Sea or air freight: what is the best choice for your business needs?

When to use sea or air freight in international business?

Choosing the best mode of transport means meeting the needs and requirements of the clients that your company serves.

Certain factors must therefore be taken into consideration when choosing the best available means of transport, including:

• the cost of freight,


• the time required for delivery,


• the type of goods that will be transported, etc.

Business opportunities that extend to other countries are increasingly becoming a reality for thousands of companies across Brazil.

The importance of overseas business can be highlighted by the fact that, according to a study carried out by ApexBrasil, in 2021 alone exports in Brazil totaled US$280 billion, an increase of 34% when compared to results from the previous year.

In light of the increasing prevalence of exports, we will now provide you with some important tips on how to best choose between sea and air freight. Keep reading to learn more!

What are the differences between sea and air freight?

One of the biggest issues facing companies that are starting export or import processes is choosing the type of transport that is to be used.

Which mode of transport is the most ideal, sea or air freight?

Finding an answer to this question involves studying the segment and market in which your company operates, in addition to the manner in which business is carried out with regards to inventory turnover and policy. Let’s take a more detailed look at these modes of transport:

Sea freight

Ocean freight is an excellent option for companies that are seeking to reduce transport costs and are not faced with time constraints in delivering or receiving goods.

For example, goods shipped from China require approximately 70 days before they are made available to buyers in Brazil.

A ship scheduled to call at several different ports requires 45 days to complete its voyage. However, there are also several bureaucratic and logistics procedures required to complete the importation process.

Air freight

Air freight, on the other hand, offers a competitive advantage in terms of the amount of time needed to deliver goods. Using the above example of freight carried out between China and Brazil, the period required for goods to be cleared in Brazil is between 10 and 15 days.

Despite the advantages offered by air freight in terms of time, it is important to keep in mind that air freight is considerably more expensive than sea freight. It is therefore necessary that this detail be taken into consideration during negotiations.

Air freight is a very appealing option in situations involving products with a high added value or that need to be cleared quickly.

Should your company choose air or sea freight?

As discussed above, choosing between sea or air freight depends upon the objectives of a particular operation and the specific needs of interested parties.

The best option is to rely on experts that are able to use their experience to outline the best alternatives for meeting your company’s needs.

AMTRANS, a specialized company that has been active on the marketplace since 2001, has more than 100 qualified professionals available to track down the best option for your business.

The company is also able to provide assistance throughout the entire bureaucratic process and activities related to logistics, thereby ensuring that the different tasks involved in an operation are completed in a high-quality manner, from pick up to the moment at which goods are delivered.

Regardless of the mode of transport that is to be used and the type of goods that your company needs to import from overseas or send to any country worldwide, AMTRANS is ready to assist you and ensure that your operations are carried out successfully.

Visit our website now and get a quote. We offer the best available cost-benefit on the market and the ideal opportunities and options for your business!