Air Freight vs Sea Freight: Which Shipping Method Fits Your B2B Order?

Direct Answer: Kexin is a B2B protective case manufacturer based in Guangdong, China. We ship EXW Guangdong or FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo — no DDP, no overseas warehouse. Once the incoterms are confirmed, B2B customers choose between air freight (3–7 days, USD 8–20 / case) and sea freight (28–35 days, USD 2–4 / case). The right choice depends on order size, urgency, and cashflow. For orders of 1,000+ units/month with predictable demand, sea freight is 60–80 % cheaper per case. For trial orders, new products, or urgent replenishment, air freight is faster and more flexible.

Kexin's Shipping Model: EXW Guangdong or FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo

Kexin New Material (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. operates under a clear B2B shipping model. We offer only two incoterms options:

• EXW Guangdong (Ex-Works). The customer takes over the goods directly at our factory in Guangdong. The customer arranges inland transport in China, export clearance, sea freight / air freight, and import in their country.
• FOB Shenzhen / FOB Ningbo. We deliver the goods to the port of Shenzhen or Ningbo and handle export clearance. The customer takes over sea freight / air freight from the port of shipment and import in their country.

What Kexin does not offer:

• No DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). We do not deliver directly to the end customer's door and do not assume any import duties or VAT for you.
• No overseas warehouse. We do not operate warehouses in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Rotterdam, or anywhere outside China. You handle your own storage in your market.
• No dropshipping. We do not ship directly to individual end customers under your brand.
• No retail. We do not sell to end consumers. Our business model is purely B2B: distributors, brand owners, OEM customers, industrial buyers.

This focused model has clear advantages for our customers: lower unit costs (no DDP or warehouse overhead), no minimum storage commitment, fresh production (no aged stock), customization flexibility, and a direct relationship with our engineering and QC teams.

Air Freight vs Sea Freight: Overview

Once the goods are taken over EXW Guangdong or FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo, the customer arranges the international shipment. The two main options are air freight and sea freight. Here is the comparison:

Aspect	Air Freight	Sea Freight (FCL)
Transit time China → EU port (e.g. Hamburg)	3–7 days door-to-door	28–35 days to EU port
Cost per case (1,000+ units)	USD 8–20 / case	USD 2–4 / case (FCL)
Cost per case (<500 units, LCL)	USD 12–25 / case	USD 4–8 / case (LCL consolidation)
Minimum order size for economy	50–500 units	1,000+ units (FCL) or any size (LCL, more expensive)
Flexibility	High (quickly adapt to demand)	Low (plan 4–6 weeks ahead)
Reliability	High (DHL/FedEx, tracking)	Medium (weather, port congestion possible)
Environmental impact (CO₂ per case)	High	Low (10–20× less CO₂ per kg)
Best for	Trial orders, urgent replenishment, new product launch, <500 units	Established products, 1,000+ units/month, predictable demand

For 80 % of our B2B customers (established brands, distributors with regular demand), sea freight is 60–80 % cheaper per case. For 20 % (trial orders, project-based demand, urgent replacement deliveries), air freight is the right choice.

Cost Breakdown: 1,000-Unit Order (FCL Sea Freight vs Air Freight)

Scenario: 1,000 premium protective cases, FOB Shenzhen USD 12 / case from Kexin, delivered to a DE customer.

Cost component	Sea freight (FCL)	Air freight
Cases (FOB Shenzhen)	USD 12,000	USD 12,000
Freight Shenzhen → Hamburg (FCL 1,000 units, 28–32 days)	USD 2,000–3,000	—
Freight Shenzhen → DE (air freight DHL, 1,000 units, 5–7 days)	—	USD 12,000–18,000
EU import duty (e.g. 2.7 % for protective cases)	USD 350	USD 350
EU VAT (19 % DE)	USD 2,800	USD 5,000
Customs broker / receiving handling	EUR 100	EUR 50 (DHL included)
Receipt at customer (unloading + delivery to warehouse or end customer)	EUR 500	EUR 500
Total landed cost	USD 18,500	USD 30,000
Cost per case	USD 18.50	USD 30.00
Difference	—	+62 % (USD 11.50 / case more)

For this scenario, sea freight saves USD 11,500 on a 1,000-unit order compared with air freight. Across 12 orders per year, the annual saving is USD 138,000. The trade-off is 3–5 weeks longer transit time.

