Ocean Freight vs Air Freight

Business owners focused on international shipments always face problems when choosing between air freight and ocean freight forwarding services. Even though these two options will help your goods reach from one point to another safely and securely, they are very different from one another in terms of accessibility, time, and other factors. Choosing the relevant one will be dependent on your business’s needs. Not to mention, the overall time and cost of the shipment will also depend on the option you choose.

Determining the perfect one for your business is undoubtedly a challenging task. Both of these shipping services feature pros and cons. You need to know their differences to evaluate the perfect one for your company. Make sure you read this article to the end to know more.

Cost 

The cost is undoubtedly one of the most important factors when it comes to shipments. Keep in mind ocean freight services are more cost-effective than air freight. In fact, if you want to ship goods internationally, nothing will prove as cost-effective as ocean freight. If your business doesn’t have that amount of money for shipping services, you should not choose air freight as it will prove super expensive. This is why many business owners consider choosing ocean freight, as the cost is 30% less than air freight. As per INC, you can also negotiate the shipping rates.

But in some cases, the cost of ocean freight might go higher than air freight. This is when you want to transport a small number of goods that are less than the full container’s load. In such cases, the price will be calculated in cubic centimeters. This is why you need to calculate the price properly.

Time 

This is one of the most distinguishable factors between air freight and ocean freight. This factor will also help you determine which option will prove more effective for your business’s needs. Ocean freight might not be a good idea if you want to transport the goods to the destination location as soon as possible. Apart from the time taken for the journey, you also need to consider the port delays, weather conditions, and customs. Even though there is new express sea freight forwarding services, they cannot match the speed of air freight. But one great benefit of ocean freight services is that you will be able to use an online container tracking option, which will help you maintain the supply chain of your business.

On the other hand, air freight might prove expensive, but it’s also the fastest method of transportation, especially when you want to transport goods through international borders.

Safety 

You need to ensure your shipments reach their destination without being damaged. The human factor will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of your goods.

Even though both ocean freight and air freight depend on human handling and securing goods in transit, the effectiveness of the safety factor is more visible in the ocean freight industry. This is because the containers are packed and loaded with proper safety manners.

Conclusion 

Now that you know the differences, you can choose the perfect shipping option for your business. What are your thoughts? Please share with us in the comment section below.

 

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