How to choose between air and sea freight

Choosing how to move your goods is one of the first decisions in any shipment, and there is no single right answer. The best choice depends on how fast you need the goods, how much they weigh and how large they are, how valuable they are, and what your budget allows.

Air freight is the faster option. It suits urgent orders, samples, spare parts, documents and light or high-value goods. The price is usually calculated on the heavier of the actual weight or the volumetric weight, so bulky but light packages can cost more than you expect.

Sea freight is the economical option for large volumes and heavy goods. Cargo travels in containers, either a full container for one shipper or a shared container for smaller loads. It takes longer than air, and the total time also depends on port handling, loading schedules and customs clearance at both ends.

Land freight by truck is often the link between the two. It moves goods between the factory, the warehouse, the port or airport and the final address, and it is also the main choice for shipments between neighbouring countries.

Questions that help you decide. How soon do you need the goods? Is the shipment light or heavy, small or bulky? Do the goods need special handling, such as being fragile or temperature sensitive? Are there goods that cannot be shipped by air? What is the cost of waiting compared with the cost of shipping faster?

Sometimes a mix works best: send the urgent part by air and the rest by sea. Tell us about your shipment and we will suggest the options that fit it.