Background

A long-standing customer, operating with over 200 employees across three shift patterns, urgently required 5,400 kg of equipment to be shipped from China via airfreight. Due to the critical nature of the machines, they needed the fastest possible delivery.

The Challenge

Airfreight capacity was extremely tight, and rates were rising daily. The cost increased from USD 3.50 per kg on Friday to USD 5.08 by Monday, creating a significant challenge in managing costs while meeting the customer’s urgent needs. Explaining the volatile pricing to the customer was also a key part of the process.

The Solution

Understanding the urgency and budget constraints, our overseas partners in China explored alternative routes. They identified a more cost-effective option by shipping the equipment to a nearby European country, where freight rates were lower, and space was readily available.

By leveraging this solution, we successfully transported the crates to the nominated EU destination. From there, we arranged onward transport, ensuring the equipment arrived at the customer’s facility within 48 hours, meeting their deadline and minimizing additional costs.