Traditionally, sea freight has always been the primary way retailers import goods. But in the last year, more and more are turning to air freight instead. Despite the added costs of air shipping, recent issues are leaving companies no choice but to take to the skies.
COVID-Caused Delays
There's no denying that COVID-19 has put a damper on nearly every industry. International trade took a big hit, causing massive delays across the board. The issue comes from a smaller workforce and record-number shipments.
The Port of Los Angeles experienced a significant increase in imports. The surge was a product of stay-at-home measures, as more people turned to online shopping rather than visiting physical stores.
Pair that with the hundreds of people who lost jobs due to COVID, and the Port of Los Angeles started to experience issues handling the imports. The problem snowballed, leading to increased shipping times and massive congestion.
Air vs Sea Freight: Shipping Time
One of the biggest reasons retailers turn to air freight is to overcome the delays. Demand for many products is at an all-time high, and companies can't afford to wait for ports to catch up.
Before the pandemic, ocean freight took 20 to 30 days from Asia to the United States. Now, it can take up to 75 days!
However, air travel cuts that shipping time down tremendously. Most air freight carriers can get shipments to their destination in a mere three to five days. Do you want to know what's the difference between air vs sea freight? Visit this website.
Air vs Sea Freight: Congestion
Sea freight has become a massive bottleneck in global supply chains. Not only is it taking longer for ships to arrive, but many have no choice but to wait before they can dock. At one point, the delays caused over 30 ships to wait offshore before unloading.
The average time spent anchored off the dock? Most ships had to wait around a week. Some had to wait even longer.
The congestion increases shipping costs for all parties involved. While air travel experienced a period of volatility, it stabilized and became a more viable option for getting products quickly and efficiently.
The Future of Freight
Ocean freight isn't going anywhere. But for now, it's becoming a sour point for retailers across the country. Air freight is offering a temporary solution that should help ports reduce delays and avoid congestion in the long run.
Read a similar blog about import export data records here at this page.