When to choose air freight
Most goods from China to the Balkans travel by sea, in a full container or as a consolidated shipment (LCL). That is the cheapest way per cubic metre, but it takes weeks. More in the guide on how long shipping from China takes.
Air freight is justified when waiting would cost you more than the transport:
- An urgent repeat order, when stock has run out.
- Small, high-value goods, such as electronics or parts.
- Seasonal goods that would otherwise miss the season.
Often the best answer is to split the order, with the urgent part by air and the rest by sea. The minimum air shipment is 50 kg.
Air or sea
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| Key facts | Air | Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Time | about 7 to 14 days door to door, to Skopje and to Belgrade | weeks, as set out in the transit time guide |
| Priced by | kilogram of chargeable weight | container, or CBM for LCL |
| Minimum shipment | 50 kg | 1 CBM for LCL |
| Intended for | urgent and high-value shipments | all other goods, especially bulky ones |
You receive the exact price and time in the quote.
How air freight is priced
Air freight is charged per kilogram of chargeable weight. The airline compares the actual weight with the volumetric weight, which is calculated from the dimensions of the cartons, and charges the higher of the two. A carton of plush toys is light but large, so it is charged by its size. A carton of metal parts is charged by its weight. You can work out the volume with the CBM calculator.
The quote covers pickup in China, export documents, the flight and transport to the destination. Air rates change from week to week, so the quote has a period of validity. We do not carry out customs clearance. A forwarder handles clearance, duty and VAT, your own or one we recommend.
What we provide
We have been in China since 2006 and have our own warehouses in Yiwu and Ningbo. For air shipments:
- We collect goods from several suppliers in our warehouse and send them as one shipment.
- Before the flight our agents count the goods and document them with photos and video, because a mistake costs most when the goods travel by air.
- We measure and weigh the cartons, so the chargeable weight is known before the quote.
What happens on arrival is described on the page customs documents and delivery. For deliveries to Serbia, see shipping from China to Serbia.
Get a quote
Send us a link or photo of the product, the number of cartons with their dimensions and weight, the supplier's location and the destination of the goods. Tell us too when you need the goods. You will receive a quote with the time and the price. If the goods can also arrive in time by sea, we will compare the two options.
