When you have to ship something, there are a lot of things to consider. Just one of those is how you’re going to get the product delivered to you. It’s a bit of a balancing act figuring out whether you will go with air or use sea freight services. But our freight forwarding companies in Jeddah will give you the pros and cons of each. Here we’re looking at some of the aspects to consider when making your decision:
Check that you can ship the product
Before you even consider shipping, you’ve got to do a bit of homework on your items first. The first question you need an answer before you can use sea freight services is, can I actually ship this product? The US import process is very complex and moving companies in Saudi Arabia will tell you as well, there are various rules and regulations to follow. In fact, the FDA often refuses a good number of imports – in January 2018 alone, the FDA made 97 refusals.
Refusals happen for any of a number of reasons such as:
- Your item itself might have a ban.
- The product is deemed to be counterfeit.
- Your goods might be unsafe.
- The product contains elements that are prohibited (be watchful of cosmetics or supplements).
- There is a trade embargo with the country of origin.
FDA, Customs, USDA or other agencies are also involved, depending on what the shipment is and can refuse entry. You will have a right to appeal and present evidence as to why you feel the item should use sea freight services to enter the US. However, if you lose the appeal, the product has to leave the US or it gets destroyed within 90 days.
Help with figuring out all the rules
The Small Business Administration provides thorough resources to help you figure out what the rules around shipping your chosen items are. You’ll also want to be careful with things like tariffs and other fees that you will certainly come across. Some items attract such large tariffs that you’ll find they’re not worth carrying with you.
Note that it can be challenging to find the most up-to-date information, as prices and fees are often altered. Import companies will avoid giving specifics in case the current ones are wrong. But you can have success through having contacts within the relevant government agencies. As long as you’re not hammering them with questions every day, they will not withhold info on how to use sea freight services. Of course, you can conduct an online search yourself, however, you’ll find that the information isn’t always precise on government websites.
Should you, in fact, use sea freight services?
Choosing the correct mode of transport can be challenging. It’s usually a question of time and money. Do you need to use sea freight services to move your goods quickly? Or would you rather select different solutions to keep your moving costs down? You should really strive to strike a good balance between both. To help your verdict we have put together a number of key factors to consider before making your decision.
How much money are you willing to spend on sea freight services?
If you ask which mode of transport is most cost-effective, you will usually get the same answer. If you use sea freight services, you will make it with less money than when you opt for shipping by air. And, normally, this is true. However, it’s not inevitably the case. This will depend on how logistics and transport companies tax for international shipping.
- Airlines charge according to the weight of a shipment, which doesn’t always depend on its size. That’s because cumbersome items with a light overall weight take up more space on than a smaller, but heavier item. When you use sea freight services, carriers charge per container rates for standard containers. The price is usually based on the size of a shipment (even when weight can affect the price).
- A factor that is most important when you use sea freight services, is that the cost of freight in containers changes whether the goods require a dedicated full container (FCL) or can fit in other cargo (LCL). In the case of the second option, your price is often determined by its volume in a cubic meter.
How is it for you to reduce your ecological footprint when you use sea freight services?
Time and money is an important factor. We understand that, but we also have a responsibility for the world we live in. We believe in taking care of our environment. Nowadays, environmental protection has become an increasingly pressing issue all over the world. That is why every business today needs to consider how they use sea freight services and does their service contributes to a more sustainable future. This is also a perfect way of changing the way the public views a company. In the end, it might end up being a question of whether clients choose a company or not.
When it comes to this category, sea freight services always win the battle. CO2 emissions are much higher when you use air freight services than when you use sea freight services.
Final thoughts
Another factor to consider when you use sea freight services is the destination charges. There will be customs and fees, which you have to pay regardless of which method of transport you chose. Even if you find that the costs when you use sea freight services are cheaper than the costs for shipping by air, the warehouse fees at seaports can end up being much more expensive than the warehouses at airports.
We hope you got a better picture of the possibilities and limitations of air freight and sea freight after reading our article! Perhaps we’ve made it a little easier for you to choose the correct method of transport for your needs! Please let us know what you choose by contacting us via our contact page. We hope we can help you find the perfect solution for your upcoming relocation!
