How you intend to deliver your product depends mostly on the type of product and volumes. Choosing the appropriate delivery channels is essential to determine before sales and should be included in price quotes (see Incoterms blog).
There are four main product delivery options: Air, Ocean (Freight), Rail and Road.
Air Cargo – is delivery via a designated airline service. A few of the most reputable global companies for shipping air cargo are DHL, UPS, Federal Express, DSV. These companies also provide detailed information on country/product specific shipping requirements (paperwork, certifications, customs clearance). Also, they have a variety of express services for global delivery and can, in most countries, provide ground delivery as well.
There are advantages and disadvantages to air cargo delivery, and it is not an appropriate form of transportation for all product types. It is most commonly used for urgent, high-value and or sensitive goods. The main benefits of air transport are the speed of delivery and enhanced security. Its main disadvantages are high cost, frequent airport levies added, not possible for large shipments.
Ocean Freight – is sea transport via cargo ships. There are many reputable global companies for ocean freight shipping. A few of the most well-known sea freight carrier companies are Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., China Ocean Shipping Group, Hamburg Sud Group, Hanjin Shipping. Often with sea freight transport, exporters opt to utilize a freight forwarder. The decision is usually based on the export delivery terms (see Incoterms). The items/products to be transported are placed in either 20ft or 40ft containers that can be refrigerated or non- refrigerated as needed. Detailed information regarding the packaging, dimensions, and cargo weight possibilities in 20ft and 40ft containers can be found on DSV.
The advantages of ocean transport are consolidation of shipments is possible, so costs are lowered, larger volume shipments can be made, containers used for shipping via sea can also be utilized (unhindered) for subsequent land, rail transportation. The disadvantages are that this form of transportation requires substantially more time, weather conditions can cause delays, depending upon origin port and destination port routes may not be readable available, and port duties and taxes need to be paid.
Rail – is delivery via railroad. This mode of transport is usually via one rail carrier going cross-borders. Some countries have very good cross border railroads, and others do not. The European Union nations have excellent cross-border rail transport with a few country exceptions (i.e., Greece, Slovenia). This type of shipment is usually more cost-effective, quite efficient- especially in Europe, and allows for large volume transport. It is however, more expensive than road transport and can at times be subject to significant delays.
Road– is delivery via land. For some regions, this is the best form of transport (i.e., Europe). It is relatively low cost, however, in some countries, land transport expenses are exceptionally high (i.e., Brazil). This mode of delivery is more time consuming than most of the others; there is a more significant risk of goods being damaged or stolen. The choice of road travel is one that should be made on an individual country/region case by case basis.