Inventory glossary

What is Ocean freight?

Ocean freight is the shipping of goods by cargo ship, usually used for large or heavy orders moving between countries.

For a small Shopify store, ocean freight is almost always cheaper per unit than air freight, but it is slow. A shipment can take four to eight weeks depending on the origin and destination port, plus extra time for customs clearance and inland trucking after it arrives.

Because of this, you need to plan orders well before you run low. If you only reorder when stock is getting tight, ocean freight will not arrive in time and you will face a stockout. Factor the full transit time into your lead time calculations, not just the time your supplier takes to produce the goods.

Example

A candle store in the US orders from a supplier in Vietnam. Production takes 20 days. Ocean transit takes 35 days. Customs and inland delivery add 5 days. Total lead time is 20 + 35 + 5 = 60 days. The store must place the order at least 60 days before it expects to run out of stock.

Common mistakes

  • Treating ocean freight transit time as the full lead time and forgetting production time, customs delays, or port congestion.
  • Ordering too close to a stockout because the supplier's quoted lead time only covers manufacturing, not shipping.
  • Not building in buffer time for peak season, when ocean freight can take longer than usual.

Ocean freight and SteadyShelf

SteadyShelf uses your full supplier lead time, including ocean freight transit, to calculate the order-by date for each SKU so you reorder in time.

SteadyShelf is launching on the Shopify App Store. Join early access to get the install link first.

Related terms

Lead time · Transit time · Freight forwarder · Supplier lead time variability · FOB shipping

Full inventory glossary

FAQ

How long does ocean freight usually take?

It varies by route, but international ocean shipments commonly take between three and eight weeks, not counting production time or customs clearance at the destination.

When should a small store use ocean freight instead of air freight?

Use ocean freight for large, heavy, or low-urgency orders where the lower cost matters more than speed. Use air freight when you need stock quickly and can absorb the higher shipping cost.

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