(Newswire.net — May 24, 2023) — Choosing a mode of transportation for your business’s goods can be difficult with so many options in the market. There are a lot of decisions to make, including whether to use ocean freight or air freight. Although both serve the same purpose of transporting goods from one place to another, there are key differences between ocean and air freight. When choosing between them, here are some key factors to consider.
Type of Cargo
Air freight is restrictive for heavy cargo and has less cargo capacity. In addition, air freight can prohibit hazardous materials from being transported. For example, if you need to transport flammable products, air freight may not be the best option. Other things that are not ideal for air freight include corrosive or magnetic items, products that contain gasses, and chemicals.
However, if you opt for ocean freight, not only would you be able to get hazardous materials transported with the required documentation and packaging, but you would also be able to transport cargo of more weight and size. Approximately 90% of the traded goods worldwide are transported using ocean freight.
The Cost of Transportation
One main difference between air and ocean freight is the cost of transportation. If you are looking for a cheaper option where you can transport more cargo, ocean freight would be the right pick. However, if you are transporting a smaller package, this may not be the more feasible option because the cost is often determined by cubic meters.
When this happens, the final prices often turn out to be more than the cost of air freight. Overall picking air freight can be much more expensive, but it is advisable to do a thorough calculation and compare the costs of both types of freight before choosing one.
Delivery Time
When it comes to delivering cargo, ocean freight can take several weeks to arrive due to various reasons, including port holdups and customs issues. It is not a surprise that air freight is much faster, making it a better option for cargo with shorter shelf life or shipments that need to be delivered quickly. Poor weather conditions are another factor that can significantly impact the delivery time of ocean and air freight.
Environmental Impact
One important thing that buyers are increasingly seeking in logistics is sustainability. Air freight has a much larger footprint than ocean freight. While preferring a mode of transportation with a low carbon footprint may have a more positive environmental impact, companies must look for a mode of transport that suits their business model.
Reliability
While there are typically low chances of packages moving around or being damaged or lost in air freight, the probability of cargo being lost in ocean freight is also minimal. Logistics service providers take preventive measures and make arrangements to prevent cargo from being damaged or lost. So, when it comes to the safety and reliability of a mode of transportation, there is little difference between ocean freight and air freight logistics.