To ship international parcels cheaply, you can start by choosing the right courier, optimizing packaging, and leveraging an agency platform.
Below, Weefreight will provide a detailed analysis, which we hope will be helpful.
Choosing the Right Shipping Method:
Ocean Shipping: Suitable for large, heavy goods with low timeliness requirements. It’s generally the cheapest, but the shipping cycle is longer, typically 2-3 months.
Air Freight: Suitable for small or urgently needed items. For shipments over 21 kg, consider air freight (air freight + delivery) or dedicated air lines, which offer lower costs than express delivery alone.
Land Shipping: Limited to neighboring countries, such as China, Russia, and Vietnam. Prices are lower, but the shipping range is limited and delivery times are unpredictable.
Choosing the Right Express Company:
Large Express Companies: Different large express companies offer competitive pricing in different weight ranges. For example, DHL offers relatively competitive pricing for small shipments (under 21kg), UPS offers competitive pricing for large shipments (over 100kg), and FedEx offers competitive pricing in the 21-99kg range. EMS is suitable for non-urgent packages and offers lower prices than the Big Four.
Regional Express: For specific routes, you can choose local discount channels. For example, FedEx offers exclusive discounts in the Middle East and South America.
Sending through an agency platform: International express agencies typically have more access to channels and can secure discounts that are more favorable than official rates. For example, Royal Logistics is a Tier 1 agency for DHL, UPS, and FedEx, offering discounts of 20% to 50% off official rates. They can also customize value-added services such as free packaging and tracking based on your needs.
Optimizing Package Packaging: International express delivery is typically charged based on actual weight and volumetric weight, whichever is greater. Therefore, you can reduce the volume of items like clothing and quilts by using vacuum bags, removing the delicate packaging from the items and replacing them with thinner cartons, and when combining multiple packages, make sure the length, width, and height of each item do not exceed 120cm x 70cm x 70cm.
Plan your shipment weight wisely: 21kg is the shipping rate cutoff. For small shipments under 21kg, the initial weight and subsequent weight will be increased by 0.5kg. Any weight less than 0.5kg will be rounded up to 0.5kg. For smaller shipments, rounding up to the nearest whole weight is more cost-effective. For larger shipments over 21kg, the starting price is 1kg, which is cheaper. Remember to combine shipments in bulk. However, for shipments over 30kg, ask your logistics provider in advance if they will charge an “overweight handling fee.”
Avoid surcharges: Residential addresses are 30-40 yuan more per shipment than commercial addresses. For business addresses, note “Please deliver to the front desk” to avoid this surcharge. Changing the address before delivery will incur a 100-150 yuan handling fee. Double-check your address when placing your order. Don’t declare “0 yuan” for the value; declare 70% of the actual value to reduce the risk of customs detention and avoid additional duties.
Stay tuned for promotions: Many international courier companies regularly offer discounts. Keep an eye on their official websites, social media accounts, or subscribe to email notifications for the latest promotional information to save you money.
If you have any international logistics service needs, please contact us by clicking the floating chat icon in the lower right corner or using the other contact options in the lower right corner.
