Global wholesaleShipping Wholesale Goods from China: Express, Air or Ocean
Compare express, air freight and ocean freight for China wholesale orders using weight, volume, urgency and route availability.
Reviewed and updated 2026-07-28What buyers should remember
- No transport mode is cheapest or fastest for every shipment.
- Carton count, gross weight and volume are required before comparison.
- Restricted goods and destination rules can remove a route.
- Transit and delivery scope must be confirmed in the freight quote.
Freight mode comparison
| Mode | Typical buying situation | Confirm before selection |
|---|---|---|
| Express | Smaller, urgent, door-oriented shipments | Service area, chargeable weight and commodity acceptance |
| Air freight | Time-sensitive commercial cargo | Airport route, handling, customs and final delivery scope |
| Ocean freight | Larger or less urgent cargo | LCL or container route, port charges and destination delivery |
Prepare shipment facts first
A useful freight request includes destination, carton count, gross weight, volume, goods description and required delivery window. Product value alone is not enough to price transport.
Elosung derives indicative shipment facts from the selected quantity and product carton data. The carrier or operations team then confirms the available route.
Compare delivery scope, not only the headline rate
Ask whether a rate covers pickup, export handling, main transport, import clearance, duties, local charges and final delivery. Two quotes with different scopes are not directly comparable.
- Name the Incoterm or requested service scope.
- Confirm whether duties and taxes are included.
- Check whether the quote is airport, port or door delivery.
- Record the rate validity and cargo-ready date.
Keep estimates separate from confirmed freight
An online range can help compare modes, but it is not a booking. Final cost and transit depend on the route, carrier capacity, cargo details and destination services available when the quote is issued.
Buyer questions, answered directly
Why does a freight estimator sometimes return no range?
The route, destination detail, cargo data or carrier coverage may be insufficient. Submit those facts in the RFQ for manual confirmation.
Are customs duties included in freight?
Not automatically. Duties, taxes and destination services depend on the quoted service scope and Incoterm.
Can mixed products ship together?
Often they can be consolidated, but compatibility, packaging, restrictions and destination rules must be reviewed for the actual product mix.