1. What is LCL Sea Freight?

LCL Sea Freight is when you ship goods by sea and ship them in containers that you share with other people's goods.

LCL (Less than Container Load) shipping may be a cheaper alternative to FCL (Full Container Load) shipping. The essential difference is that instead of filling the entire container with your goods, you share a container with other importers. This method of shipping means you don't have to buy enough inventory to fill an entire container, and you don't pay for the entire container, only for the space inside the container you use. This is especially useful for small businesses or first-time importers just testing the waters.

2. When will the LCL Sea Freight be shipped?

If you're shipping small quantities or products that don't take up much space (small volume), you'll most likely need LCL. Many startups won't buy enough inventory to fill an entire container , especially if you're shipping low-volume items like phone cases. That said, once you reach a certain volume (even if it's not enough to completely fill a container), it becomes more cost-effective to ship via FCL. This is because FCL is charged at a flat rate and although more expensive than LCL sea freight, it is the most cost-effective per cbm of space within the container . If you are not sure if you need FCL or LCL cargo, don't worry too much , no matter which one you are looking for, you will need a freight forwarder and when they help quote your shipment, they will tell you whether your shipment should be LCL or FCL.

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3. How to calculate the shipping price of LCL ?

LCL Sea Freight prices are calculated based on the amount of space you need inside the container, however, it is not as simple as it sounds. Although you are correct in assuming that higher volumes will increase prices. Changing the price actually requires a considerable increase. You can often double your shipments before seeing any real difference.

The reason is the same as why LCL Sea Freight below a certain quantity by sea is not cost-effective , minimum. Cargo ships are huge; a typical ship can hold as many as 3,500 containers, and some ships can transport even more . This means there is a lot of space available, so it is less expensive than other modes of transport. The minimum space you pay for is 1 cubic meter (100cm x 100cm x 100cm). So if you're only shipping a small box of iPhone cases (eg 20cm x 20cm x 20cm), you'll still be charged for 5x the volume.