.
  • Process Management: Manually track shipments via carrier websites and enter tracking info in Shopify fulfillment.
  • Alternative Approaches: Explore suppliers in regions with lower shipping costs, or contact local carriers to compare pricing.

Key Limitation:
Shopify doesn’t control shipping costs—merchants must negotiate directly with carriers to find affordable solutions. The discussion remains open with no definitive resolution to the high-cost barrier.

Summarized with AI on November 10. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

How to Ship products from India-Kerala to the customers in US?

2

Hi, @Fct-llc

Greetings, and thanks for posting!

Your store with Shopify can sell to customers worldwide as long as you have a payment processor set up that accepts international payments, as well as a way to ship your products.

The way in which you will ship your products will depend on how you maintain your inventory. Are you planning on shipping the products yourself through a local postal service? Or, do you have a supplier or third party fulfillment center you use?

3

Hello @Fct-llc ,

For your shipping needs, it’s advisable to engage with a reputable shipping carrier. Share details about your product type, weight, dimensions, as well as the origin and destination addresses with them. This will enable you to obtain accurate information on shipping costs and any customs requirements.

When shipping from India to the USA, FedEx and UPS are among the top choices due to their reliability. India Post can be a cost-effective option; they have a partnership with USPS for final delivery in the USA.

If you’re just getting started with your business, you can manually process shipments by visiting the carrier’s website and entering tracking information in Shopify fulfillment for each order.

Additionally, consider offering flat-rate shipping or free shipping options to your customers during the checkout process.

As your business expands, you can streamline your shipping process by using an app that automates carrier-calculated rates at checkout and facilitates direct shipment processing through Shopify.

4

Is it possible to ship products from India-Kerala to the USA with low shipping rates? I tried to calculate the shipping rate using the India Post calculator and found the rate is more than my product costs. How can I ship products at a low cost?

5

Hi, @Fct-llc

Unfortunately, shipping internationally can be costly. Please note, Shopify is not involved in the shipping of products. As such, you will need to speak with your local carriers to determine the most cost effective method. Or, it may be worth your while to find a supplier in a different region where shipping is more affordable.

6

Shipping products internationally can feel daunting, but it’s totally doable. I remember when I had to send handmade crafts from India to the US; it was quite a process!