Shipping Methods for Export: Sea, Air, Express Compared

DHL/FedEx vs sea freight vs air freight: which to choose and when.

Shipping from China to your destination: three main options

Express (DHL, FedEx, UPS): 3-7 days, door to door

Best for samples, urgent parts, small packages (<100kg)

Cost: $5-10/kg

Air freight: 5-10 days, airport to airport (or door with handling)

Best for medium shipments (100-500kg), time-sensitive

Cost: $3-6/kg

Sea freight: 25-40 days, port to port

Best for large orders (pallet/container), not urgent

Cost: $1-3/kg but with container minimums

How to choose: samples / urgent → express

Production order <500kg → air

Bulk order, full pallet → sea

Tips: plan lead time including shipping (2 weeks for sea), use a forwarder for complex shipments, ask about volumetric weight (express charges by volume if light)

At Yiguangnian, we work with major forwarders and can ship DAP / DDP to your door.