LCL or FCL from China to Germany?

What Each Quote Includes

• DDP sea line: billed on the greater of actual and volumetric weight (÷ 6000), at least 12 kg per carton; includes export customs, sea freight, German clearance, duty and import VAT, and door delivery
• LCL: billed per cubic metre or tonne; quotes are usually split into origin port charges, ocean freight, and destination unloading and port charges, so check line by line whether clearance, taxes and delivery are included
• FCL: billed per container; the ocean rate is often port to port only, with origin port charges, trucking, destination charges, clearance, delivery and taxes extra

Choosing by Volume

• A few cartons to a few hundred kilograms: the DDP sea line, taxes included to the door, the least hassle
• About 2–25 m³ of palletized or bulk goods: compare LCL with the DDP sea line
• From about 25 m³: start comparing a 20GP container, which loads about 25–28 m³
• From about 40 m³: compare a 40GP or 40HQ; a 40HQ loads about 65–68 m³

Check Before Comparing Prices

• Whether the quote is port to port, port with clearance, or to the door
• Whether origin port charges and trucking within China are included
• Whether destination charges (terminal handling, delivery order) and unloading are included
• Who clears customs, and whether duty and import VAT are included
• For FCL, the container type, how long the rate is valid and the sailing schedule

Transit Times

• FCL: about 38 days port to port from Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo and Xiamen to Hamburg, about 50 days from Qingdao
• DDP sea line: 45–52 calendar days to pickup, including sorting in Germany
• LCL: consolidation at the port of loading and unloading at the destination take a few days each, so it is usually slower than FCL

Steady Volumes: Fixed Rates

With steady container volumes every six months or year, you can ask for a fixed ocean rate based on your volume. Send us the port of loading, destination port, container type and your monthly or six-monthly volume.