Shipping Companies in Uk offer freight services primarily through three modes; Air Freight, Sea Freight or Road/Rail Freight. The last is usually used for local shipments or to most EU destinations. For farther international destinations, freight forwarding services in UK use either air freight or sea freight. It is about these farther international shipping destinations that we will speak about in today’s blog.
While there is no absolute answer on how to decide right shipping method in the UK, we can analyse pros and cons of both air freight and sea freight and study them in conjunction with our shipping needs to reach a realistically advantageous decision. Freight logistics solutions in UK have a diverse portfolio. It is the size, volumetric weight, dimensions and content of shipment; and the time frame requirements that can determine the superiority of either ocean freight or air freight. On their own each are establishe and widely used freight methods across the globe.
SEA FREIGHT:
Sea Cargo Vessels are enormous in size. On average sea vessels carry 18000 containers. Shipping via sea freight services is preferer for large bulky items. Depending on shipping volumes, shippers can go either Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL). FCL is when an entire container is reserve for one client. These Containers are ISO standard 8 feet wide containers with usually 20-, 30- or 40-feet length. Most freight forwarding services in UK offer LCL; clients pay only for space they use. Different clients’ shipments are grouped together and once at destination port they are separate again. Overall, FCL has lower per unit costs as LCL will include more port and handling charges compared to FCL. However, on whole either of them will be a lot cheaper than air freight.
Shipping via sea freight services is generally more economical. However, importers/exporters must bear in mind what freight charges will be incurred from destination port to door. Sea freight also has higher risk of damage due to longer lead times and more port handling involved especially in LCL. Apart from significant cost advantages, sea freight offers more flexibility in terms of weight, dimensions and content of shipment. Compared to air freight, shipments heavier in weight, larger in their dimensions or oddly shaped can easily be accommodates on sea vessels.
Most shipping companies in UK will accept air freight forwarding only if the packaging is up to a certain standard. There are maximum weight limits per corrugated box or content limitations like only two laptops in a box or 4 laptops per shipment. Unlike air freight, sea freight usually has much lesser restrictions.
However, sea freight is only suitable for shipments for longer lead times. They are usually less reliable in terms of time scales with more delays impacting shipments delivery times. Weather conditions and numerous port issues can contribute to this. Additionally, the customs declaration process is also more complicated and time taking in terms of sea freight. Issues like Suez Canal issue in 2021, Red Sea Blockade in 2023 can significantly impact lead times. Increasing global port congestions are rapidly a grave concern.
Of all the freight logistics solutions in the UK, Sea Freight is the most environmental friendly method. CO2 emissions from sea freight are minimal in comparison to air freight. In an era where climatic changes and environmental sustainability are increasingly becoming important for governments, international bodies and even small businesses, losing green credentials mean loss of business goodwill.
AIR FREIGHT:
Air freight is champion for shorter lead times. Their advantage lies in rapid time for deliveries. However, this is one of the most expensive methods offered by freight forwarding services in UK. For this reason, it is often not the best logistics solution for large, bulky shipments. On a rough estimate, shipping costs via sea and via air have a 1:4.5 difference. This means the shipping via air will be more than 4 times expensive in most cases. Usually, shipping costs are the best to be around 15% of shipment value. Large, bulky, or oddly shaped items can easily cost more than 15% of their value if shipped by air. For this reason, air freight is rarely used for such goods.
Yet Air freight is not without its advantages. Shorter lead times are crucial for some industries and some shippers. This may include perishable goods imports or exports. They may also include fast end fashion retailers with frequently changing fashion choices and preferences. Some individual shipments like documentations etc may have additional significance of short time deliveries. Compared to shipping via sea freight services, air freight services have less disruptions and delays. While there still might be customs process and duties applied, it is less tricky than the earlier. Also, air freight has lesser risk of damage and loss. It is due to this reason that most electronics are shippe by air.
In contrast to sea freight, Air Freight has less flexibility. There are stricter packaging restrictions, max dimensions and weight ceilings in place. Green businesses should avoid air freight due to its high CO2 emissions.
DECISIVE FACTORS:
When you seek quotes from freight forwarding services in UK, most will by default offer you quotes of both air and sea freight; until and unless they don’t deal with either one of them or you have specifically specified one freight method in your enquiry. What should be chosen depends on many factors some of which are listed below:
- Your budget: essentially what you think is suitable max level you want to pay to make shipping your desired items worthwhile.
- Perishability or lifecycle of shipment content: You will not want to ship a fast fashion item by sea where upon they might be out of their prime demand before they reach their destination. Similarly, magazine publications or food items that have narrow time windows should be a sent via air freight.
- Size of shipment: Large, bulky items or home moves may turn out very costly (even more than their cost) to ship by air. This is why most furniture, machinery and automotive parts are shippe via sea.
- Your business values: If your organisation is specific about carbon imprints, air freight will not fit your criteria.
- Value of Shipment Content. Certain high value items like paintings are usually shipped by air because the risks of damage and loss while transit by sea overshadow the benefits of economy.
Shipping via sea freight services and air freight services in UK can sometimes be very tricky. Get a Quote from Beyond Logistics and our dedicated team can help you make a choice depending on your individual shipping needs, latest customs regulations and updated destination trends and statistics.
