Our Successful Shipping Cases

Case 1: Shipping Mop Buckets (20.2 CBM, 10 Pallets) from China to the USA by LCL Sea Freight DDP

Cargo Type: Mop Buckets with Wringers
Cargo Volume: 20.2 CBM
Cargo Quantity: 10 Pallets
Shipping Route: China to USA
Shipping Method: LCL Sea Freight DDP Door-to-Door
Transit Time: 29 Days

The customer was a US wholesaler sourcing mop buckets from suppliers in Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Since the goods came from different locations and did not require a full container, the customer needed an LCL shipping solution that could combine the cargo, control shipping costs, and provide reliable door-to-door delivery.

• Multi-Supplier Pickup: We arranged cargo collection from suppliers in both Zhejiang and Jiangsu and brought the goods together for one international shipment.
• Cargo Consolidation: The different supplier shipments were combined into one LCL shipment, allowing the customer to avoid arranging separate sea freight shipments for each supplier.
• Warehouse Storage: We provided temporary warehousing while the cargo was being collected, giving the customer more flexibility before the LCL shipment was prepared.
• Cargo Inspection & Preparation: Before departure, we checked the pallet quantity, packaging, labels, and cargo condition and made necessary packing adjustments.
• LCL Sea Freight DDP: We arranged the 20.2 CBM shipment as LCL sea freight under DDP terms, allowing the customer to share container space instead of booking a full container.
• Customs Clearance & Final Delivery: We coordinated the agreed customs clearance, documentation, and final delivery to the customer’s destination in California.

The shipment was delivered within 29 days. By consolidating cargo from two supplier locations into one LCL shipment, the customer gained a more flexible and cost-efficient way to move a medium-volume shipment from China to the USA.

Case 2: Shipping Christmas Trees and Face Masks (1.53 CBM, 35 Cartons) from China to Canada by LCL Sea Freight DDP

Cargo Type: Christmas Trees & Face Masks
Cargo Volume: 1.53 CBM
Cargo Quantity: 35 Cartons
Shipping Route: China to Canada
Shipping Method: LCL Sea Freight DDP Door-to-Door
Total Shipping Time: 49 Days

The customer contacted us through our official website while preparing inventory for the Christmas sales season. His orders came from several suppliers in Yiwu, Guangzhou, and Ningbo, and he needed a reliable shipping solution from China to collect, store, and consolidate the goods before international transportation. 

With a final volume of only 1.53 CBM, booking a full container was unnecessary. LCL sea freight allowed the customer to ship the consolidated cargo while sharing container space with other shipments, making it more suitable for this small-volume order.

• China Warehouse Receiving: We provided our warehouse address so selected Alibaba suppliers could send their packages directly to us while other orders were still being prepared.
• Multi-Supplier Pickup & LCL Consolidation: We arranged pickup from suppliers in Yiwu, Guangzhou, and Ningbo and brought the different orders together for one consolidated LCL shipment.
• Temporary Storage: We provided warehouse storage while waiting for all packages to arrive, allowing the customer to avoid sending several small international shipments separately.
• Repacking & Carton Reinforcement: Some cartons arrived deformed, so we repacked and reinforced the affected cargo before preparing it for LCL sea transportation.
• LCL Sea Freight DDP: Once all goods arrived, we confirmed the final volume at 1.53 CBM and arranged LCL Sea Freight DDP from China to Canada, including the agreed customs clearance, duties, and taxes.
• Door-to-Door Delivery: After customs clearance, the consolidated LCL cargo continued to Calgary for final delivery. A customer-requested address change added approximately three days to the delivery schedule.

All 35 cartons were delivered within 49 days. Using LCL shipping from China allowed the customer to consolidate multiple supplier orders into one cost-effective shipment with customs clearance and final delivery included.

Case 3: Shipping Vacuum Bag Rolls (25.5 CBM, 10 Pallets) from China to South Africa by Sea Freight DDP

Cargo Type: Vacuum Bag Rolls
Cargo Volume: 25.5 CBM
Cargo Quantity: 300 Cartons / 10 Pallets
Shipping Route: China to South Africa
Shipping Method: LCL Sea Freight DDP Door-to-Door
Transit Time: 43 Days After Vessel Departure

The customer was a long-term South African importer regularly purchasing vacuum bag rolls from China. For this shipment, the customer needed a cost-effective sea freight solution with supplier pickup, cargo preparation, customs clearance, and delivery to the Johannesburg warehouse.

For medium-volume shipments like this, LCL shipping from China can provide greater flexibility than booking an entire container while still supporting palletized commercial cargo.

• Supplier Pickup in Zhejiang: We communicated directly with the supplier and arranged cargo collection before transporting the goods to our warehouse for preparation.
• Warehousing & Cargo Preparation: We provided temporary storage while checking and preparing the 300 cartons for international sea transportation.
• Palletizing for LCL Handling: The cartons were organized onto 10 pallets and wrapped with protective film to improve stability during warehouse handling and sea transportation.
• Cost-Effective LCL Sea Freight: Since the customer had a flexible delivery schedule, sea freight provided a more economical option for the 25.5 CBM shipment compared with faster transportation methods.
• DDP Service: We arranged the shipment under DDP terms and coordinated the agreed South African customs clearance, duties, and taxes.
• Delivery to Johannesburg Warehouse: After customs release, we arranged the final inland transportation to the customer’s warehouse in Johannesburg.

