Back in the day international shipping meant exactly what it said – transporting goods by ship. Modern traders have various options in terms of transporting goods internationally via air, land, and sea, but not all of these options are necessarily suited to your needs.
Get the full picture of international shipping and which mode of transport would work best for your goods with this infographic.

Need assistance with your international transportation for import or export?

We’ll do comparative costings to help you decide on the best mode of transport, as well as bookings, shipment tracking, and dealing with call centres, should there be any delay. This means you only focus on what’s most important – growing your import/export business.
Contact us now to get started.
Infographic titled "Methods of International Shipping" comparing four transport methods: air freight, courier, road freight, and sea freight. Each section includes an illustration and key advantages and disadvantages: Air freight: Fast (approximately 3–5 days), suitable for palletised loads and larger goods, but the most expensive shipping option. Courier: Ideal for odd-shaped parcels, urgent shipments under 100 kg, gifts, and personal items. Door-to-door service in 3–7 days, with costs increasing for shipments over 100 kg. Road freight: Best for cross-border trade by road. Door-to-door delivery with no terminal stops, affordable but only available for countries connected by road. Sea freight: Most economical for multiple container loads and shipments over 300 kg, but slower (around 3–5 weeks) and more complex to arrange. Suitable for large, heavy, or exceptional cargo. At the bottom, a chart shows the most cost-effective shipping method by shipment size: courier for parcels under 100 kg (or under 2 m³), air freight for 100–300 kg (or under 10 m³), and sea freight for shipments over 300 kg. The horizontal axis represents increasing shipment size.

Success in international trade is only a phone call away. Speak to our friendly, knowledgeable, and professional trade consultants for assistance with customs registration, permits, trade agreements, and more. You can reach us on 087 550 1038. Alternatively, pop us an email via our contacts page and we’ll get in touch soon.

In the meantime, use our helpful import/export tools and calculators to determine anything from your tariff codeVAT, and duty payable on imported goods, or the landed costs of your imports.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates on what’s happening in the world of trade, as well as great savings on registrations and other services.

Tracy Venter

Tracy transitioned from industry to founding Import Export License in 2011, aiding importers and exporters with customs compliance. In 2014, she launched Trade Logistics, focusing on supporting startups and SMMEs in international trade. Since then, Tracy's team has assisted 35,000+ businesses, reaching 32,000 traders monthly through newsletters. She's contributed to publications like Entrepreneurs Magazine and SME Toolkit, spoken at trade events, and participated in customs forums. Import Export License helped with the pilot trial to launch customs' new online registration platform (RLA). Through Trade Logistics she has launched 3 online import-export training courses. She holds an Honours degree from Stellenbosch University and a Cum Laude Masters from Middlesex University. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys running, mountain biking, playing piano, and cherishing moments with her husband and four children.