When importing bulk goods from China, the high cost of air freight is often not only due to the increase in "basic freight", but also determined by the calculation rules of chargeable weight (ChargeableWeight), fluctuations in fuel surcharges, and the scarcity of air transportation resources. For merchants engaged in international trade, understanding the logic of fee composition is more important than simply comparing prices. Air freight is not just a simple "point-to-point" transportation, especially when it involves hundreds of kilograms or even tons of commercial cargo. Its cost structure includes ground operations, security inspections, customs declarations, and the airline's strict revenue management of slots.
This article will strip away the market noise, and from the perspective of a professional international freight forwarder, break down the core factors that lead to high air freight costs in China, and provide cost optimization solutions for bulk cargo.
Core Pain Point: The Game Between Billing Weight and Warranty
Many merchants are shocked when they receive a shipping quote, often due to a misunderstanding of the definition of "weight." In air cargo, airlines sell not only the load capacity, but also the space (volume) in the cabin.
For bulk commercial cargo, airlines implement a strict 1:167 conversion standard (i.e. 1CBM=167KG).
GrossWeight: The actual physical weight of the goods.
Volumetric Weight: length x width x height (cm)/6000.
Why is this sending shipping costs soaring?
If your goods are plastic products, textiles or electronic products with exquisite retail packaging, their volumetric weight is often much greater than their actual weight. The airline will use the larger of the two as the billing weight.
For example, if a batch of goods with an actual weight of 500kg reaches 4CBM, its billable weight will become 668kg (4x167). This means you pay for the 168kg of "air" you didn't actually transport. This is the number one reason why air freight bills are higher than expected. Here are the air freight prices from Shenzhen to Los Angeles: cost per kilogram description.
The hidden cost structure behind shipping costs
Air freight rate (AirFreightRate) is never a single number, but a complex combination. In addition to basic freight, the following hard expenses constitute a large part of the total cost:
- Fuel and war risk surcharge (FSC&WSC)
Fuel surcharges (FSC) are the most volatile component of air freight rates and are often linked to international crude oil prices. On some long routes (such as China to North America or Europe), FSC may even account for more than 30% of the total freight. In addition, due to geopolitical influences, airlines will also impose war risk surcharges (WSC), which are uncontrollable external costs.
- Ground service fee at departure port
For bulk cargo, it’s not just as simple as throwing it on a plane. At major airports in China (such as Shanghai PVG, Guangzhou CAN, Hong Kong HKG), cargo must go through a series of complex ground treatments before taking off:
Warehousing fees and operating fees: the costs of unloading, weighing, and palletizing goods at the cargo terminal.
Security Screening Fee (X-ray): Mandatory security scan for bulk pallet shipments.
Special cargo identification: If the goods contain batteries, magnetic materials or liquids, a transportation condition identification certificate must be issued by a professional agency, which will incur additional documentation and operating costs.
- Customs declaration and documentation fees
Different from the simple customs clearance of personal packages, commercial bulk goods must undergo formal export declaration (FormalCustomsDeclaration). This involves fees for customs declaration entry, inspection cooperation, etc. If your supplier does not have import and export rights, you will also need to purchase export documents (pay for export), which will also increase hidden costs.
Scarcity of transportation resources: bellyhold of passenger aircraft vs. all-cargo aircraft
Air freight capacity from China is mainly divided into two categories: passenger aircraft abdominal hold (PAX) and all-cargo aircraft (CAO-Cargo Aircraft Only).
Passenger aircraft belly hold: The cost is relatively low, but the space is extremely limited, and priority is given to protecting passenger luggage. For palletized cargo (bulk cargo) exceeding a certain size or weight, the belly hold of a passenger aircraft often cannot be loaded.
All-cargo aircraft: specially used to transport goods and can accommodate ultra-high and over-weight pallets. However, the number of all-cargo aircraft is limited and operating costs are extremely high.
When the market enters the peak season (usually September to December in the second half of the year), or when shipping is blocked and demand overflows to air freight, space on all-cargo aircraft will become a scarce resource, and prices will skyrocket. At this time, only goods that pay a high price (PremiumRate) can be guaranteed to be loaded (Uplifted), otherwise they will face the risk of being "offloaded" (Offloaded).
Route selection: cost difference between direct flight and transshipment
Due to China's vast territory, the choice of departure port has a huge impact on price.
