Sea freight or air freight from China: which should you choose?

Choose sea freight when

• The cargo is heavy or bulky: furniture, building materials, machinery
• You can plan a month or two ahead
• The shipment is more than about 2 CBM, where sea becomes far cheaper per unit
• You are restocking regular products in volume

Choose air freight when

• Goods are urgent: spare parts, samples, a launch date
• Items are small, light or high value: electronics, cosmetics, accessories
• You want to test a new product before ordering a container
• Holding stock costs you more than faster freight

The middle ground

Many importers split an order: a small first batch by air to start selling, the rest by sea. We can also combine several suppliers into one LCL shipment to keep sea freight affordable for smaller orders.

How a shipment moves with Silk Arabia

1. Specification & sourcing You share the requirement. We shortlist suppliers and confirm samples and prices.
2. Order & quality check We order on your behalf, inspect before loading and photograph every stage.
3. Certification SABER product and shipment certificates, SASO/SFDA and ministry approvals prepared in advance.
4. Sea or air freight Booked on the best-value sailing or flight and tracked until it arrives.
5. Customs clearance Declaration, duty and VAT handled by our licensed clearance team at the port.
6. Delivery to your warehouse Trucked anywhere in Saudi Arabia, the GCC or Iraq, with proof of delivery.

FAQ