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 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 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
Cons of sea freight:
Slower delivery requires advanced planning
Susceptible to port delays and container shortages
Less flexibility if demand changes suddenly
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
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)
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
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.