Comparison · updated 20 October 2025
Sea vs air freight from China to India
Short answer
Sea wins on cost — 5–8× cheaper per kg — and loses on time: 18–25 days port-to-port versus 3–7 days door-to-door by air. Ship by sea anything that is not losing money by waiting; fly high-value-density, launch, or urgent-replacement goods. For most sourcing programmes, the right answer is sea for volume plus a standing air lane for emergencies.
| Factor | Sea freight | Air freight |
|---|---|---|
| Transit (China → India) | 18–25 days port-to-port + customs | 3–7 days door-to-door |
| Relative cost | 1× (baseline) | 5–8× per kg |
| Best for | Bulk, replenishment, low value density | Launches, samples, spares, electronics |
| Modes | LCL (shared) or FCL 20ft/40ft | Consol or direct, chargeable weight rules |
| Carbon intensity | Lowest per tonne-km | High — 20×+ sea per tonne-km |
| Main risk | Port congestion, blank sailings (Golden Week) | Capacity pricing spikes (fair season) |
| Cash-flow shape | Slow inventory turn, lower freight outlay | Fast turn, freight-heavy P&L |
The verdict
Sea for volume, air for velocity
Run the default on sea — LCL for trials under ~12–15 CBM, FCL at scale — and keep a defined air lane for launches and stockouts. The math that matters is not freight cost per kg but landed cost per unit against your sell-through speed; our desk models both before you commit.
Port pairs matter as much as mode: Guangzhou/Shenzhen to Mundra or JNPT is the workhorse corridor (18–25 days), with Shanghai/Ningbo adding 2–3 days. Air moves via PVG/CAN to DEL/BOM in 3–7 days door-to-door including clearance.
Timing risks are seasonal: Golden Week blank sailings squeeze sea capacity each October, while Canton Fair weeks and pre-Chinese-New-Year rushes spike air rates. Build buffer stock around those windows rather than paying spot premiums.
Comparison FAQs
When does air freight from China to India make sense?
Three cases: launch stock that must hit a market date, high-value-density goods where freight is a small share of unit economics, and emergency stockouts. Everything else is usually sea.
How much cheaper is sea freight?
Roughly 5–8× cheaper per kg than air on the China–India lane, before inventory-carrying costs. For full containers, sea is not a comparison — it is the only economic option.
LCL or FCL for a first order?
LCL for trial volumes (up to ~12–15 CBM) — you pay only for the space you use. Move to FCL when volumes make the per-unit math win, typically 2–3 orders in.