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The same reason a T-shirt made and shipped from China is cheaper than one manufactured next door to you. The contribution of international transport to the cos
by avar 7y ago
The same reason a T-shirt made and shipped from China is cheaper than one manufactured next door to you.
The contribution of international transport to the cost of pretty much any consumer good is minuscule compared to other factors, so the starting premise that something should be cheaper just because it's grown locally is false from the outset.
- Gibbon1 7y agoOne thing that's very informative is to look at the HP per ton of various modes of transport. Emma Mærsk: 156,907 DWT, 150000 HP total, or about 1HP per ton fully loaded. With the engines running full tilt she'll make 29.3 mph. Compare with a truck that weighs 20 tons with 400 hp, so 20 hp per ton. 100 miles by truck == 2000 miles by ship.