Air or ocean? Being on a ship for days on end or a plane for just a few hours? Costs? Impact on the environment? Thieves and pirates? Whether you are a business who will be shipping cargo all the time or you are just an individual moving to a new country, these are all the things you need to consider when you want to ship internationally. Choosing the right transportation service can save you both time and money. But how can you make the right choice without all the facts? We are here to help! After reading this blog, you will be able to differentiate between air and ocean freight, their advantages and disadvantages, and which service is best suited for your international cargo.
Air Freight Shipping Service and advantages
Air freight shipping is arguably the safest, though most expensive, mode of transportation. The demand for air freight services has increased drastically since 2017 with the rapid expansion of e-commerce. Air cargo is growing in popularity as it is used by global importers and exporters who need to get goods somewhere rapidly and reliably. Why should you choose air freight to ship your goods internationally? In short, if your cargo shipment is both urgent and time-sensitive, air shipping is the right choice for you. Airplanes are 30x faster than cargo ships, an advantage for those who need fast shipping. You can be guaranteed that your goods will arrive on time and in one piece. Considering all these advantages, why would people choose not to use air freight services? The reality is that air freight tends to be 5x the price of trucking and 16x the price of ocean freight (according to the World Bank). Something else to consider is the horrible impact airplanes have on the environment. In fact, cargo shipped through the air produces 40x more CO2 emissions than if it were shipped by sea.
Some of the main benefits of using air freight services include:
- Faster shipping times
- Highly reliable arrival and departure times
- Ability to ship almost anywhere in the world
- Lower insurance premiums
- Higher level of security and reduced risk of theft and damage
- Less packaging required
Though only 1% of goods that are exported internationally are carried by airplanes, they account for 35% of global trade by value!
Ocean Freight Shipping Service and benefits
If you are looking for a more cost-effective solution for your international shipping needs, ocean shipping is the way to go. The main transport mode for global trade is ocean shipping with around 90% of traded goods being carried over the sea. Is ocean shipping the right match for you? Ocean cargo shipping is ideal for the shipment of goods that have a wider frame time. If you are in no rush to transport your goods, shipping via the sea is a great option. The capacity that cargo ships offer is incomparable as most ships can carry more than 18,000 containers! Ocean freight is also the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation by far. What you need to keep in mind, however, is that a large number of countries around the world are landlocked; they do not have access to open water. This may result in higher shipping costs.
The benefits of choosing ocean freight service include:
- Most competitive freight shipping costs
- Ability to ship cargo of any shape or size, including oversized, heavy, or bulky cargo
- Higher safety capabilities for shipping hazardous or dangerous goods
- Lower carbon footprint
According to Industry Today, the most common loads shipped globally via ocean are fresh fruits and vegetables, furniture, cars & car parts, electronics, mineral fuel, machinery & parts, toys & sports equipment, and iron & steel.
Making shipping decisions is not an easy choice, especially in the case of international shipping. You need to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of both services when it comes to cost, time, and reliability! So, we’ll ask again: air or ocean?
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