We ship wholesale orders three ways: DHL Express to your door, air freight to your destination airport, and sea freight to your destination seaport. What changes between them is transit time and cost. Up to 500 kg, DHL Express is the default and its cost is calculated at checkout; air freight is also available on request. Above 500 kg, sea freight is the default, and you can choose air freight instead if you need the goods sooner. Air and sea freight are quoted per order: we send you a quote for the goods and the freight, and you decide.
The three shipping modes compared
| DHL Express | Air freight | Sea freight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order weight | Up to 500 kg, priced at checkout | Any weight, on request, quoted per order | Above 500 kg, quoted per order |
| Delivered to | Your door (home or warehouse) | Your destination airport | Your destination seaport |
| Transit after dispatch | 3 to 5 business days to the US and Europe, 5 to 10 elsewhere | Confirmed after dispatch, generally 10 to 15 days | 20 to 30 days, sometimes more |
| Freight cost | Highest | Medium | Lowest |
| Customs and final delivery | Handled by DHL, duties and taxes billed to you | You or your customs broker clear customs and collect at the airport | You or your customs broker clear customs and collect at the port |
Which mode for your order weight
| Order weight | Shipping mode | Transit after dispatch | Freight cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-19 kg (sample / retail) | DHL Express | 3-5 business days | $125-$450 per shipment |
| 20-100 kg | DHL Express | 3-5 business days | $450-$2,360 per shipment |
| 100-200 kg | DHL Express | 3-5 business days | $2,360-$4,565 per shipment |
| 200-500 kg | DHL Express | 3-5 business days | $4,565-$11,445 per shipment |
| Above 500 kg | Sea freight, or air freight if you need the goods sooner | Sea 20-30 days or more; air generally 10-15 days | Quoted with your order |
DHL transit times are counted from dispatch to the United States and Europe. Total delivery to a US address is typically 5 to 9 business days once order processing, pickup and customs clearance are included. DHL costs are the rates applied by our checkout calculator. Air freight is available on request at any weight and is quoted per order. See our shipping policy for full details.
Above 500 kg: you choose, with a quote
For orders above 500 kg, sea freight is our default because it keeps the freight cost lowest. If your production schedule cannot wait, you can choose air freight instead: it arrives sooner, for a higher freight cost. Either way, we send you a quote covering the goods and the freight before anything ships, so you can compare the options and decide.
How collection works at the port (sea freight)
- Documents. Once the goods are loaded, we send you the shipping documents: bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and certificate of analysis.
- Customs broker. Appoint a licensed customs broker at your destination port if you do not already work with one. The broker files the import declaration on your behalf. For the United States, ocean shipments also require an Importer Security Filing (ISF), lodged by you or your broker at least 24 hours before the goods are loaded at origin, and food-grade ingredients require FDA Prior Notice before arrival. We send your broker the information these filings need.
- Arrival notice. When the vessel arrives, the shipping line or its local agent sends an arrival notice to you or your broker.
- Clearance. Your broker clears customs. You pay the import duties and taxes and the destination port charges.
- Collection. Once customs and the shipping line release the goods, you collect them at the port or at the warehouse the shipping line designates, and arrange transport to your premises. Collect promptly: ports charge storage after a few free days.
How collection works at the airport (air freight)
- Documents. As soon as the airline takes the goods, we send you the air waybill number and the shipping documents, and we confirm the expected transit time, generally 10 to 15 days.
- Customs broker. Your broker prepares the import declaration. Food-grade ingredients entering the United States require FDA Prior Notice before arrival.
- Arrival. When the shipment lands, the airline’s cargo terminal notifies you or your broker.
- Clearance. Your broker clears customs. You pay the import duties and taxes and the airport handling charges.
- Collection. You collect the shipment at the airport cargo terminal and arrange transport to your premises.
Delays at sea
Sea transit usually takes 20 to 30 days, but it depends on the shipping line and on logistics conditions along the route. Port congestion, weather, or conflicts affecting major shipping lanes can force vessels into long detours, or keep them waiting for days, sometimes months. If your deadline is tight, choose air freight.
When each mode makes sense
- DHL Express: your order is 500 kg or less, you want delivery to your door with customs handled for you, or you are placing a first order to test the supplier.
- Air freight: on an order under 500 kg, you prefer a lower freight cost than DHL Express and can collect at your airport; above 500 kg, you need the goods sooner than sea freight allows. In both cases your customs broker must be able to clear air cargo at your airport.
- Sea freight: your order is above 500 kg, you can plan several weeks ahead, your customs broker handles sea freight routinely, and freight cost matters more than speed.
Hybrid: sea freight + DHL air sample
For recurring large orders we sometimes ship a small pre-production sample (1-5 kg) by DHL Express for your QA pre-clearance, with the bulk order shipping by sea freight on approval. This trades a small DHL cost against the risk of a sea container arriving and failing your incoming inspection. Mention this option in the wholesale quote if useful.
We stay in touch until delivery
Whatever the mode, we stay in contact with you from dispatch until your shipment reaches its destination. The shipping calculator at checkout covers DHL Express up to 500 kg. For larger orders, or to ship by air freight at any weight, submit a wholesale request and we send you a quote for the goods and the freight.