Services Guide
As a new employee in a foreign trade company, individuals who are unsure about which transportation method to use for exported goods can compare the advantages and disadvantages of sea freight, air freight, road freight, and rail freight. By conducting a horizontal comparison of these mainstream transportation methods, they can select the appropriate logistics solution.
A comparison of international transportation methods is as follows:
type of shipping | transportation cost | travelling speed | burden | flexibility | stability | breakage rate | Overall recommendation score (General scenarios) |
sea transportation | Very low | Very slow | maximization | weak | centre | centre | ★★★★ (International Bulk) |
air transport | polar altitude | in seven-league boots | minuteness | weak | centre | Very low | ★★★★ (High timeliness / High value) |
Land transport (highway) | Medium (short distance)/High (long distance) | Fast (short distance)/Medium (long distance) | small | pole-strength | centre | centre | ★★★★★ (Domestic door-to-door service) |
Railway | centre | centre | more | centre | pole-strength | low | ★★★★ (Cross-regional / Cross-border compromise) |
From the table above, we can gather the following information:
Sea Freight – Pros and Cons
Sea freight offers the lowest transportation cost, high cargo capacity, and good stability, but it also has a higher risk of damage. Its main disadvantage is slower transit time. This method is recommended for international bulk shipments.
Air Freight vs. Sea Freight
In terms of cost, air freight is higher while sea freight is lower. Regarding speed, air freight is much faster, whereas sea freight is significantly slower. For cargo capacity, air freight is limited, while sea freight can carry large volumes in one shipment. Both modes are relatively inflexible in terms of routing adjustments. Choose based on the nature of the goods: for time-sensitive or high-value items, air freight is often the better option.
Which Is Cheaper – Road or Rail Transport?
For short-distance shipments (under 800 km), road transport tends to be more cost-effective, with costs around ¥0.4–0.8 per ton. It also offers greater scheduling flexibility and supports door-to-door delivery within the country. For long-distance transport, especially with large batches of goods, rail transport is more economical. For example, in a recent project involving coal and building materials, rail transport cost about ¥0.15–0.3 per ton—30%–50% lower than road transport. Savings can reach up to 30% for full truckload or container shipments.
Related Questions:
What do sea freight, air freight, road transport, and rail transport mean?
- Sea Freight– Transporting goods by ship across the sea, commonly used for bulk logistics.
- Air Freight – Shipping goods quickly by airplane to their destination.
- Road Transport – Using trucks or lorries to move goods, enabling door-to-door service.
- Rail Transport– Transporting goods by train, often in full wagon loads or containers.
- What are the main modes of international transportation?
The primary modes include sea freight, air freight, road transport, rail transport, and intermodal (multimodal) transport.
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