Choose the right mode by weight, value and how fast you need it.
The short answer
Most China cargo moves by sea (cheapest, slowest) or air (fast, expensive). Sea is either FCL — a full container, cheapest per unit — or LCL, a shared container for smaller loads. Choose by weight and volume, value and urgency, and always compare freight quotes on the same Incoterm.
Figure 1: Incoterms — who covers cost and risk how far.
Figure summary: Your Incoterm decides how much of the shipping the supplier arranges and where your responsibility starts. FOB is common for containers (you control freight from the export port); CIF adds freight and insurance to destination; DDP has the seller deliver duty-paid. Pick the term that matches how much you want to manage.
Sea vs air
Sea freight
Air freight
Cost
Lowest
Highest
Speed
Weeks
Days
Best for
Large, heavy, non-urgent
Small, high-value, urgent
FCL vs LCL
FCL (Full Container Load) means you book a whole container (20ft or 40ft) — the cheapest per unit once you have enough volume, and less handling risk. LCL (Less than Container Load) shares a container with other shippers — right for smaller loads, but with more handling and a higher per-unit cost. The crossover is usually a few cubic metres; a forwarder can tell you which is cheaper for your load.
What drives the cost
Sea FCL is priced per container; LCL and air are priced on chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. Bulky-but-light goods are charged on volume, so packaging efficiency matters. Freight also carries surcharges (fuel, port, peak-season) that a quote should itemise.
The Incoterm decides who arranges it
Your Incoterm sets who books and pays freight: under EXW you arrange everything from the factory; under FOB the supplier gets it onto the vessel and you take over; under CIF the supplier covers freight to your port; under DDP they deliver to your door. Always compare supplier quotes on the same Incoterm, or you are not comparing like with like.
FAQ
Is sea or air freight better for China imports?
Sea for large, heavy or non-urgent goods (cheapest); air for small, high-value or urgent shipments (fastest). Most bulk importing goes by sea.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL is a full container you book alone — cheapest per unit at volume. LCL shares a container with others — better for small loads but higher per-unit cost and more handling.
What is chargeable weight?
For air and LCL, freight is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (size-based). Bulky light goods are billed on volume, so efficient packing reduces cost.