Sea freight or ocean freight is a method of shipping goods by sea using cargo ships, and the percentage is higher for most developing countries. There are several types of sea freight, differentiated based on the size and type of goods shipped. The common types of sea freight include :

Full Container Load (FCL)

In FCL, a single shipper fills an entire container with their goods. This method is ideal for a large quantity of goods. FCL is faster and less risky than LCL.

Less Container Load (LCL)

LCL is used when the shipped goods do not fill a full container. Goods are shipped with others from different shippers in one container.

Air freight, or air cargo allows the transport of goods quickly by air. Shipping cargo by air has always been a high cost-to-weight form of shipment, countered by the fact that it’s the fastest way to transport goods internationally. There are two types of air cargo :

General Cargo

General Cargo includes high-value goods, such as electronics, jewellery and pharmaceuticals. Air shipping is more expensive than shipping by sea, but due to the high margins and the fact that many electronic goods are fragile, air freight is the most appropriate form of transport.

Special Cargo

Special Cargo requires special conditions for transporting goods, such as temperature control, certain air conditions or protected casing (e.g. if the goods are hazardous or livestock).

Trucking or road transportation is the most common form of land transport. Trucks carry goods over short and long distances, connecting distribution centers, warehouses, and retail outlets. They offer flexibility and door-to-door service, making them essential for last-mile delivery.

Railways provide a cost-effective and efficient means to move large quantities of goods over long distances. They are commonly used for transporting bulk commodities such as coal, minerals, and grains.

Third-party logistics (or 3PL) refers to the outsourcing of ecommerce logistics processes to a third party business, including inventory management, warehousing, and fulfillment.