When choosing first-leg freight, the most common question is "sea or air?". There is no single right answer — it depends on your cargo type, cash flow and replenishment pace.
Sea freight is the mainstream China–Australia mode, offered as full-container (FCL) or less-than-container (LCL). FCL suits high-volume sellers at the lowest unit cost; LCL suits early sellers with flexible, volume-based pricing.
Sea freight typically takes 15–25 days (incl. customs) at roughly 1/6 to 1/8 the cost of air. For bulky, moderate-value goods like furniture and home appliances, sea is almost always the right choice.
Air freight reaches the warehouse in 3–5 days — ideal for urgent replenishment and high-value goods (electronics, fashion, seasonal new launches). The trade-off is higher cost, suited to high-value or at-risk-of-stockout items.
① Cargo value: high value / small volume → air; moderate value / large volume → sea. ② Lead time: new launch or pre-sale replenishment → air; regular restock → sea. ③ Cash flow: sea ties up capital longer but costs less; air the opposite.
Our advice is "sea first, air as backup": ship regular SKUs by sea to control cost, and hot/stockout SKUs by air for speed — protecting both margin and supply.
← Back to News