What is the difference between FCL and LCL? What's the difference in fees?
With the development of cross-border e-commerce, more and more sellers choose to transport goods by sea. FCL shipping and LCL shipping are two common shipping methods. There are certain differences between them. Choose different shipping methods. Shipping by sea will also result in differences in shipping costs.
1. Full container shipping, that is, full container shipping, means that there is only one shipper to transport the full container of goods to the destination port, which is easier to compete with. The shipper is responsible for packing, counting, stowage, and sealing freight. The unpacking of the entire container of goods is generally handled by the consignee, or the carrier can be entrusted to unpack the goods at the freight station. However, the carrier is not responsible for damage to the goods in the box and cargo differences, unless the cargo side provides evidence that the accident is indeed the responsibility of the carrier. For damages, the carrier is responsible for compensation.
2. LCL shipping means that the goods consigned by the consignor are less than the whole box. The agent (or carrier) classifies the goods. After receiving the goods, the carrier classifies them according to their nature and destination, and puts the same goods into different categories. Goods with the same destination and nature are assembled into the same container for transportation. The entire container assembled in LCL is composed of goods from multiple different shippers and consignees.
1. LCL cost
The standards for calculating LCL costs are not the same. Heavy goods are generally charged according to weight and tons, light goods are charged according to size, some high-value goods are charged according to a certain percentage of the FOB value, and some goods are charged according to a mixed method. For example, first charge by weight tons or size tons, and then add some ad valorem freight.
The LCL freight is only the basic freight, which is divided into two ways according to volume and weight:
(1) Calculated by volume, X1=unit basic freight (MTQ)×total volume
(2) Calculated by weight, X2=unit basic freight (TNE)×total gross weight
Take the larger one of X1 and X2
2. Full box cost
FCL freight consists of sea freight, port miscellaneous charges, warehousing charges, interior packing charges, some goods also have direct loading charges, reinforcement and other charges.
The FCL freight is divided into three parts, the total freight = the sum of the three parts.
(1) Basic shipping fee = basic shipping fee per unit × number of full boxes
(2) Port surcharge = unit port surcharge × number of full containers
(3) Fuel surcharge = unit fuel surcharge × number of full boxes
The situation of freight forwarding companies is not the same, some only do direct spelling, and some will do transshipment, so be sure to ask clearly when communicating with freight forwarding companies.
The form of LCL is to directly transport the goods to a designated place, and the freight forwarder will arrange for a unified container to be loaded. For a whole container, there is an extra step to pick up the container. You need to pick up the container yourself. If the freight forwarding company does not provide customs declaration and container towing services, we have to find an agent in advance to help with customs declaration and towing.
Differences in customs declaration between FCL and LCL:
Because there are multiple goods in the container, as long as one company has a flaw in the documents, the customs will not release the goods, which will affect the transportation time of other goods in the same container.
There is only one shipment for the whole container, and it can be released after passing the customs declaration. The customs clearance time of LCL is longer and more complicated than that of the whole container. Customs clearance takes a certain amount of time, usually within one working day.
Remarks: The above content is only an internal opinion and is for reference only.