Once your goods are ready, they need to reach you. The right freight method depends on two things: how fast you need the goods, and what the shipment can economically bear. Here is the simple version.
Express courier
Best for samples, documents, and very small urgent parcels. Door to door in days, but priced per kilo — uneconomical for anything heavy.
Air freight
The middle ground for urgent or high-value goods. Much faster than sea, much more expensive per kilo. Worth it when stockouts cost more than the freight premium, or for product launches with fixed dates.
Sea freight
The default for bulk orders. Within sea freight there are two flavors: LCL, where your cartons share a container with other shippers, and FCL, where you fill a whole container yourself. LCL suits smaller shipments; FCL becomes cheaper per unit as volume grows.
Understand your Incoterms
Agree with your supplier who handles what. The common setups: EXW (you arrange everything from the factory gate), FOB (supplier gets goods onto the vessel, you handle the rest), and CIF (supplier arranges freight to your port). Each shifts cost and responsibility — confirm it in writing before production ends.
Plan freight before production finishes
Freight quoted separately by route and volume, so get quotes while goods are still being made — not after they are sitting in a warehouse. Packing list, carton dimensions, and total weight should be ready the moment inspection passes.
The cheapest freight is the one planned early: the right method, booked in time, with documents ready before the goods leave.
Importing something specific? Get a free quote — tell us the product and quantity.
