Transport modes: air express, air cargo, LCL and FCL
Cargo leaving Yiwu usually goes through Ningbo or Shanghai port, or a nearby airport. Samples and urgent small lots fly; production orders usually go by sea. We ship to Korea and to other destinations worldwide through our forwarding partners.
| Mode | Best for | Priced by | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air express | Samples, urgent lots up to a few dozen kg | Chargeable kg | Roughly 3–5 business days after dispatch (Korea) |
| Air cargo | Urgent lots of tens to hundreds of kg | Chargeable kg + airport charges | Roughly 4–7 business days (Korea) |
| Sea LCL (consolidated) | About 1–15 CBM production orders | Per CBM / revenue ton + CFS charges | Roughly 2–3 weeks (Korea); longer for distant ports |
| Sea FCL (20ft/40ft) | Full-container volumes | Per container + local charges | Roughly 1–3 weeks (Korea); longer for distant ports |
Transit times are rough ranges and depend on sailings, consolidation cut-offs and customs. Once an LCL shipment gets to around 15 CBM, a 20ft container (FCL) is often cheaper. We'll compare both in your quote.
How freight is charged
⚖️ Air: chargeable weight
Air freight is charged on whichever is higher, actual weight or volumetric weight. For air cargo, volumetric weight is usually (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6,000; many express carriers use ÷ 5,000.
Example: ten 60 × 40 × 40 cm cartons have a volumetric weight of (60 × 40 × 40) ÷ 6,000 = 16 kg each, 160 kg in total. Even if they actually weigh 120 kg, you're charged on 160 kg.
📐 Sea: CBM and revenue tons
LCL is charged per revenue ton, the greater of volume in CBM (L × W × H in meters) or weight (1,000 kg = 1 ton). Most consumer goods are charged on volume. FCL is priced per container: a 20ft holds roughly 25–28 CBM and a 40ft roughly 55–58 CBM.
Costs beyond the freight rate
On many quotes the local charges add up to more than the ocean or air freight itself. Make sure you know who pays each of these.
| Leg | Main costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China inland | Factory/market → PTO warehouse → port trucking | Yiwu to Ningbo or Shanghai port |
| China origin | Export clearance, origin THC, documentation | Seller's cost under FOB and above |
| Main freight | Base rate plus fuel and other surcharges (BAF/FSC) | Moves with the market |
| Destination | Destination THC, CFS handling (LCL), delivery order fee, storage | Storage grows if pick-up is delayed |
| Import customs | Broker fee, import duty and VAT | Depends on the destination country's rules |
| Destination inland | Port/airport → your warehouse | Truck or courier depending on size |
We quote line by line, based on your volume, products and trade terms. Consolidating goods from several suppliers at our Yiwu warehouse into one shipment keeps the per-shipment charges down.
How Incoterms split the cost
- EXW: the buyer pays everything from the factory door, including export clearance. The unit price looks low, but there's a lot on top.
- FOB (e.g. FOB Ningbo): the seller covers costs until the goods are loaded at the Chinese port; freight, insurance and destination charges are the buyer's. This is the most common term for importers.
- CIF (e.g. CIF Busan or CIF Rotterdam): the seller pays freight and insurance to the destination port; destination charges and import clearance are the buyer's. Destination charges can be higher than expected, so check them.
- DDP: the seller delivers to your door with duty and taxes paid. Many countries require a local importer of record, so work out who clears the goods and how VAT is recovered before you agree to it.
The right term depends on your volume, whether you already have a forwarder and customs broker, and your cash flow. Tell us your preferred term when you request a quote and we'll price on that basis.