Ocean Freight (FCL / LCL)
Sea freight · FCL and LCL
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (full container load) means you book a whole 20ft or 40ft container for your cargo alone. LCL (less than container load) means your cargo shares a container and you pay by volume. As a rule, FCL costs less per cubic metre once you fill about 13–15 CBM; below that, LCL is usually cheaper.
We book the vessel, release the empty container, arrange stuffing at your factory or the CFS, clear customs and follow the container to the destination port. The same team handles the booking and the customs filing, so the shipping bill and the booking never disagree.
- Ports
- Mundra, Kandla, Pipavav, Hazira, Dahej, Nhava Sheva
- Containers
- 20ft, 40ft, 40ft high cube, reefer, flat rack, open top
- LCL
- Charged per CBM (weight/measure), with CFS handling
- Transit
- UAE ~4 days · Saudi Arabia ~14 · East Africa ~18 · West Africa ~29
What's included
What is included in an ocean freight booking?
From the rate to the arrival notice, one team follows the container.
Rates and space
Carrier options compared on rate, transit and free days, and space booked on the sailing you choose.
Empty container release
The right size and type of container released from the depot and sent to your factory or the CFS.
Stuffing and sealing
Factory stuffing with a customs seal, or CFS stuffing for LCL and examined cargo.
Customs clearance
Shipping bill or Bill of Entry filed and cleared by our own team, not a sub-agent.
Bill of lading
Draft B/L checked against your invoice and packing list before the final is issued.
Tracking and arrival
The sailing followed to the destination, with the arrival notice passed to your buyer or agent.
Process
How does an FCL export shipment move from Gujarat?
Most delays start at the booking. Getting the cut-offs right is what keeps a container on its vessel.
- Filed and followed by one team
- Attended at the port
- Clearance desk open 24 hours
FCL export
-
01
FCL export
Rate and booking
Carrier and sailing confirmed against your cargo ready date.
-
02
FCL export
Empty container released
Picked up from the depot on the delivery order.
-
03
FCL export
Stuffing
At your factory with a customs seal, or at the CFS.
-
04
FCL export
Shipping bill filed
On ICEGATE before the container reaches the port.
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05
FCL export
Gate-in before cut-off
The container enters the terminal before the vessel cut-off.
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06
FCL export
Let Export Order
Customs clears the shipment for loading.
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07
FCL export
Sailing and B/L
The vessel sails and the bill of lading is released.
LCL export
-
01
LCL export
Volume and rate
Priced per CBM on the cargo dimensions and weight.
-
02
LCL export
Cargo to the CFS
Delivered to the consolidator's CFS by truck.
-
03
LCL export
Shipping bill filed
Filed for your cargo within the shared container.
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04
LCL export
Consolidation
Your cargo stuffed with other shippers' cargo.
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05
LCL export
Sailing and house B/L
A house bill of lading issued for your part.
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06
LCL export
Deconsolidation
Unpacked at the destination CFS for the consignee.
Documents
What documents are needed for an ocean freight shipment?
Most of these are also the customs documents, so we collect them once for both.
Not sure what you have? Send photos of your documents on WhatsApp for a first check.
Send on WhatsApp| Document | FCL | LCL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Required | Required | Value, currency and incoterm |
| Packing list | Required | Required | Dimensions matter most for LCL, which is charged by volume |
| Shipping bill | Required | Required | Filed by us on ICEGATE |
| Booking confirmation | Required | Required | Carrier or consolidator booking with cut-offs |
| Verified gross mass (VGM) | Required | By consolidator | SOLAS weight declaration, submitted before gate-in |
| IEC and GSTIN | Required | Required | Exporter registration details |
| Certificate of origin | If buyer needs it | If buyer needs it | For the buyer's duty benefit at destination |
| MSDS and DG declaration | Hazardous cargo | Hazardous cargo | Needed for dangerous goods; not all carriers accept them |
Requirements change with the commodity and the rules in force, so we confirm the list for your consignment with every quote.
Quote
Get a quote for Ocean Freight (FCL / LCL)
Rates and the document list for your consignment, back within 24 hours.
- A team at the port, in Gandhidham
- Clearance desk open 24 hours
- Document list with every quote
FCL or LCL
Which is cheaper, FCL or LCL?
It depends mostly on volume. Use the table as a starting point; we compare both for your cargo.
| FCL (full container) | LCL (shared container) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per container | Per CBM or per tonne, whichever is higher |
| Best for | About 13–15 CBM and above | Small volumes, below about 13 CBM |
| Transit | Direct from stuffing to sailing | Longer: consolidation and deconsolidation add days |
| Handling | Container sealed at stuffing | Cargo handled at both CFSs |
| Customs | One shipping bill for the container | Your shipping bill within a shared box |
| Risk of delay | Your cargo only | Another shipper's hold can delay the whole container |
Container sizes: a 20ft holds about 33 CBM, a 40ft about 67 CBM and a 40ft high cube about 76 CBM. Usable volume is lower once cargo is packed.
Ports
Which ports do we ship from?
Six sea ports, plus five ICDs where containers are cleared inland and moved sealed to the port.
Industries
What do our shippers send by sea?
The Gujarat export corridors that fill most of our containers.
Related services
What is usually booked with ocean freight?
What is the difference between LCL and FCL?
FCL (full container load) means you book a whole container for your cargo. LCL (less than container load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers and you pay by volume. FCL is faster and handled less; LCL is cheaper for small volumes.
When is FCL cheaper than LCL?
As a rule, once your cargo fills about 13–15 CBM, a full 20ft container usually costs less than paying for the same volume as LCL. The exact point depends on the lane and the current rates, so we price both options for your shipment.
How long does sea freight take from Mundra?
Typical transit from Mundra is about 4 days to the UAE, 14 to Saudi Arabia, 18 to East Africa and 29 to West Africa, and about 42 days from Europe to Kandla. These are typical sailing times; the vessel, the route and transhipment change them.
What affects the cost of ocean freight?
The main parts are the carrier's freight rate for the lane, surcharges such as bunker and peak season, local charges at both ports, and customs and transport. We quote every part separately, so you can compare like with like.
What is a bill of lading?
The bill of lading is the carrier's receipt for the cargo, the contract of carriage and, as an original, the document of title. The buyer usually needs it to take delivery, so we check the draft against your invoice before the final is issued.
Do you handle both the freight and the customs clearance?
Yes. We book the freight and file the shipping bill or Bill of Entry ourselves, so the booking, the customs declaration and the bill of lading all match. One team is responsible from the booking to the sailing.
Can you ship hazardous cargo?
Yes, where the carrier accepts it. Hazardous (DG) cargo needs an MSDS, a dangerous goods declaration, correct labels and approval from the shipping line before booking, so tell us early. Some carriers and some classes are refused.
Which ports do you ship from?
Mundra, Kandla (Deendayal), Pipavav, Hazira and Dahej in Gujarat, and Nhava Sheva in Maharashtra. Containers can also be cleared at ICD Ahmedabad, Sanand, Vadodara, Ankleshwar or Varnama and moved sealed to the port.