LCL or a full container for a mixed pet toy order?
If your order fills a few pallets, it can share a sea container with other shippers' goods (LCL). If it is large enough to fill a 20 ft or 40 ft container, you can book one of your own (FCL), which can bring a lower shipping cost per piece. A mixed order of several product lines travels the same way as a single line: we look at the quantity and the destination, and suggest the route that fits.
- For importers and wholesalers
- Planning a sea shipment
- About 5 minutes to read
Three sizes of shipment
| Your load | How it travels | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| A few cartons | By air | Samples and test orders. Quick, but it costs more per piece. |
| Pallets | Shared sea container (LCL) | Cheaper than air once the order gets heavier. |
| Full container | Your own 20 ft or 40 ft (FCL) | Larger orders. It can bring a lower shipping cost per piece. |
The choice between air and sea for a small order is covered in sea or air for a small pet toy order. This article picks up once you are going by sea.
How a mixed order goes as LCL
For LCL, your cartons are stacked on pallets and wrapped. For coffee wood, the pallet we use is 1.2 × 1.1 m; for other lines it depends on the goods. The pallets go to the forwarder and share a container with other shippers' cargo.
Several product lines can be on the same pallets. Each line keeps its own minimum of 50 per item (100 for pet beds), and the cartons are 5-ply export cartons. For coffee wood, each size goes in its own bags; the last carton of a line may mix sizes, and mixed cartons are packed to the same weight. Coffee wood is vacuum-packed, which also saves space in transit. How to build the order itself is in how to build one mixed order.
When a full container makes sense
Once your order fills a container, booking one of your own takes the sharing out of it. On a full container, the B/L carries your container and seal numbers.
Production time for one 20 ft container is 30–45 days, the same for a 40 ft, counted from the day we receive your deposit. For 1,000–5,000 pcs of plain goods it is 25–27 days. Between 5,000 pcs and a full container we do not have a fixed figure, so we confirm it for your order.
What changes with the shipping term
On LCL or a full container, the shipping term decides who books the freight:
- FOB: your forwarder books the freight, freight collect. We handle export customs.
- CIF: our forwarder books it, freight prepaid, with minimum-cover insurance. That cover does not pay for moisture, mould, cracking or breakage.
- Fumigation, when your market requires it: our forwarder arranges it on CIF and DAP, yours on FOB and EXW. It is done before export customs clearance. Whether it is done on the pallets or at the container yard depends on what you ask for; either is possible.
Sea freight rates move, so freight quotes carry a validity date. More on each term in FOB, CIF or DAP for a small mixed order, and on fumigation in fumigation certificates for pet toys.
Documents are the same either way
Every shipment comes with a commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading. A certificate of origin, phytosanitary and fumigation certificate are added when your market requires them. We send draft documents for you to check before the originals, on every shipment.
Before the cartons leave, ask for photos of the carton contents and marks, and check the carton count against the packing list. The steps are in container loading check.
What to send us for a freight quote
- The items and quantity for each, so we can work out the load.
- The destination port, or the address for delivery on DAP.
- The shipping term you want, and on FOB, your forwarder's contact.
- Which documents your customs broker asks for.
Shipping to Amazon? We can deliver to an FBA warehouse, or you can ask us to quote the freight. Our standard carton for Amazon is 51 × 31 × 39 cm. More in FBA prep for natural pet toys.
Questions buyers ask about LCL and full containers
What is LCL?
Less than container load: your pallets share a sea container with other shippers' goods.
Can different products go on the same pallets?
Yes. A mixed order of several lines can travel together, and each line keeps its own minimum per item.
What pallet size do you use?
For coffee wood, 1.2 × 1.1 m. For other lines it depends on the goods.
How long does a full container take to produce?
One 20 ft container takes 30–45 days, the same for a 40 ft, counted from the day we receive your deposit.
Which should I choose?
Tell us the quantity and destination, and we suggest the route that fits.
Get a route for your order
Send your products, quantities and destination port, and we will suggest LCL or a full container and quote the freight.
Testing a new line first? Your first 3 samples are free, you pay the shipping.