广义的国际物流研究的范围包括国际贸易物流、非贸易物流、国际物流投资、国际物流合作、国际物流交流等领域。其中，国际贸易物流主要是指定组织货物在国际间的合理流动；非贸易物流是指国际展览与展品物流、国际邮政物流等；国际物流合作是指不同国别的企业完成重大的国际经济技术项目的国际物流；国际物流投资是指不同国家物流企业共同投资建设国际物流企业；国际物流交流则主要是指物流科学、技术、教育、培训和管理方面的国际交流。
狭义的国际物流（International Logistics, IL）主要是指：当生产消费分别在两个或在两个以上的国家（或地区）独立进行时，为了克服生产和消费之间的空间间隔和时间距离，对货物（商品）进行物流性移动的一项国际商品或交流活动，从而完成国际商品交易的最终目的，即实现卖方交付单证、货物和收取货物。
国际物流的实质是根据国际分工的原则，依照国际惯例，利用国际化的物流网络、物流设施和物流技术，实现货物在国际的流动与交换，以促进区域经济的发展与世界资源的优化配置。国际物流的总目标是为国际贸易和跨国经营服务，即选择最佳的方式与路径，以最低的费用和最小的风险，保质、保量、适时地将货物从某国的供方运到另一国的需方。
The basic definition of international logistics
Broad international logistics research scope including international trade, logistics, trade logistics, international logistics investment, international logistics, international logistics cooperation, etc. Among them, the international trade logistics mainly specify the organization in the rational flow of international goods; Trade logistics refers to the international exhibition and exhibition logistics, international postal logistics, etc.; International logistics cooperation refers to the enterprise to complete different national major international economic and technological project of international logistics; International logistics investment refers to different country logistics enterprises jointly invest in the international logistics enterprises; International logistics communication mainly refers to the logistics science, technology, education, training and management of international communication.
Special International Logistics (International Logistics, IL) is mainly refers to: when the production, consumption, respectively in two or more than two countries (or regions) independently, in order to overcome the interval of space and time distance between production and consumption, for the goods (goods) Logistics of mobile or an International goods exchange activities, so as to complete the final purpose of the International commodity trading, namely the seller deliver documents, goods and collect the goods.
The essence of international logistics is based on the principle of the international division of labor, in accordance with international practice, using the international logistics network, logistics facilities and logistics technology to realize the flow of goods in the international and the exchange, in order to promote the development of regional economy and the world the optimal allocation of resources. The overall goal of the international logistics is service for international trade and multinational business, is the best way and the path, at the lowest cost and minimum risk, and ensuring the quality, timely delivery of the cargo from one supplier to another country of the buyer.