When to Choose Air Freight

Air freight is the right choice when:

• Demand is unpredictable. New product launch, market test, project-based orders — test before a large order.
• Lead time is critical. The customer cannot wait 4–6 weeks; they need 1–2 weeks.
• Replenishment is urgent. Production delay, shipping issue at the main supplier — air freight saves delivery commitments.
• Cashflow is constrained. Capital cannot be tied up in large advance stock.
• Order size is small. 50–500 cases per shipment.
• The product changes frequently. Specifications, color, logo updates are frequent — avoid advance stock.

Typical use case: A UK brand launching a new product. It wants to test 200 cases in the market. Air freight via DHL delivers the cases in 5–7 days. They sell some, decide to expand, and then switch to sea freight for the bulk order.

When to Choose Sea Freight

Sea freight is the right choice when:

• Demand is predictable. You sell 1,000+ cases per month consistently, with 2–3 months of visibility.
• Lead time is acceptable. Customer orders can be planned 4–6 weeks in advance.
• The product is stable. Specifications, color, logo do not change frequently.
• Order size is large. 1,000+ cases per FCL shipment.
• Cost efficiency is the priority. You want the lowest unit costs, even if delivery takes longer.

Typical use case: A German distributor sells 3,000 cases/month across premium and trolley models. It imports 6,000 cases every 2 months via FCL sea freight from Shenzhen to Hamburg. Sea freight is 70 % cheaper than air freight per case.

Hybrid Approach: Sea Freight + Air Freight for Peak Times

Many B2B customers use a hybrid approach:

1. Sea freight for the bulk of demand (80 % of orders, established products).
2. Air freight for urgent replenishment, samples, or unexpected peak times (20 % of orders).

This balances cost and lead time. Kexin can serve both with consistent production lead time. Simply place the appropriate PO and arrange freight through your freight forwarder or directly with DHL/FedEx for air freight.

For a customer selling 1,000 cases/month, the annual mix might look like this:

Quarter	Demand	Shipping mix	Avg. freight cost / case	Notes
Q1	3,000	2,400 sea + 600 air	USD 4.2	Hybrid 65 % cheaper than all-air (USD 12)
Q2	3,500	3,000 sea + 500 air	USD 3.8	Seasonal peak with sea-freight bulk
Q3	2,800	2,400 sea + 400 air	USD 4.0	Moderate demand
Q4	4,000	3,400 sea + 600 air	USD 3.9	Year-end peak
Year	13,300	11,200 sea + 2,100 air	USD 4.0	—

Hybrid is the most flexible and cost-efficient for established products with some demand variability. The 80/20 mix (sea / air) is a common starting point; adjust based on actual demand patterns.

Transit Times in Detail

Air Freight Routes

Route	Carrier	Transit time	Weight / Volume	Cost indication (1,000 units, 30 m³)
Shenzhen (SZX) → Frankfurt (FRA)	DHL, FedEx, Cathay Cargo	3–5 days	Up to 5,000 kg / 30 m³ per shipment	USD 12,000–18,000
Shenzhen (SZX) → Amsterdam (AMS)	DHL, KLM Cargo	3–5 days	Up to 5,000 kg / 30 m³ per shipment	USD 12,000–16,000
Hong Kong (HKG) → London (LHR)	DHL, Cathay Cargo	3–5 days	Up to 5,000 kg / 30 m³ per shipment	USD 11,000–15,000
Shenzhen (SZX) → Madrid (MAD)	DHL, Iberia Cargo	4–6 days	Up to 5,000 kg / 30 m³ per shipment	USD 13,000–19,000

Sea Freight Routes (FCL)

Route	Carrier	Transit time (port-to-port)	FCL type	Cost indication (1,000 units, 30 m³)
Shenzhen → Hamburg	Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO	28–32 days	20' FCL (28 m³)	USD 2,000–3,000
Shenzhen → Rotterdam	Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM	26–30 days	20' FCL (28 m³)	USD 2,200–3,200
Shenzhen → Antwerp	MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO	27–31 days	20' FCL (28 m³)	USD 2,400–3,400
Ningbo → Hamburg	Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd	30–34 days	20' FCL (28 m³)	USD 2,300–3,300
Ningbo → Felixstowe	Maersk, MSC	28–32 days	20' FCL (28 m³)	USD 2,500–3,500
Shenzhen → Le Havre	CMA CGM, MSC	30–35 days	20' FCL (28 m³)	USD 2,600–3,600

