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Most freight forwarders base their LCL shipping prices on the dimensions and volume of your cargo. Depending on the route your shipment takes, the total cost per CBM can range from $25 to $140.
Charges may also vary depending on distance – for example shipping from Australia to Singapore may be cheaper than shipping from the UK or US.
Cargo transported by LCL shipping are stacked on pallets to allow for easier handling and to ensure safe transportation.
If you are planning to engage a freight forwarder to assist you with this process, here are the typical steps involved:
To get started with your shipment, get in touch with a reliable freight forwarder and provide them with the dimensions and weight of your cargo. The freight forwarder will then prepare and submit the necessary documents such as the bill of lading, invoice and packing list.
Additional documents may be required depending on the type of cargo you are shipping and the destination port.
Next, your freight forwarder will arrange for the goods to be picked up from your location and sent to the consolidation warehouse, where they will be grouped with other shipments.
Alternatively, you can transport them to the warehouse on your own. If you doing so, it is crucial to ensure that they are properly wrapped and ready to be loaded. Upon arrival, your goods will be packed into the LCL container.
The cut-off date for your goods to arrive at the consolidation warehouse is usually 7 days before the sailing date. This may differ depending on the location of the warehouse as inland ones may require additional time to transport the container to the port.
For shipments to secondary ports, your goods may be offloaded at a transshipment point and moved to another container. Alternatively, more cargo may be loaded onto the container before it ships to the destination port.
The last step is to receive your goods at your designated location. The freight forwarder will likely arrange for last-mile delivery via trucking or you can opt to pick up your goods from the deconsolidation warehouse.
With consolidated freight, businesses are only required to pay for the amount of space taken up by their cargo. As they can transport their goods without renting a whole container, this may decrease the cost of shipping. It is also a cheaper option as compared to air freight.
LCL shipping allows businesses to ship goods more frequently in small quantities and maintain a lean inventory. This may be ideal for those with little warehousing space or those looking to keep their warehousing costs low.
LCL shipments are charged based on the volume of the cargo in cubic metres (CBM), and this value is calculated by multiplying their length, width and height. If a shipment exceeds 1,000kg per CBM, it will be chargeable by weight.
In general, shipments with a volume of 1 to 15 CBM are ideal for LCL shipping while shipments above 15 CBM are recommended for full container load (FCL) shipping. Furthermore, it may be more cost-effective to ship goods that are less than 1 CBM via air freight.
Unlike other freight forwarders, we also provide a full range of customs brokerage services.
Established in 2006, we serve globally via our operation hubs in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines.
M&P International Freights offers a comprehensive suite of services to ensure a seamless shipping experience. From customs clearance and cargo insurance to international courier services and door-to-door shipping, we handle every detail under one roof, simplifying your logistics management and streamlining your operations.
Being one of the largest international freight forwarding company, we are able to provide cost efficient pick-up from any cities around the world.
Depending on your origin and destination, LCL shipping typically takes 6 to 10 weeks. Due to consolidation and deconsolidation, it generally takes a longer time to ship than FCL.
There are two main differences between LCL and FCL shipping:
• Container space
For FCL shipments, the container is not shared with other exporters or importers and is typically used for shippers with a large amount of cargo. On the other hand, LCL shipping involves multiple shippers loading their cargo onto a shared container.
• Cost
LCL shipping is generally more cost-effective if you are shipping a small amount of goods as you are only required to pay for the space that your cargo occupies. However, if you are shipping via FCL, you will be required to pay for the entire container space.
• Volume
The volume of your cargo is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding between FCL and LCL shipping. For example, if the shipment consists of only one or a few pallets, shipping them in a consolidated container (LCL) may be more cost-effective.
• Type of goods
Hazardous goods cannot be transported in the same container as other hazardous goods. They also cannot be shipped with non-hazardous cargo. Thus, if you are planning to ship this type of cargo, you are likely to have to opt for FCL instead of LCL shipping.
• Shipment time
LCL shipping involves consolidation and deconsolidation of cargo, which can result in a longer shipping time overall. Hence, FCL shipping may be a better choice if you need a shipment urgently.
