If you are like most business people, you don’t really understand much about shipping, other than you need to ship your products and want to do it efficiently and for as little money as possible. Most people don’t consider ocean freight services, but it could be a better option, in some cases. If you hire a courier service, they will likely make the decision for you, but it is still helpful to understand how they come to these decisions.
Cost
Businesses always have a bottom line and individuals always have a budget. Yours might be higher or lower than someone else’s, but you still have money concerns. In many cases, shipping by ocean is less expensive than by international air, but it will depend on the type of cargo you are shipping and the time it needs to be there.
Air cargo options will charge you by the weight of the shipment. Chargeable weight is the only thing considered by airlines that ship cargo, and this includes the weight and size of the shipment. Ocean freight services usually charge per container and standard containers are usually between 20 and 40 feet in size. Ocean carriers usually only go by the size and not weight so it can be less expensive to ship by ocean instead of by air.
You should also consider the added fees. Destination and customs fees will be incurred with both types of shipping services.
Speed
International air carriers are faster than by sea where it can take up to a month to receive goods from ocean carriers. Depending on the type of goods being shipped, air shipping is usually best. However, if you are moving a household, it may be better to ship by sea, giving the people time to get affairs in order with the old house and get to the new one.
However, there are ships that can reach their destination in eight days, so this may not be such an issue.
Reliable
Because the courier services should be reliable, you will want to look at both forms of transport. Your cargo needs to be on time and safe. International flights can be delayed by many factors, including weather. Even so, international couriers by air with delays are usually faster and more reliable than ocean shipments. Many ocean carriers are put off schedule by the slightest things, so unless you have to use them, consider air couriers.
