Sea or air freight to Saudi Arabia — how do I choose?
Air wins urgency: 2–5 days door-to-door at $2–6/kg. Sea wins economics: 10–35 days at a fraction of the cost per unit. The practical hybrid many importers use: launch stock flies, replenishment sails. Below 45 kg, express couriers beat both.
For heavy or bulky goods, air volumetric billing (cm³÷6000) makes sea decisively cheaper. Deadlines around Ramadan and Q4 justify air premiums.