Two quotes for the same cargo can differ by forty per cent without either being wrong. Almost always the gap is in what the number includes, not in the freight rate itself.
Two quotes for the same cargo can differ by forty per cent without either being wrong. Almost always the gap is in what the number includes, not in the freight rate itself.
Start with the weight basis, because that is where the biggest silent differences live. Air freight divides volume in cubic centimetres by 6000; express couriers divide by 5000; ocean LCL charges the greater of one cubic metre or 1,000 kg. The same cartons can therefore produce three different billable quantities. Before comparing rates, normalise the quantity — then compare.
Next, work out which destination charges are inside the figure. Terminal handling, CFS and handling on LCL, chassis and fuel surcharges, liftgate, residential delivery, customs entry, duty and import VAT are all commonly quoted separately, and any one of them can be a large share of a small shipment. A quote that says "all-in DDP to door" and a quote that says "to port" are not comparable numbers even when the currency and the weight match.
Finally, treat validity seriously. Spot ocean rates on the Asia–Europe and transpacific lanes can double or halve inside a quarter, and air rates move weekly in peak season. Seven to fourteen days is a normal validity window; anything older is a historical record, not an offer. And when you do compare, compare landed cost per sellable unit rather than per kilogram — a lower per-kilo rate on a bulkier packing spec regularly loses to a higher rate on a tighter one.
| Air chargeable weight | Greater of gross kg or (L × W × H cm ÷ 6000) |
|---|---|
| Express chargeable weight | Greater of gross kg or (L × W × H cm ÷ 5000) |
| Ocean LCL basis | Greater of 1 CBM or 1,000 kg |
| Typical quote validity | 7–14 days on spot rates |
| Peak seasons | Pre-Chinese New Year · Golden Week (1–7 Oct) · Q4 (Sep–Nov) |
| Frequently excluded | Destination THC · CFS · chassis · liftgate · residential delivery · duty · import VAT |
| Surcharges to ask about | Fuel (BAF/FAF), currency, peak season, congestion |
| Right comparison unit | Landed cost per sellable unit, not per kilogram |
Standard industry references (Incoterms 2020, IATA volumetric divisors, ISO container internal dimensions, SOLAS Chapter VI, ISPM 15). Rates, surcharges and free time are commercial terms and vary by carrier, lane and season — confirm them on your own quotation.
Our bookings originate at the Chinese gateways below. Which one your cargo uses depends on where the factory sits, the mode and the space available that week.
Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals; the highest-frequency gateway for Europe and North America.
31.2304° N 121.4737° E
Yangtze Delta alternative to Shanghai, often with shorter yard queues at peak.
29.8683° N 121.5440° E
Primary South China gateway for Pearl River Delta factories.
22.5850° N 114.2700° E
Strong on Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia services.
22.7700° N 113.6000° E
Largest South China freighter base; the default for Pearl River Delta air cargo.
23.3924° N 113.2988° E
Electronics and battery-capable channels close to the Shenzhen supply base.
22.6393° N 113.8108° E
China's busiest cargo airport; widest long-haul network.
31.1443° N 121.8083° E
Highest block-train frequency to Europe.
34.3416° N 108.9398° E
Western China gateway; strong Poland and Germany services.
30.5728° N 104.0668° E
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Usually because they cover different scopes. Check the weight basis (6000 vs 5000 divisor, or revenue ton for LCL), whether destination handling and last-mile delivery are included, and whether duty and import VAT are inside the number. Once those match, the underlying rates are normally close.
Typically seven to fourteen days for spot rates. Ocean spot rates can move sharply within a quarter and air rates move weekly in peak season, so an older quote should be re-confirmed before you commit to a supplier price.
Only if you are being billed on weight. If the shipment is billed on volume — which is common for air freight and LCL — reducing carton dimensions saves money and shaving kilograms does not. Work out which basis applies first.
In the weeks before Chinese New Year, during Golden Week in early October, and through the September-to-November pre-Christmas peak. Booking earlier in those windows matters more than negotiating the rate.
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