The shipment was delivered 43 days after the vessel’s departure. The customer benefited from a flexible sea freight solution with supplier pickup, pallet preparation, customs clearance, and final warehouse delivery under one arrangement.

If your cargo does not fill an entire container, tell us your cargo volume, pickup location, and final destination. We can help you check whether LCL is the right option and arrange a suitable shipping solution from China. 

FAQ

What is LCL Shipping?

LCL (Less than Container Load) shipping is a core transportation mode in sea freight. When the total volume of your goods is insufficient to fill a complete set of standard containers (such as 20-foot or 40-foot containers), the freight forwarder will collect the goods from different shippers into the same container for joint transportation.

What’s the Operation Process of LCL Cargo?

Compared to FCL, LCL has two extra parts: collection and deconsolidation.

1. Collection: The shipper delivers the goods to the container freight station (CFS) in the exporting country.
2. Consolidation: DFH sorts, packs, and consolidates your goods for the same destination port in the CFS warehouse and then loads them into one container.
3. Shipping: Containers are loaded and transported across countries.
4. De-consolidation: After the container arrives at the destination port, it will be transported to the local CFS warehouse for deconsolidation. The goods from different consignors will be re-sorted and separated there.
5. Delivery: The recipient goes to the warehouse to pick up the goods, or the freight forwarder delivers them to the recipient’s doorstep by truck.

What are the Advantages of LCL Shipping?

• You only need to pay for the actual volume of your goods, without having to bear the cost of space in the entire container.
• You do not need to stockpile lots of goods to fill a full container.
• Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and cross-border e-commerce sellers for new product testing or small-scale overseas exploration.

LCL vs FCL (Full Container Load): What’s the Difference?

Generally, LCL is an economical solution that is especially suitable for flexible transportation of smaller quantities of goods, while FCL is more appropriate for goods with large transportation volumes and faster speed.

Why Does LCL Take Longer Than FCL？

LCL shipping usually takes 5 to 10 days longer than FCL. On some complex cross-border routes, the time difference between the two can even be more than two weeks.

The main reasons are the following:

• For LCL, the goods must first be transported to the container freight station in the exporting country.
• The cargo stripping and sorting process of LCL alone will consume an additional 2 to 4 days.
• For LCL, if any noncompliant cargo is selected for strict customs inspection, the site.
• The entire container could be temporarily held for inspection by customs. For LCL, the cargo may be unloaded at these transit ports, transferred to local CFS warehouses, re-sorted, and then re-consolidated with shipments from other countries.

How are LCL Shipping Rates from China Calculated?

LCL freight charges typically consist of three components: base ocean freight, origin/destination local fees, and customs clearance and delivery fees.

China’s LCL shipping calculates both the total volume and total weight of the cargo separately and uses whichever value results in a higher charge as the billing basis. 

What is the Minimum Volume Requirement for China LCL?

The minimum volume for China LCL is 1 cubic meter or 1 freight ton. Even if your cargo volume is less than 1 cubic meter, the freight forwarding company will still charge you according to the standard of 1 cubic meter.

Can I Track My LCL Shipment from China in Real-Time?

Yes. LCL shipping is tracking based on logistics milestones and the overall trajectory of containers. 

LCL shipping tracking involves two different tracking numbers: HBL (House Bill of Lading Number) and MBL (Master Bill of Lading/Container Number). 

You can use HBL for tracking on the official website of the freight forwarder or in the digital logistics system, or you can use MBL to directly visit the shipping company’s official website and track the exact geographical location and voyage path of this ship at sea in real time.

How Does Customs Clearance Work for a Shared LCL Container?

The customs clearance for an LCL container includes four core steps: 

1. Manifest Submission: DFH submits the manifest to customs several days before the cargo ship arrives at the destination port.
2. Transfer to Bonded CFS: After the vessel arrives at the port, the container is transported to the designated bonded CFS warehouse.
3. Independent Customs Entry: Before arrival at the port, each buyer submits their own declaration documents.
4. Cargo Release: The customs system will issue a customs release instruction for your partial shipment (HBL) after your goods pass the document review and the taxes are paid.

What Happens if Another Shipper’s Goods in My Container Cause a Customs Delay?

If a shipment has problems, the entire container will issue a customs hold. Before the customs lifts the detention order, we are not allowed to pull this container back to the CFS warehouse for devanning.

The customs will notify the customs broker to make up the tax payment, provide proof, or even arrange for an Intensive Exam. This process can cause a delay of 5 days to 3 weeks for the entire container of goods.

Do I Need to Buy Cargo Insurance for LCL from China?

Yes, we strongly recommend that you purchase cargo insurance for LCL shipping from China. LCL shipping has a higher potential risk than FCL because it has multiple shipments in one container and requires multiple handlings. Not purchasing insurance may result in a huge financial vulnerability where your goods could be completely lost and irrecoverable in the event of an accident.

DFH Logistics has profound experience in purchasing cargo insurance, and we can obtain a very substantial discount from the insurance company.