Sea Freight
Sea freight is the backbone of global trade, carrying over 80% of all goods by volume. It's the most cost-effective option for large or heavy shipments.
FCL (Full Container Load): You rent an entire 20ft or 40ft container. Best for shipments over 15 CBM or 10,000 kg. Your cargo travels sealed from origin to destination — lower risk of damage and no waiting for consolidation.
LCL (Less than Container Load): Your cargo shares space in a container with other shippers. Ideal for smaller shipments (under 10–15 CBM). More handling means slightly higher damage risk, and it adds transit time for consolidation and deconsolidation.
Typical sea transit times: Asia → Europe: 20–35 days | Asia → US West Coast: 14–20 days | Asia → US East Coast: 25–35 days.
Air Freight
Air freight is significantly faster than sea but costs 4–6 times more per kilogram. It's best suited for high-value goods, urgent shipments, perishables, or lightweight cargo where speed justifies the cost.
Key considerations for air freight: Weight and volumetric weight (chargeable weight is whichever is higher), security restrictions for lithium batteries and hazardous goods, airport-to-airport transit times of 3–7 days for most major routes.
Air freight is often more predictable than sea — fewer weather delays and no port congestion.
Road Freight
Road freight is the dominant mode for intra-continental trade (Europe, North America, Southeast Asia). It offers door-to-door convenience without transshipment delays.
FTL (Full Truck Load): Entire truck for your cargo. DAP or DDP terms commonly used. LTL (Less than Truck Load): Shared truck space for smaller shipments.
Road is often combined with sea freight — sea for the main leg, road for first/last mile.
Choosing the right mode
The choice comes down to three factors:
1. Value-to-weight ratio: High value, low weight → air. Low value, high weight → sea. 2. Timeline: Need it in 2 weeks? Air. Can wait 35 days? Sea saves significantly. 3. Volume: Under 1 CBM → air or LCL. Over 15 CBM → FCL is usually cheapest per unit.
Our Cost Estimator can compare modes side-by-side for your specific shipment.
Ready to apply this?
Use our free tools to get personalised freight advice for your specific shipment.