China LCL Shipping FAQ

LCL (less than container load) shipping from China moves cargo that does not fill a full container. Your shipment is received at a container freight station (CFS), consolidated with other importers' cargo, and loaded into a shared ocean container—typically lowering cost versus booking FCL for smaller volumes.

TENCO coordinates China-origin LCL as a freight forwarder: supplier receipt, measurement, export documentation, ocean booking, and destination handoff. See our complete guide to LCL shipping from China for the full flow.

Choose LCL when your shipment is roughly under 15 CBM or when you ship from multiple suppliers and want to share container costs. Choose FCL when your volume consistently fills most or all of a container. TENCO offers both services and can recommend the best option based on your volume, frequency, and destination.

Yes. While China remains our core market, TENCO also arranges LCL shipments between other countries through our worldwide partner network. Share your origin, destination, and cargo details for a competitive quote.

LCL freight is usually rated on chargeable volume or weight—whichever is greater under weight/measurement (W/M) rules, commonly 1 CBM equals 1,000 kg unless your carrier's tariff differs. Quotes combine origin charges (pickup, CFS handling, export customs, documentation), ocean freight, and destination charges (deconsolidation, CFS, customs-related coordination, and delivery if requested).

TENCO provides shipment-specific quotes rather than published rate cards. Share packed dimensions and gross weight for an itemized breakdown, or review LCL services from China for what each scope includes.

For an itemized LCL quote, share origin city or port, destination port or door address, packed dimensions (L×W×H per carton or pallet), total CBM, gross weight, commodity description, number of suppliers or pickup points, Incoterm, and your target sailing window.

Photos or packing lists help when cargo is irregular. If you are comparing lanes, note whether you need pickup, export clearance, ocean freight only, or door-to-door LCL services.

Import duties are based on the product’s HS code and the destination country’s tariff rules. Duty rates vary by country, and a valid Certificate of Origin/Form E may qualify the goods for reduced or zero duty under applicable trade agreements.

TENCO provides LCL consolidation services from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Tianjin — covering China's primary export manufacturing hubs and busiest seaports.

TENCO receives supplier cargo at consolidation warehouses/CFS near major export hubs, checks dimensions and weight, reconciles documentation, and plans weekly or scheduled LCL sailings. Multiple suppliers can ship into the same master consolidation when documentation and cutoff timing align.

Measured CBM and weight at receipt drive chargeable volume—accurate factory packing data reduces surprises at destination. LCL is often economical from about 1 CBM upward; share smaller loads for a feasibility check.

Yes. You can use your own customs broker, trucking company, or other service providers. TENCO can handle the parts you need, such as pickup in China, consolidation, export customs clearance, and LCL ocean freight. We’ll coordinate with your nominated partners to keep the shipment moving smoothly.

Standard China export shipping documents include a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading instructions, and export customs declaration; certificate of origin or product-specific certificates apply when required. TENCO verifies and coordinates export-side paperwork before cargo enters the CFS.

For a checklist tailored to LCL, see China export customs documentation. Destination-country filings and customs requirements vary by market and should be confirmed with your customs broker or destination partner. TENCO is a freight forwarder and does not act as your destination customs broker unless separately agreed in writing.

Yes. TENCO manages the complete logistics chain from supplier pickup in China through final delivery at destination with unified tracking throughout.

Yes. Pickup can cover suppliers across China, or cargo can be delivered to our CFS near Shenzhen, Shanghai, or Ningbo for measurement and consolidation into the next weekly LCL sailing.

Yes. We receive cargo from multiple factories across China, coordinate supplier pickup or delivery to CFS/warehouse, consolidate into one LCL shipment, and coordinate export paperwork.

See our China consolidation service for how multi-supplier LCL is handled.