Exporting to landlocked countries is nothing like shipping to a coastal nation. Since these countries don’t have direct access to the sea, they depend on neighboring countries’ ports for global trade. This means extra steps, more documentation, and higher costs.
In this post, I’ll explain the challenges of exporting to landlocked countries, the ports they rely on, and share my personal experience exporting to Uzbekistan—a double landlocked country.
A landlocked country is a country that has no coastline and no direct access to a sea or ocean. Since most global trade happens through sea routes, these countries must depend on neighboring countries for port access.
Currently, there are 44 landlocked countries in the world. Some of the major ones include:
A double landlocked country is surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries, meaning goods must pass through at least two countries to reach a seaport.
There are only two double landlocked countries in the world:
Exporting to Uzbekistan was a real learning curve for me. It was my second export consignment overall and my first time exporting to a landlocked country. Honestly, I had no idea how it worked at first.
Thankfully, my importer was very cooperative and explained the steps. I also found a helpful freight forwarder and CHA who guided me through the process.
Here’s what happened:
Global trade is becoming more efficient, even for landlocked countries. Governments and customs authorities are increasingly adopting digital customs systems, electronic documentation, and faster border clearance procedures to reduce delays and logistics costs.
For Indian exporters, this means that shipping goods to countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia is gradually becoming more streamlined through improved transit infrastructure and regional trade cooperation. Although transporting goods to landlocked destinations still involves additional customs formalities and inland transportation, digital trade facilitation measures are helping businesses save both time and money.
India exports a wide range of products to several landlocked countries through road, rail, sea, and multimodal transport networks.
| Landlocked Country | Common Transit Route | Major Indian Exports |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | Road & Rail | Tea, medicines, steel, FMCG products, textiles |
| Bhutan | Road | Cement, packaged foods, machinery, electrical goods |
| Kazakhstan | Sea + Rail via Iran and Central Asia | Tea, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering products |
| Uzbekistan | Multimodal Transport | Tea, textiles, machinery, auto components |
| Mongolia | Via China or Russia | Tea, pharmaceuticals, industrial products |
| Afghanistan* | Through approved transit routes where available | Medicines, tea, food products |
Note: Transit routes may change depending on geopolitical conditions and international trade agreements.
Looking for genuine importers in landlocked countries like Kazakhstan, Nepal, Uzbekistan, or Mongolia?
With Volza, you can access real import-export shipment data, identify active buyers, analyze competitors, and discover high-potential export markets to grow your business.
👉 Explore Volza free trail and start finding verified international buyers today
Although exporting to landlocked countries offers excellent business opportunities, exporters should be aware of several practical challenges.
There are 44 landlocked countries globally. They are spread across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
The two double landlocked countries are:
Landlocked countries rely on ports in neighboring coastal countries. For example:
The biggest challenge is long transit times and higher costs because goods must travel across multiple borders and through transshipment hubs.
Work with experienced freight forwarders and CHAs, understand the transit process, and maintain clear communication with your importer about timelines and costs.
A transit country is a country through which goods pass before reaching their final destination.
For example:
Exporter in India → Indian Port → Transit Country → Rail/Road Transport → Landlocked Country Importer
The transit country does not usually consume the goods. Instead, it provides the transport route needed for cargo to reach the importing country.
Commonly used Incoterms include FCA (Free Carrier), CPT (Carriage Paid To), CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To), DAP (Delivered at Place), and DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded), depending on the agreement between the buyer and seller.
Continue your export journey with these helpful guides:
About the Author:
Tabrez is the founder of BusinessZindagi.com and an entrepreneur from Assam. He shares practical insights on export-import, MSMEs, startups, government schemes, and business growth based on research and real-world experience.
AI Disclosure:
This article was researched and edited with the assistance of AI and reviewed using reliable sources. Trade regulations may change, so always verify the latest information with official authorities before making business decisions.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support BusinessZindagi.com and keeps our content free.
Official Sources & References:
"You Don't Have Time." That's Why You Need AI. Imagine this. It's Monday morning. Your…
Starting a business is exciting—but arranging finance is often the biggest challenge. Many aspiring entrepreneurs…
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, exporting feels like an exciting but distant dream. Questions like "Where…
Running a business in India today is easier than it was a few years ago—but…
For many small business owners, the announcement of the New EPF Scheme 2026 created one…
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information as of publication. Since Mangosteen Studio…