Pre-shipment inspection services in india help businesses verify product quality, quantity, workmanship, packaging, and compliance before goods leave the factory. A shipment leaves the factory once. If something is wrong when it arrives — wrong quantity, damaged goods, failed specifications — there is no undoing it. That is the exact risk pre-shipment inspection is built to remove.
TNV Inspection Division provides UAF-accredited pre-shipment inspection (PSI) services across India, under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (Accreditation No. 5241222IB04). As a Type A inspection body, we have no commercial stake in your supplier relationship or your buyer relationship — our inspectors report exactly what they find, nothing more and nothing less.
We inspect finished goods before shipment for exporters, trading companies, and their overseas buyers across textiles, food and agriculture, steel and metals, chemicals, electrical equipment, and dozens of other sectors.
Verify our accreditation at any time: certificate.tnvib.com
What is Pre-Shipment Inspection?
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is an independent, on-site inspection of finished goods carried out shortly before shipment — typically once 80 to 100% of the order is manufactured, packed, and ready to load. An accredited inspector checks the goods against the purchase order, buyer specifications, and applicable quality standards.
A standard PSI covers:
- Quantity verification — confirming the packed quantity matches the purchase order
- Quality and workmanship checks — visual inspection, functional testing, and AQL-based sampling
- Packaging and labelling — confirming cartons, pallets, or containers meet buyer and regulatory requirements
- Documentation review — checking that packing lists, invoices, and certificates match the physical shipment
Once the inspection is complete, TNV issues an inspection report and, where applicable, a pre-shipment inspection certificate confirming the shipment’s conformity.
Why Pre-Shipment Inspection is Critical for Indian Exporters
- Buyers Increasingly Require It as a Condition of Payment Under letter of credit terms and many open-account arrangements, overseas buyers specify an independent PSI certificate as a condition before payment is released or before the shipment is accepted. A missed or failed PSI can delay payment, trigger disputes, or end a buyer relationship altogether.
- It Catches Problems While There Is Still Time to Fix Them A PSI happens before the container is sealed and before the ship leaves port. Any quantity shortfall, quality defect, or packaging issue identified at this stage can still be corrected — something that is impossible once goods have already arrived at a foreign port.
- India’s Export Base is Expanding into More Demanding Markets As Indian exporters increasingly compete for European, North American, and Gulf buyers who previously sourced from China, Vietnam, or Bangladesh, consistent third-party verification has become a baseline expectation rather than a bonus.
- It Reduces Costly Disputes and Rejected Shipments A shipment that arrives with defects the buyer did not expect can result in rejected containers, deductions, or damaged relationships. An independent PSI report gives both sides a documented, neutral record of the shipment’s condition at the point of loading.
TNV Pre-Shipment Inspection Services
- Final Random Inspection (FRI) / Pre-Shipment Inspection Conducted when the order is fully or nearly complete and packed for shipment. Our inspector checks quantity, visual and functional quality using AQL sampling levels (typically ISO 2859-1), packaging condition, and labelling accuracy.
- Container Loading Supervision For shipments requiring loading supervision, our inspector is present as goods are loaded, verifying that the correct quantity and items are loaded, checking container condition, and confirming seals are applied correctly.
- Documentation Verification Cross-checking packing lists, commercial invoices, and any buyer-specified certificates against the physical goods before dispatch, to catch discrepancies before they become a customs or buyer issue.
- AQL Sampling Inspection Statistically valid sampling based on acceptable quality limits (AQL), so you get a defensible, standards-based quality determination rather than a spot check.
- Combined Pre-Shipment and Loading Inspection For buyers who require both a quality check and loading supervision in a single visit, we combine both services into one inspection assignment to save time and cost.
Industries We Serve for Pre-Shipment Inspection
- Textiles and Garments PSI for garments, knitwear, home textiles, and synthetic fabrics. Active across Delhi NCR, Ludhiana, Tirupur, Coimbatore, and Surat.
- Food and Agriculture Pre-shipment checks for packaged food, grains, and agricultural exports, aligned with FSSAI and buyer specifications. Active across UP, Punjab, and Maharashtra.
