Sourcing glossary
Consolidation
Also known as: Cargo consolidation, Consolidated shipping
Combining goods from several suppliers into one shipment, usually by collecting them at a single warehouse before loading one container or LCL consignment.
Consolidation is how small orders from many suppliers become one export shipment. Each supplier delivers to the same warehouse, where the goods are counted, checked against the order and stored until everything has arrived; they are then loaded together into a full container or shipped as LCL cargo. It is standard practice in Yiwu, where a single container may hold goods from dozens of booths.
Ask your warehouse for a receiving report each time a supplier delivers, and inspect per supplier before loading. See how to buy from Yiwu without visiting for the full process.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
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How to Calculate Landed Cost When Importing from China
A step-by-step landed cost formula for China imports: product cost, freight, insurance, duty, VAT, fees and delivery, with why US and EU/UK duty bases differ.
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Shipping
LCL vs FCL: When to Book a Full Container from China
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How to Buy from the Yiwu Market Without Visiting
How overseas buyers source from Yiwu remotely: agents, video-call booth tours, the Chinagoods platform, consolidation warehouses, payment, QC and the main risks.
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1688 vs Alibaba vs Taobao: Which Platform Should You Buy From?
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Part of Yiwu Market.