Sea freight (FCL and LCL), air freight, rail and express courier compared by cost, speed and best use, to pick the right way to ship your goods from China.
The way you ship from China affects your costs, your cash flow and how fast you can sell. There is no best method in general, only the best method for a given shipment. This guide compares the main options.
Sea freight
The most economical option for larger volumes.
FCL (Full Container Load)
You use a whole container, usually 20 or 40 feet, the latter also in a high-cube version.
- Best for: large volumes, where a full container works out cheaper than shared space.
- Pros: lowest cost per unit, goods are not handled together with others.
- Cons: you pay for the whole container even if it is not full.
LCL (Less than Container Load)
Your goods share a container with other shippers. You pay by volume or weight.
- Best for: volumes too small for a full container.
- Pros: you only pay for the space you use.
- Cons: more handling, extra consolidation and deconsolidation charges, and usually a few more days.
Sea transit times vary by route and season. Remember to add time for port operations, customs and inland delivery, not only the time at sea.
Air freight
- Best for: urgent, light or high-value goods.
- Pros: much faster than sea.
- Cons: much more expensive. Airlines charge by chargeable weight, the higher of real weight and volumetric weight, so bulky light products are expensive to fly.
Rail freight
Rail services connect China and Europe through Central Asia.
- Best for: shipments to Europe that need to arrive faster than by sea but do not justify air freight.
- Pros: a middle ground in cost and time.
- Cons: fewer destinations, and the service can be affected by geopolitical events and border congestion.
Express courier
International express companies deliver door to door, including customs clearance.
- Best for: samples, small parcels and urgent replacements.
- Pros: simple and fast, with tracking.
- Cons: the most expensive option per kilo.
How to choose
Consider:
- Volume and weight: above a certain size, sea becomes much cheaper.
- Urgency: how much is a week of delay costing you in lost sales?
- Product value: expensive goods tie up more cash while they travel.
- Product type: batteries, liquids and magnets have special rules for every mode.
A common strategy is to send a small first batch by air to start selling, and the main volume by sea.
Plan ahead
- Book early in peak seasons, before Chinese New Year and before the end-of-year retail season.
- Agree on packaging that can survive the journey: stackable, strong cartons and protected corners.
- Compare offers on the full cost, including destination charges. Our landed cost guide explains how.
Zyntral coordinates shipping and delivery as part of its End to End import service, and consolidates goods from several suppliers through its warehouse service.
