The true cost of a shipping mode is freight plus capital tied up plus lost sales. For high-value, seasonal goods where stockouts are expensive, air freight can still win even at several times the ocean rate.
A practical threshold: goods below CNY 50 per kilogram favour ocean; the CNY 50–200 band suits sea-air or rail; above CNY 200 with short replenishment cycles, air is usually cheaper overall.
Do not overlook destination charges and delivery, which often exceed the ocean freight itself. Always request a door-to-door all-in rate rather than a port-to-port number.
Topics：Shipping MethodsCost
