If you’re doing international trade or cross-border shipping, listen up! Sea freight costs are crazy high these days — seriously, it almost made me cry. After tons of research, I finally found some super practical hacks to save on sea freight, and I’m sharing them all with you! ✅ Packaging Slim-Down Trick Sea freight charges are based on volume weight 📦! For bulky furniture, break it down into parts and vacuum-compress — you can instantly cut the volume in half! Swap heavy wooden crates for lightweight cardboard boxes with corner protectors: it’s safer, lighter, and saves tons on shipping! ✅ Consolidation vs. Full Container Strategy If your shipment is under 15 cubic meters, go for LCL (Less than Container Load). If it’s close to a 20-foot container (~33 CBM), it’s much cheaper to book a full container! Always ask your freight forwarder for an “ALL-IN RATE” to avoid surprise fees like terminal handling charges (THC)! ✅ Off-Season Shipping Hack Shipping during the off-seasons — January to February (Chinese New Year) and July to August (summer holidays in the US/EU) — can cut your freight cost by 20%❗ Compare quotes from several forwarders 3 weeks in advance, and if you work with the same one long-term, you can even negotiate rebates! 🌟 Bonus Tips to Avoid Trouble Never underreport hazardous goods! Confirm destination port fees in advance. And don’t forget to prepare a Certificate of Origin — if you’re shipping to RCEP countries, using the right certificate could even save you on taxes!