{"id":1002,"date":"2017-06-29T03:39:57","date_gmt":"2017-06-29T03:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/menoogroup.digitalpixels.co\/?p=1002"},"modified":"2019-05-07T09:02:55","modified_gmt":"2019-05-07T09:02:55","slug":"fcl-lcl-shipping-china-ultimate-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meenogroup.com\/it\/fcl-lcl-shipping-china-ultimate-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"FCL & LCL Shipping from China- The Ultimate Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"lcl-and-fcl-shipping-from-china\"When bulk goods need to be transported, ocean shipping is the best method to save yourself the huge costs incurred when using air-freight.<\/p>\n

Depending on your order quantity and the products value, you need to choose from either FCL or LCL when shipping from China.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you don\u2019t realize that shipping a 20ft container is cheaper than a 15CBM LCL shipment.<\/p>\n

In this article I\u2019ll \u00a0you all the information you need to make the most informed choice for your circumstances.<\/p>\n

What Is FCL & LCL Shipping from China?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Definition:<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

FCL: Full Container Load<\/p>\n

LCL: Less than Container Load<\/p>\n

What Is FCL<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you only want your goods to be in the container, opt for the FCL option.<\/p>\n

In other words, when you book a FCL,\u00a0it\u00a0completely belongs to you.<\/p>\n

You can use it in any way you desire, maybe stuff the container until it\u2019s full or leave it half empty, it\u2019s entirely up to you.<\/p>\n

FCL come in three standard sized containers:<\/p>\n

\"dry-container-type\"<\/p>\n

(dry-container-type)<\/p>\n

20ft container with a volume of 26 cubic meters<\/p>\n

40ft container with a volume of 54 cubic meters<\/p>\n

40ft high cube with a volume of 68 cubic meters<\/p>\n

What Is LCL<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

If your order quantity is too low for a FCL to be a viable option, a LCL is used.<\/p>\n

In short, LCL is like sharing one house with multiple tenants.<\/p>\n

More resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 12 Different Types of Shipping Containers and Their Application<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

FCL and LCL, Which Should I Choose for Shipping from China?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To choose the right option when shipping from China, considering the pros and cons for both FCL and LCL is necessary.<\/p>\n

Hence:<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve listed out the main advantages and disadvantages in the following table.<\/p>\n

Advantages of FCL:<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lower risk. <\/b><\/strong>Less risk of damaging goods, cost-savings on packaging due to less handling, and it\u2019s your own private space.<\/p>\n

Consolidation time. <\/b><\/strong>More freight consolidation time is saved when using FCL.<\/p>\n

One container is opened once, loaded and is sent to the port straightaway.<\/p>\n

Easier to utilize space.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Utilizing the available space in a FCL is easier when you have a large volume of goods to be shipped from China, and if your container is not full, you can buy some volumetric products to fill up the container.<\/p>\n

Tracking<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>service. <\/b><\/strong>Using FCL for shipments from China enables the use of tracking services.<\/p>\n

You can check the current location and the expected delivery date by the container\u2019s number.<\/p>\n

\"loading-a-full-container\"<\/p>\n

(Loading a full 20ft container)<\/p>\n

Disadvantages of FCL<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not cost effective.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s not cost effective enough when shipping a lower CBM, such as 10CBM.<\/p>\n

However, when shipping more than 15 cubic meters (in a 20ft GP container), ordering a full container is more cost-effective.<\/p>\n

You need to be using at least 50-70% of a container\u2019s volume.<\/p>\n

Advantages of LCL:<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cheaper for Low Volume.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s a viable option for lower volumes to be shipped from China.<\/p>\n

Especially for those of you who want to ship a volume as low as 2-3\u00a0cubic meters.<\/p>\n

Lower financial risk.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0If you are new to importing goods from China, you may want to import a small quantity in LCL first, so that you can check the quality of the product.<\/p>\n

This helps you to save on costs before ordering a large consignment.<\/p>\n

Disadvantages of LCL:<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Higher Per CBM Price. <\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

C<\/b><\/strong>ompared to FCL, the price is higher per CBM.<\/p>\n

For example, if your shipment volume is around 15 cubic meters, the LCL price for a 20ft container (26CBM) will be higher than if you booked the entire container to yourself.<\/p>\n

Higher Shipping Risk. <\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

When sharing the container space with others, you can\u2019t ensure that heavy, sharp, or chemically abrasive goods are separated, and consequently there is a higher risk of damaging goods during shipping.<\/p>\n

\"mix-dangerous-product-in-the-container\"<\/p>\n

(Some forwarder will mix dangerous products with the general goods, it’s forbidden)<\/p>\n

More Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Full tracking services \u2013 Enter standard int’l shipping tracking number to\u00a0check the current location of the container from China<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

How to Pack Safety for International Shipping from China, Especially LCL<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By now you should have a better understanding of LCL and FC, so let’s focus on another fundamental area of international shipping from China\u2014Packing.<\/p>\n

The following suggestions have been proven to be effective:<\/p>\n

Use 5 ply corrugated carton or honeycomb carton.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some Chinese suppliers will use thin boxes to save money, but obviously, poor quality boxes are very easily damaged during such a long journey across the sea.<\/p>\n

\"honeycomb-carton\"<\/p>\n

(For high value electronic product, honeycomb carton is the best choice)<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s a LCL shipment, it\u2019s especially important to do this to reduce the risk I mentioned earlier when your goods are packed with other importer\u2019s products.<\/p>\n

If your products are fragile or very heavy, a pallet is necessary. Consider the following:<\/p>\n

Pallet Material<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There are many different kinds of pallet materials: paper, wood, metal,plastic etc.<\/p>\n

Not only wooden pallets, but all wooden packing, such as wooden boxes, require that you provide\u00a0fumigation certification<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

You need to stick an International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC<\/b><\/strong>) label in each box.<\/p>\n

Almost all developed countries\u2019 customs have requirements that wooden packaging come with an IPPC label<\/a> before entry is granted.<\/p>\n

\"wooden-pallet-IPPC-label\"<\/p>\n

(IPPC label)<\/p>\n

In many cases, people who want to save time and avoid fumigation will use non-fumigation pallets<\/b><\/strong>, which are made with plywood and don\u2019t require a fumigation certificate.<\/p>\n

\"non-fumigation-plywood-pallets\"<\/p>\n

(Plywood don’t have pest problem)<\/p>\n

If the products on the pallet are very heavy, you can choose a good quality wooden pallet, because the weight\u00a0capacity is higher than a plywood pallet.<\/p>\n

\"quality-wooden-pallet\"<\/p>\n

(Quality-wooden-pallet)<\/p>\n

If it’s possible, better to add another\u00a0layer in the middle to help reduce the weight on the bottom.<\/p>\n

Use wrapping film.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After loading the products on the pallet you can cover with wrapping film to keep your goods dry, or hold them together.\"products-with-wrapping-film\"<\/p>\n

(Products with wrapping film on the pallet)<\/p>\n

What are the rates of FCL & LCL Shipping from China?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After learning all of the basics concerning FCL and LCL, you\u2019re, no doubt, eager to know what the shipping rates are for each.<\/p>\n

It depends on where the shipment starts and your destination port.<\/p>\n

The simplest method is to get a shipping forwarder<\/a> to quote you.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll use the nearest main port from our company as an\u00a0example:\u00a0Ningbo port.<\/p>\n