How to transport large international express shipments more cost-effectively (by sea or air)

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Industry Encyclopedia

Time of issue：

2025-09-12 14:33

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1. Freight Cost

• Sea Freight:

Lower cost: The sea freight for a 40-foot standard container from Shenzhen, China to Los Angeles, USA is approximately between $2,000 and $5,000.

Freight per ton: If the cargo weighs around 20 tons and has a volume of about 30 cubic meters, the freight cost per ton is approximately $100 to $250.

• Air Freight: Higher cost: The freight cost per kilogram ranges from $10 to $30.

• Volumetric Weight Calculation: Assuming the cargo weighs 1 ton and has a volume of 5 cubic meters, the volumetric weight is 835 kilograms (calculation formula: length × width × height ÷ 6000), and the freight cost is approximately between $8,350 and $25,050.

Conclusion: Sea freight costs are significantly lower than air freight.

2. Cargo Weight and Volume

• Sea Freight: Suitable for heavy and bulky cargo. Sea freight is usually charged by container units, making the cost per kilogram or per cubic meter lower for large quantities of goods.

• Air Freight: Suitable for light and small-volume cargo. For light bulky cargo (volumetric weight exceeding actual weight), air freight's volumetric weight charging method may result in higher freight costs, where sea freight has an advantage.

Conclusion: Heavy and bulky cargo is suitable for sea freight; light and small cargo is suitable for air freight.

3. Transportation Time

• Sea Freight: Longer transit time, usually around 25-35 days or even longer.

• Air Freight: Faster transit time, generally 3-7 days.

Conclusion: If the cargo does not require high timeliness, choosing sea freight can save costs; if the cargo needs urgent delivery, air freight is a better choice.

4. Cargo Value

• Sea Freight: Suitable for low-value bulk goods such as raw materials and ordinary daily necessities, where the low-cost advantage of sea freight is more prominent.

• Air Freight: Suitable for high-value goods such as urgent spare parts and high-value electronic products. Air freight is fast and secure, reducing the risk of damage during transportation.

Conclusion: Low-value bulk goods are suitable for sea freight; high-value goods are suitable for air freight.

Comprehensive Recommendations

• Choose Sea Freight: If the cargo is heavy, bulky, has low timeliness requirements, and is of low value, sea freight is more cost-effective.

• Choose Air Freight: If the cargo is light, small, requires high timeliness, or is of high value, air freight may be the better choice.

Professional Consultation

When making a choice, it is recommended to consult professional international logistics service providers to develop the optimal transportation plan based on specific circumstances.

Hope this summary helps you better understand the key factors in choosing between sea freight and air freight.

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