由 lltx1822 How to Choose Between Air Freight and Sea Freight for Bulk Goods
When dealing with bulk goods, the choice between air freight and sea freight requires careful consideration of multiple factors. Bulk goods typically have large volumes and weights, such as raw materials like iron ore, coal, or large machinery parts. Sea freight is generally the first choice due to its low unit cost. A 20-foot container can carry tens of tons of goods, and the cost per kilogram is much lower than air freight. For example, transporting 100 tons of steel from Shanghai to Rotterdam by sea may cost only 30% of the air freight cost. However, sea freight takes a long time, usually 30-40 days, which is not suitable for goods with urgent demand. Air freight, although fast (taking only 3-5 days for the same route), has strict restrictions on weight and volume. A single aircraft can carry limited bulk goods, and the cost will increase exponentially with the increase in cargo volume. Therefore, for non-urgent bulk goods, sea freight is more economical; if there is an urgent need for production scheduling, air freight can be considered for a small part of the goods, while the majority is transported by sea.