If you are in search of the cheapest method for shipping items from Japan to Singapore, you have come to the right place. While you always have the option of using a post office, there are often much more inexpensive options which include freight shipping such as air cargo and sea cargo shipping. The best shipping option will usually come down to what you are shipping and how much you are shipping.
Those who need to ship large items from Japan to Singapore will find much better options outside of the traditional post office. The post office will also have size and weight restrictions that may make it impossible or expensive to use this method when shipping large items or a large amount from Japan.
Below, you will learn about a variety of international shipping options for those that want to ship goods from Japan to Singapore. As you consider your options, we recommend that you make your choice based on the volume and the weight of items you need to ship. While some shipping options may seem to be cheaper than others, you should select the shipping method that best meets the needs of the item you are shipping and the amount of that item you need to ship.
1. Less-than-Container-Load Shipments by Sea – If you contract an international freight company to ship your item, they are usually going to be a Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) service. When you do not have enough items to fill an entire container, you can share container space with others who are also exporting items out of Japan to the same destination. Most of these sea cargo service providers charge by the cubic meter, with a cubic meter being the minimum chargeable amount of space you can buy. For reference, the weight of a cubic meter of water is one ton. This makes it a good option for those shipping large items or small items in large quantity, but not a good option for those shipping only a few small boxes. LCL cargo is also called “consolidation” and the services are available to major ports around the world.
2. Full Container Load Shipments by Sea –If you are shipping a large amount of goods, it may be worth considering shipping as FCL (Full container Load) shipment instead of LCL. To take advantage of FCL services in terms of saving shipping charges, perhaps your shipment will have to be at least 10 cubic meters.
3. Courier Service – You are likely familiar with the biggest international courier services, ranging from FedEx, to DHL, to UPS. These services are useful for international shipping because they handle the shipment from pickup to final drop-off and usually take care of clearing customs in both the exporting and importing country. Unlike LCL and FCL shipping, a courier service is ideal for shipping small items. The only drawback of a courier service is that they are reluctant to knowingly ship personal items, as these items are more likely to have issues at customs. They are, however, a great option for documents, merchandize, and general goods especially in small amount,
4. Air Cargo – If you have too many goods to ship by courier service (or a type of good they do not want to handle), but do not have enough goods to contract a freight company via ocean, air cargo may be the ideal alternative. Most air cargo companies have a minimum weight requirement of 45kgs. While they will accept shipments that weigh less than 45kgs, they will charge you as if that shipment was 45kgs. This could potentially make it an expensive option for a package that weighs less than 45kgs, but a viable option for those that weight more than the minimum weight requirement.
5. The Post – Just about everyone living in Japan has shipped something using Japan Post. It is the most popular option for shipping personal effects and small items. While there are significant size restrictions and weight limitations making it unsuitable for large items, it is ideal for shipping documents and small packages. When other options are too expensive or limited as to what they will ship, Japan Post can be a good option for small amounts of goods.
If you need to ship your personal items home from Japan, one of these options is sure to suffice.