- Steel, Metals and Fabrication PSI for structural steel, pipes and fittings, castings, and fabricated components, including dimensional checks and material verification. Active across Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
- Chemicals and Petrochemicals Pre-shipment checks on packaging integrity, labelling compliance, and quantity for chemical and petrochemical exports. Active in the Gujarat industrial corridor.
- Electrical Equipment PSI for transformers, cables, switchgear, and electrical components against IS, IEC, and buyer specifications. Active across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and UP.
- General Merchandise and Consumer Goods PSI for a wide range of manufactured goods destined for export, tailored to each buyer’s specific quality checklist.
Our Pre-Shipment Inspection Process
- Step 1 — Booking and Scope Confirmation You share your purchase order, product specifications, buyer’s inspection checklist (if any), and factory location. We confirm scope and provide a cost estimate.
- Step 2 — Inspector Assignment We assign an inspector experienced in your product category and schedule the visit once you confirm the goods are ready.
- Step 3 — On-Site Inspection Our inspector visits the factory or warehouse, applies AQL sampling, checks quantity, quality, packaging, and labelling, and reviews shipping documentation.
- Step 4 — Inspection Report You receive a detailed report within 24 hours, including findings, photographic evidence, quantity confirmed, and any non-conformances identified.
- Step 5 — Certificate Issuance Where the shipment conforms, TNV issues a pre-shipment inspection certificate that you or your buyer can verify online.
Why Choose TNV for Pre-Shipment Inspection in India
- UAF Accreditation — Internationally Recognised TNV Global Limited is accredited by the United Accreditation Foundation (UAF), an IAF MLA signatory and APAC MRA signatory. Accreditation No. 5241222IB04, valid through December 2028. Our PSI certificates are recognised by overseas buyers, banks, and customs authorities.
- Type A Independence TNV has no financial stake in your supplier or buyer relationship. Our inspectors report only what they observe.
- Pan-India Coverage We mobilise inspectors across all major Indian export hubs, so you are not limited to inspectors based near one city.
- Fast Turnaround Standard PSI assignments can typically be scheduled within 24 to 48 hours of confirmed booking, with reports delivered within 24 hours of the inspection.
- Trusted by Established Indian Exporters Our client base includes IRCTC, Adani Wilmar, Patanjali Ayurved, and ICAR, spanning food, FMCG, and agricultural sectors with export exposure.
- Verifiable Certificates Every PSI certificate TNV issues can be verified online at certificate.tnvib.com by buyers, banks, or customs authorities.
Request a Pre-Shipment Inspection Quote in India
Tell us your product, factory location, and shipment timeline. We will respond within one business day with a scope confirmation and cost estimate.
Email: info@tnvib.com
Website: www.tnvib.com
Head Office: TNV House, B-1/19/69, Sector-K, Aliganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226204, India
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
What is pre-shipment inspection?
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is an independent, on-site inspection of finished goods after they are packed and ready to ship, typically when 80 to 100% of the order is complete. An accredited inspector verifies quantity, quality, packaging, labelling, and conformity to the purchase order before the goods leave the factory.
Why do exporters need pre-shipment inspection in India?
Overseas buyers routinely require an independent PSI certificate before releasing payment, especially under letter of credit terms. A PSI protects both exporter and buyer by confirming the shipment matches the agreed order before it leaves India, reducing disputes, rejected containers, and payment delays.
How much does pre-shipment inspection cost in India?
Cost depends on product type, factory location, order size, and inspection duration. Most PSI assignments are a single-day inspector visit. Contact us at info@tnvib.com for a specific quote — initial enquiries are free.
How long does a pre-shipment inspection take?
Most PSI assignments are completed in a single day at the factory or warehouse, with the report delivered within 24 hours of completion.
Is TNV's pre-shipment inspection certificate accepted internationally?
Yes. TNV is UAF-accredited under ISO/IEC 17020:2012, and UAF is an IAF MLA signatory and APAC MRA signatory. Our PSI certificates are accepted by overseas buyers, banks, and customs authorities, and can be verified online at certificate.tnvib.com.