Not every order should ship the same way. The route that is perfect for a 10 kg test order is the wrong choice for a 500 kg restock — and neither fits a product you are manufacturing from scratch. Here is how the three main paths compare, and when each one makes sense.
Express — for test orders and small batches
Express is the fastest way to get product in hand. It works best for small, ready-made orders: samples, test runs, and small batches from roughly 5 to 20 kg.
- Fast turnaround, typically 9–12 days to the Americas and about a week to Europe
- Best for ready-made products you have already validated
- Higher cost per kilo, but you pay for speed and simplicity
If you are testing whether a product sells at all, express keeps your risk small and your feedback loop short.
Bulk — for proven products at volume
Once a product works and you are reordering, bulk shipping brings your cost per unit down dramatically. This is cargo coordination: larger volumes, longer transit, and more planning.
- Best for 100 kg and up, on products you already trust
- Much lower cost per unit than express
- Needs more lead time and tighter quality control per batch
Bulk rewards predictability. The more confident you are in the supplier and the product, the more sense it makes.
Custom — for products you are building
If you are developing something that does not exist off the shelf, you are in custom territory: product development, factory production supervision, and advanced quality control.
- Best for made-to-order products and your own designs
- Involves prototyping, tooling and production oversight
- Longest timeline, highest involvement, highest potential margin
How to choose
Ask three questions: How sure are you the product sells? How much are you moving? And are you buying something that already exists, or building it? Test orders go express, proven volume goes bulk, and original products go custom. Most businesses move through all three as they grow — start small, prove it, then scale the route to match.