Help you understand 4 international shipping methods
In international trade, understanding the various modes of transportation is essential for importers looking to optimize logistics operations. As a professional freight forwarder, Senghor Logistics is committed to providing customer-centric freight shipping solutions, including transportation, warehousing, and door-to-door delivery. Next, we will explore the 4 main international shipping methods: sea freight, air freight, rail transport, and road transport. Each shipping method has its own unique advantages and considerations, and understanding them can help you make an informed decision for your business.
1. Sea freight
Sea freight or ocean freight is one of the most commonly used modes of transport in international trade, especially for bulk cargo. This mode involves using containers to transport goods across the ocean by cargo ship.
Advantage:
Economical: Sea freight is usually more economical than air freight, especially for large quantities of goods. When shipping in bulk, the unit cost is significantly lower.
Capacity: Cargo ships can carry a lot of cargo, making them ideal for shipping big, heavy, or oversized items.
Environmental impact: Sea freight is generally considered more environmentally friendly than air freight because it produces lower carbon emissions per ton of cargo.
Considerations:
Shipping Time: Sea freight usually takes longer than other methods, with shipping times ranging from a few days to a few weeks, depending on many factors like the port of loading and the port of destination, shipping off-season or peak season, direct vessel or transit vessel, international political environment, etc.
Port Restrictions: Ports may not be available in all locations, which may require additional land transportation to reach the final destination. For example, if you need to ship containers from Shenzhen, China to Salt Lake City, USA, it requires transiting through Port of Los Angeles; shipping from Shenzhen, China to Calgary, Canada, it requires transiting through Port of Vancouver.
2. Air freight
Air freight is currently the fastest shipping method and is an attractive option for high-value goods and companies that need to deliver goods quickly. Air freight involves shipping goods via commercial aircraft or cargo planes.
Advantage:
Speed: Air freight is the fastest way to transport goods internationally, with transit times often measured in hours rather than days.
Reliability: Airlines usually have strict schedules, which can make delivery times more predictable.
Reduce the risk of damage: Air freight generally involves less handling than other methods, which can reduce the risk of cargo damage. Sea freight, especially LCL shipping service, may involve multiple loading and unloading. If the outer packaging is not strong enough, it may increase the risk of damage to the goods.
Considerations:
Cost: Air freight is much more expensive than sea freight, so it is less suitable for shipping large or heavy goods.
Weight and size restrictions: Airlines have strict weight and size restrictions on cargo, which can limit the types of cargo that can be transported. The general air freight pallet size is recommended to be 1200mm x 1000mm in length x width, and the height should not exceed 1500mm.
3. Rail transport
Rail transport is an efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, especially suitable for inland countries or regions with well-developed railway networks. This mode transports goods by freight trains. The most representative is the China Railway Express, which connects China with Europe and the countries along the Belt and Road. The longest rail transport route is from Yiwu, China to Madrid, Spain. It is the train that passes through the most countries and train stations and changes the most tracks.
Advantage:
Cost-effectiveness for long-distance transport: For long-distance transport, especially for large quantities of cargo, rail transport is more economical than road transport. A significant feature of rail transport is that the shipping time is faster than sea freight and the price is cheaper than air freight.
Environmental benefits: Trains are generally more fuel efficient than trucks, resulting in lower carbon emissions per tonne of freight.
Capacity: Freight trains can carry a lot of cargo and are suitable for shipping different kind of goods like heavy goods, auto parts, LED lights, machines, clothes, home appliances, etc.
Considerations:
Limited Accessibility: Rail transport is only possible in areas where a rail network is already established, which is not available in all areas.
Shipping Time: While rail shipping is faster than ocean shipping, it can still take longer than air shipping, depending on the distance and route.
4. Road transport by trucks
Land transportation includes road and rail transport. Here we are talking about using trucks to ship goods. The recent case of road transport operated by Senghor Logistics is from Foshan, China to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Advantage:
Flexibility: Road transport offers greater flexibility in routes and delivery schedules, and can provide door-to-door services.
Accessibility: Trucks can reach places that cannot be reached by rail or sea, making them ideal for last-mile delivery.
Economical and efficient for short distances: For short distances, road transport is more economical than air freight or rail transport.
Considerations:
Traffic and Delays: Road transport may be affected by traffic congestion, road conditions and weather, resulting in delays.
Limited Capacity: Trucks have lower capacity than ships and trains, and shipping larger shipments may require multiple trips.
5. Multimodal transport:
As the global supply chain becomes more complicated, a single shipping method is difficult to meet the needs of the entire chain, and multimodal transport has emerged.
This model achieves resource complementarity by integrating two or more modes of transportation (such as sea-air and rail-sea shipping).
For example, by combining sea freight and air freight, goods can be first shipped to a transit hub via low-cost sea shipping, and then transferred to air shipping to complete the final fast delivery, taking into account both cost and timeliness.
Each shipping method—sea, air, rail, and road—has its own unique advantages and considerations. By evaluating your specific shipping needs, including budget, delivery speed, and the nature of your cargo, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals.
Senghor Logistics is committed to providing tailor-made shipping solutions that meet your individual needs. Whether you need ocean freight for large cargo, air freight for urgent cargo, cost-effective rail transport for long-distance transportation, or flexible land transportation, our professional team will help you every step of the way. With our expertise and dedication to customer service, we can help you navigate the complex international shipping process.
Welcome to contact Senghor Logistics to discuss your shipment from China.
Post time: May-21-2025
