As packaging orders ramp up for Q3 and Q4, understanding freight options (and when to use them) can be the difference between smooth deliveries and missed deadlines. Whether you're preparing for Green Wednesday, December holidays, or Chinese New Year closures, it’s crucial to know how shipping costs and timelines are affected during the peak season.
✈️ Air vs. Sea Shipping – What’s the Difference?
Shipping your custom packaging overseas? You’ve got two main options: air and sea freight. Both come with pros and cons depending on your timing, order volume, and budget.
🚀 Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest way to ship internationally and is ideal when timing is tight.
Pros of air freight:
-
~1–2 weeks to your door
-
Ideal for short runs or last-minute projects
-
Secure and easier to track
Cons of air freight:
-
Higher cost per unit
-
Larger environmental impact
-
Not cost-effective for large-volume shipments
🌊 Sea Freight
Sea freight is the most cost-effective option—especially for large-volume or early-planned packaging orders.
Pros of sea freight:
-
Much cheaper per unit
-
Ideal for bulk orders and longer timelines
- More flexibility with certain packaging types (i.e. - Batteries, Electronics, etc.)
Cons of sea freight:
-
Slower delivery requires advanced planning
-
Susceptible to port delays and container shortages
-
Less flexibility if demand changes suddenly
📈 Why Freight Rates Spike During the Holidays
There are several key reasons shipping becomes more expensive and unpredictable during Q4. Here's what's driving the surge:
-
Global demand surges to meet Q4 holiday demands
-
UPS, FedEx, and other domestic carriers implement peak season surcharges—often starting in October
-
Chinese New Year 2026 (Feb 1) results in widespread factory shutdowns across Asia for 2+ weeks, forcing brands to order early and straining global freight networks
-
Port congestion and container shortages from past years continue to create challenges in 2025
🔢 Freight Stats You Should Know
Want to make informed decisions? These stats highlight how dramatically shipping costs and timelines can shift in Q4:
-
Ocean freight to the West Coast rose 20–40% last year between October and December (Source: FreightWaves)
-
Air cargo from China to the U.S. increased over 50% in the 6 weeks leading up to CNY 2024 (Source: WSJ)
-
According to Freightos, Q4 ocean rates can spike 15–30%, and airfreight can climb 25–50% (Source: Freightos)
🛠️ What DIZPOT Recommends
Based on industry trends and our logistics experience, here’s what we recommend to avoid delays and rising costs:
-
Place Q4 orders now through September to lock in production and freight space
-
Use air freight for last-minute promos or short timelines
-
Use sea freight whenever possible to save budget
-
Talk to your DIZPOT rep about hybrid shipping and warehousing options if you’re launching multiple SKUs or campaigns
-
Keep Chinese New Year shutdowns in mind when ordering for January–February events
🔍 Coming Next Week
We’ll take you inside DIZPOT’s proofing and pre-production process—so you know exactly what to expect when placing a custom packaging order, from digital mockups to physical samples.
Join The Conversation