When the entire world becomes the marketplace for your business, choosing the right shipping method can be the difference between a satisfied customer and a delayed order. The age-old question for international shipping is: air or sea? Both options have their strengths, and the best choice depends on your priorities: speed, cost, safety, or volume.
At Double Ace Cargo, we’ll help you make the best decision for your specific needs and the type of goods you’re shipping. We’ll guide you through the pros and cons of each transportation method to ensure a smooth and efficient shipping process.
Airfreight: speed and security for high-value cargo
Air freight is the go-to choice when speed is of the essence, making it ideal for urgent shipments. It can deliver goods to any corner of the globe within hours or days. Plus, its careful handling significantly minimizes the risk of damage or loss, offering a level of security unmatched by many other transportation modes.
However, high prices and restricted capacity might be disadvantages, particularly for low-value or high-volume shipments. Because of this, air freight is usually only used for precious cargo, items that need special handling, or perishable goods that cannot wait.
When to choose air transport?
When it comes to high-value goods, such as jewelry, luxury electronics, or products that need special handling, air transport emerges as the safest and most agile alternative, ensuring that they arrive in ideal conditions and in the shortest possible time at their destination.
Air transport, on the other hand, is simply indispensable for perishable goods like fresh food and flowers. These goods have a limited shelf life, therefore prompt shipping is necessary to preserve their quality. The features of this mode of transportation enable them to reach the market on schedule and in top shape. When freshness and preservation are top concerns, the speedy delivery timeframes offered by air transportation make a big difference.
The adaptability of maritime transport
The enormous capacity and unmatched cost-effectiveness of ocean transportation make it stand out. This choice is ideal for all kinds of cargo, including bulk, liquid, solid, and gaseous, since it enables the transportation of enormous quantities of commodities on a single vessel. One of the main reasons it’s a popular option for businesses looking to get the most out of their international shipping investment is cost-effectiveness. Additionally, transporting dangerous goods—known as IMO—that are forbidden in air travel can be done safely using sea transportation.
While this mode of transportation has its challenges—such as longer transit times due to the speed of the ships and established routes, and potential port congestion that can delay deliveries—the capacity and cost benefits make ocean freight a solid choice for businesses seeking efficiency and economy in their shipments.
When to choose sea transport?
Sea transport is a viable option when transportation times are not a critical factor. It is convenient due to its adaptability and cost-effectiveness compared to air transport. However, certain products are particularly suited for sea transportation. These include:
- Dangerous goods (IMO): shipping by water is the safest and most lawful option because air regulations limit the transportation of some dangerous goods.
- Medicines: some medicines require refrigerated containers to maintain a stable temperature, making sea transport an ideal option.
- Household appliances: these products are not for immediate consumption and are usually shipped in significant quantities, so sea transport is perfect.
Double Ace Cargo: we boost your business wherever you go
At Double Ace Cargo we offer the great cost-effectiveness and massive cargo capacity of ocean transportation for those shipments that are not in a hurry, as well as air transportation for all those valuable or perishable goods that need promptness and security.
We have a state-of-the-art logistics system to guarantee a quality service, with a global reach and rigorous management, transportation, and storage measures, so that your goods are safe at all times.
Want to know more about our services? Continue reading our blog for more information.