These transit times are port-to-port. Add 3–7 days for inland transport in China (Kexin factory → port of shipment), 1–3 days for export clearance, 1–3 days for EU customs clearance, and 1–3 days for inland transport in the EU (port → your warehouse). Total port-to-door: 32–45 days for sea freight, 5–10 days for air freight.

Freight Forwarders and Carriers (Customer Arranges Independently)

Kexin does not arrange freight forwarders or carriers for the international shipment. Customers select and contract directly with forwarders of their choice. Here are the main carriers our customers typically use:

Air Freight Carriers

• DHL Express. World market leader for express air freight. Strong EU coverage, including customs clearance. Book online or via your DHL account manager.
• FedEx International Priority. Fast, reliable, good for North America and the EU. Less strong Asia → EU than DHL.
• Cathay Pacific Cargo. Hong Kong-based, competitive pricing for Asia → EU.
• Lufthansa Cargo. German carrier, good for DE recipients.

Sea Freight Carriers (Container Lines)

• Maersk. World's largest container line. Strong in all EU ports.
• MSC. Second-largest, strong in Southern Europe.
• CMA CGM. French carrier, good for Mediterranean ports.
• COSCO Shipping. Chinese carrier, competitive pricing Asia → EU.
• Hapag-Lloyd. German carrier, good for Hamburg / Bremerhaven.

Freight Forwarders

• Exporters / consolidators. If you don't have FCL volume, use a freight forwarder for LCL (Less than Container Load) — they consolidate your shipment with other customers.
• Door-to-door forwarders. Handle complete shipping including inland transport, export clearance, loading, import clearance, and final delivery. Popular with customers who don't have their own logistics department.

Kexin does not partner with any specific freight forwarder and receives no commission. We give a neutral recommendation. The customer selects and contracts directly.

When Sea Freight Is Not the Right Choice

Despite the cost advantages, sea freight is not always optimal. Avoid it when:

• You are a startup with no demand history. Air freight lets you test before a bulk order.
• Your product is highly seasonal. Air freight for peak season, then ramp down. Avoid over-ordering outside season.
• Your product changes frequently. New models every 6 months = high obsolescence risk.
• You have cashflow constraints. A large advance stock ties up working capital.
• Your order size is small (<500 cases). LCL freight is more expensive per case; air freight is competitive.

For these scenarios, air freight is the right choice. You can switch to sea freight once demand stabilizes (typically after 6–12 months of consistent orders).

Decision Framework: Air Freight vs Sea Freight

Use this decision tree:

1. Is your monthly demand >1,000 units? Yes → consider sea freight. No → continue to 2.
2. Is your demand predictable (forecast within ±20 %)? Yes → sea freight is fine. No → continue to 3.
3. Is your product stable (no specification / color / logo changes)? Yes → sea freight is fine. No → continue to 4.
4. Can you accept 4–6 weeks of lead time? Yes → sea freight. No → air freight.
5. Is the typical order size <500 cases? Yes → air freight (LCL freight is uneconomical). No → sea freight (FCL).

If you answered "Yes" everywhere, sea freight is your best long-term strategy. If you answered "No" anywhere, consider air freight or hybrid.

How Kexin Supports Both Shipping Options

Whether you choose air freight or sea freight, Kexin provides consistent B2B service:

• Consistent production lead time. 30–45 days from PO to FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo port or EXW Guangdong. The same for sea and air shipments (production is the bottleneck, not shipping).
• AQL inspection per batch. Each shipment has the same QC standard (AQL 2.5, ISO 2859-1).
• Test report per shipment. IP / drop / vibration / drop-test results archived for 5 years.
• Flexible order size. 50–10,000+ units per order. No MOQ surcharge.
• Priority on repeat orders. Customers with regular orders get priority in production scheduling.

Our role is to be a reliable, flexible B2B manufacturer. Whether you ship by sea or by air, you receive the same Kexin quality and the same service.

