Sourcing glossary
LCL
Also known as: Less than Container Load, Groupage
A sea freight service in which your cargo shares a container with other shippers' goods and you pay for the space you use, per cubic meter or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater.
LCL is the usual way to ship a few cubic meters from China by sea. Your supplier delivers the cartons to a consolidation warehouse (container freight station, or CFS), where they are measured, weighed and loaded with other shipments; at the destination port the container is unpacked again before your goods are released.
On top of the ocean rate, expect warehouse fees at both ends. Around 15 CBM, a full container often becomes cheaper. See LCL vs FCL for the break-even and the fee breakdown.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
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Compliance
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
LCL vs FCL explained for China imports: container sizes and volumes, the 15 CBM rule of thumb, LCL fees such as CFS and deconsolidation, and handling risks.
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Yiwu
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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Shipping
Sea vs Air vs Rail vs Express: Shipping from China Compared
Sea freight, air freight, China–Europe rail and express couriers compared: transit times, relative cost, chargeable weight formulas and when to use each.
Updated 2026-09-05 · 6 min read
Platforms
How to Buy from 1688.com Outside China: A Step-by-Step Guide
How overseas buyers buy on 1688.com: account and payment options, Chinese and image search, shipping to a China forwarder, agents, and supplier checks.
Updated 2026-09-01 · 6 min read
Part of Shipping & Logistics.