Yes, there are minimum freight charges for international air freight.
This rule is mainly to cover the basic fixed costs incurred by airlines in document processing, security checks, ground handling, etc., to prevent the basic operating costs from being unspecified due to small-batch cargo transportation. Specific restrictions include the following details:
General Billing Weight Threshold: According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines, most airlines set the minimum billing weight at 5 kg. Even if the actual weight of the cargo is less than 5 kg, the freight will be calculated as if it were 5 kg. For example, a 1 kg shipment at a unit price of 30 yuan/kg should only cost 30 yuan, but according to the minimum freight rule, it would cost 150 yuan for 5 kg.
Different Thresholds for Different Routes: The minimum freight standards vary significantly between different routes.
For example, the minimum shipping cost for routes between China and the US is typically 500-800 RMB per shipment, while for routes between China and Europe it’s approximately 450-700 RMB per shipment. Southeast Asia dedicated lines have lower thresholds, with minimum shipping costs as low as 200-300 RMB per shipment.
There are exceptions for certain channels: not all international air freight channels are subject to minimum shipping cost restrictions.
For example, UPS Hong Kong express bag service waives the minimum shipping cost requirement as long as the goods can fit into a bag of a specified size and the weight of a single item does not exceed 30 kg. Postal channels such as EMS have a minimum shipping cost threshold as low as 0.5 kg, making them relatively more cost-effective for small items weighing under 2 kg.
Additionally, it’s important to note that for lightweight and bulky goods, if their volumetric weight (calculated as length × width × height ÷ 6000) exceeds the actual weight, they will be charged based on volumetric weight. This may cause the chargeable weight to reach or even exceed the minimum chargeable weight standard, ultimately resulting in higher shipping costs.
(Note: All fees mentioned above are for reference only. Please refer to the actual invoice for details. Thank you!)
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