Direct flights from mainland China: such as direct flights from Shanghai (PVG) or Beijing (PEK) to the destination port. The advantage is fast speed, but the disadvantage is high price and extremely strict security inspection requirements for goods.
Transshipment via Hong Kong (HKG): As a free trade port, Hong Kong has fewer restrictions on live products and special cargo, and its flight network is extremely dense.
Third country transshipment: In order to reduce costs, some routes will choose to transship at hubs in South Korea, the Middle East or Southeast Asia.
Why does this result in a price difference?
Although the transshipment solution seems to have a lower unit price, for bulk goods, frequent loading and unloading will increase the risk of damage to the goods, and the uncertainty of the transit waiting time (Transit Time) may lead to an increase in hidden storage fees. Some low-price routes actually sacrifice timeliness and safety, resulting in comprehensive logistics costs not being truly reduced.
Compliance risk costs for bulk cargo
For importers focusing on B2B trade, compliance costs are another factor that cannot be ignored. Unlike the "grey customs clearance" area where small packages may exist, bulk goods must undergo formal import customs clearance (Formal Entry) in the destination country.
If the logistics service provider you choose is unprofessional, resulting in delays in customs clearance at the destination port, the airport's expensive storage fees (Storage Fees) will accumulate on a daily basis. This fee is often more staggering than the air freight itself. In addition, if DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) terms are involved, the prepayment of customs duties and VAT is also a huge drain on funds. Providing you with air freight from China to Germany in 2026: Frankfurt transit and customs guide.
Cost reduction and optimization solutions for bulk air transport
Since air freight costs are determined by the above rigid conditions, how can merchants optimize it?
Optimize packaging design: intervene at the production stage to compress the packaging volume as much as possible, reduce unnecessary fillers, or use vacuum packaging, and strive to control the billing weight close to the actual weight.
Accurate port of departure planning: Based on your supplier distribution, select the nearest port of departure with the best freight rate (such as Shanghai/Ningbo for East China and Guangzhou/Shenzhen/Hong Kong for South China) to avoid excessive domestic land transportation costs.
Avoid extreme peak seasons or book in advance: If possible, try to avoid the peak shipping times before the "Golden September and Silver Ten" periods and the Spring Festival. For goods that must be shipped during the peak season, it is necessary to lock the space (BlockSpace) 1-2 weeks in advance.
Choose DDP/DDU door-to-door service: For bulk goods, integrating pickup, customs declaration, air transportation, customs clearance, and delivery to a professional freight forwarder is usually more cost-effective than segmented procurement, and the division of responsibilities is clearer.
Conclusion: Specialization is the only way to reduce overall costs
Air freight of bulk cargo from China is expensive because it carries high timeliness, high security business value, and complex cross-border compliance processes. Trying to use simple price comparison logic to find the “lowest price” often leads to mired in hidden charges or cargo detention.
For companies that need to handle medium and large commercial goods stably and efficiently, it is crucial to choose a partner with strong implementation capabilities and a transparent cost structure.
Your professional bulk logistics partner: Presou
As a professional brand deeply involved in the field of international logistics, Presou and its wholly-owned subsidiary Shenzhen Dayuanjun are committed to providing excellent air freight solutions to global merchants. We are more than just a freight forwarder, we are a strategic ally in your supply chain.
Full-link control: Shenzhen Dayuanjun is responsible for the specific implementation in China. From factory pickup, professional board making, export customs declaration to airport handover, we provide a truly fully transparent one-stop service.
Network coverage: Relying on our branches in China's core port cities (Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, Xiamen), no matter where your supplier is located, we can respond quickly and arrange the best route nearby.
Ten years of hard work: With more than 10 years of industry experience, we are well aware of every pain point in bulk cargo transportation.
DDP/DDU experts: We are good at handling complex door-to-door business. Whether it is tariff prepayment or customs clearance at the destination port, we can clear the obstacles for you.
Please note: We focus on providing protection for medium and large commercial cargo and do not undertake personal small packages or express delivery services. If you are looking for a reliable air freight solution for importing bulk goods from China, Presou will be the ideal choice to help you reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Thank you for watching. I hope we can solve your problems.
Presou is an international freight forwarding company from China, with subsidiaries offering one-stop logistics services—from pickup and customs clearance to home delivery. Over the past ten years, we have established branches in major port cities in China, including Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Xiamen.
If you’d like to learn more, Can the forwarder handle customs clearance? Bulk Trade Customs Declaration Process and Risk Control Guide. click to read further.
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