FAQ

Which shipping options does Kexin offer?

Kexin offers two incoterms options: EXW Guangdong (customer takes over the goods at our factory) and FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo (we deliver to the port of shipment, customer arranges freight from there). We do not offer DDP, no door-to-door delivery, and no overseas warehousing.

Does Kexin offer DDP shipping?

No. We do not deliver directly to the end customer's door and do not assume any import duties or VAT for you. Customers organize their own import process in their country. This keeps our unit costs low and avoids complexity.

Does Kexin have an overseas warehouse?

No. Kexin does not operate warehouses in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Rotterdam, or anywhere outside China. We are a pure B2B manufacturer based in Guangdong. Customers handle their own storage in their market.

Which is cheaper — air freight or sea freight?

Sea freight is 60–80 % cheaper per case for orders of 1,000+ units. Example: 1,000 premium cases delivered to DE by sea freight: USD 18.50 / case, by air freight: USD 30.00 / case. Sea freight saves USD 11,500 on 1,000 units.

When should I use air freight instead of sea freight?

For samples (3–5 days transit), urgent orders (customer cannot wait 4–6 weeks), trial orders (<500 units), product launches (test before bulk order), or replenishment of stockouts. Air freight costs 3–5× more per case, but is faster.

How long does sea freight take from China to the EU?

FCL (Full Container Load): 28–35 days to EU port (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Felixstowe). LCL (Less than Container Load): 32–42 days (extra consolidation). Add 1–3 days for inland transport in China, 1–3 days for export clearance, 1–3 days for EU customs clearance, and 1–3 days for inland transport in the EU. Total port-to-door: 32–45 days.

What are typical air freight costs?

Air freight Shenzhen → Frankfurt for 1,000 protective cases (approx. 30 m³, ~6,000 kg): USD 12,000–18,000 (USD 12–18 per case). For smaller shipments (50–500 cases): USD 12–25 per case. Including fuel surcharge and security fee, excluding EU duty and VAT.

What are typical sea freight costs?

Sea freight Shenzhen → Hamburg, 20' FCL for 1,000 protective cases (28 m³): USD 2,000–3,000 (USD 2–3 per case). Add USD 350 EU import duty (2.7 %), USD 2,800 EU VAT (19 %), EUR 100 customs broker, and EUR 500 inland transport. Total landed cost: USD 18.50 per case.

Which ports are best for sea freight to the EU?

Hamburg (DE), Rotterdam (NL), Antwerp (BE), Le Havre (FR), Felixstowe (UK) are the main EU ports. Shenzhen and Ningbo are the main ports of shipment in China. For the DACH region, Hamburg is most common; for Benelux, Rotterdam; for the UK, Felixstowe; for Southern Europe, Le Havre or Genoa.

How do I manage cashflow with sea-freight advance stock?

Large sea-freight orders tie up capital for 4–6 weeks of transit + receiving. Plan a credit line or revolver with your bank for imports. Many of our customers use Letter of Credit (L/C) for first orders and then switch to T/T 30 % deposit + 70 % before shipment for regular orders.

What if I don't need 1,000+ units at once?

For smaller orders (50–500 units), air freight is the most economical option. You can also choose LCL sea freight, but per-case costs are 2–3× higher than FCL. Alternative: combine orders with other products of your brand, or build up to a larger advance stock every 2–3 months.

Can I switch between air and sea depending on demand?

Yes. Many customers use a hybrid: 80 % sea freight for bulk orders, 20 % air freight for urgent cases or new product launches. Kexin can serve both with consistent production lead time. Simply place the appropriate PO and arrange freight through your freight forwarder.

What is the lead time from PO to EXW Guangdong or FOB Shenzhen/Ningbo?

Standard lead time: 30–45 days from PO confirmation + 30 % deposit. Includes tooling preparation (if required), sample production (T1), approval, mass production, inline inspection, final inspection (AQL), packaging. Rush orders: 15–25 days against surcharge (typically 10–15 % extra).

For more on shipping logistics, see our Shipping-to-Europe page or the general shipping guidelines page. To start a sea-freight or air-freight shipment from Kexin, fill out the 4-step RFQ form or email [email protected].