LCL Shipping

LCL rates are quoted per weight or measure, written W/M. The carrier charges on whichever is greater: the volume in cubic metres, or the weight in tonnes. For most consumer goods volume wins, so a two CBM shipment weighing 400 kg is billed as two CBM. Dense goods such as ceramics or metal parts can flip that, and a one CBM pallet weighing 1,400 kg is billed as 1.4 units.

The sailing time is the same vessel. The extra days come from consolidation. At origin, the CFS waits for enough cargo to close a container for your destination, typically one weekly sailing. At destination, the shared container is unloaded and each shipper's cargo is separated and cleared. Together these add three to five days at each end compared with a container that goes straight from factory to warehouse.

• Nhava Sheva to Rotterdam: 22 to 28 days sailing plus consolidation, about five weeks door to door
• Mundra to Jebel Ali: 6 to 9 days sailing, about two and a half weeks door to door
• Nhava Sheva to New York: 28 to 36 days sailing, about seven weeks door to door
• Nhava Sheva to Los Angeles: 30 to 40 days sailing, often via Singapore, about eight weeks door to door

Your cargo will be handled by forklift at least four times and will sit beside other shippers' goods. Pack for that, not for a sealed container.

1. 1Palletise everything, on heat-treated pallets stamped ISPM 15 if the destination is the USA, EU or UK
2. 2Keep pallets within 120 by 100 cm footprint and under 180 cm height, so they fit a container door and a standard rack
3. 3Shrink-wrap and corner-board each pallet, and strap cartons that could shift
4. 4Mark every carton and pallet with the consignee, the shipment reference and the piece count
5. 5Send the packing list with pallet dimensions before pickup, so the CFS measurement matches the quote

The CFS measures each pallet on receipt. If the measured cube is higher than the packing list, the invoice follows the measurement, so accurate dimensions up front save an argument later.

• Above roughly 13 to 15 CBM, a 20 ft container is usually cheaper and faster
• Fragile or high-value goods that should not be handled with other cargo
• Deadlines under three weeks to Europe or five weeks to the USA, where air freight or an express ocean product fits better
• Temperature-sensitive goods, since LCL containers are dry boxes only
• Dangerous goods, which most consolidators refuse or surcharge heavily

Below two CBM the destination charges make air freight competitive on total cost, especially to the USA. We will quote air alongside LCL when the volume is that small.