Why bulk commerce travels by sea

What are the advantages of seaborne versus airborne commerce, especially for LNG, LPG, and food?

Air suits small, valuable, or highly time-sensitive cargo; ships dominate low-value or high-volume trade because they move far more material at lower unit cost.

Cargo moves by air or sea according to value, volume, and time sensitivity rather than weight alone. Small, valuable, or urgent goods can justify the cost of aircraft. Fresh food sometimes travels that way, although flowers and other premium cargo may outbid it for limited space. Bulk fuels and low-value goods remain seaborne, while refrigerated ships and containers let maritime transport handle perishables when volume and cost matter more than maximum speed.