AJF arranges less-than-container-load (LCL) sea freight from China to the UK and Ireland, and from the UK and Ireland to China. We can handle the sea freight itself or arrange additional services around it, including collection, customs clearance, warehouse handling and delivery.
Our China LCL service serves the UK and Ireland. It is not a general China-to-Europe LCL service.
What is LCL shipping?
LCL allows you to ship goods without booking a whole container. Your pallets, crates or other suitably packed goods share container space with shipments belonging to other customers. At the destination, the container is unloaded and the individual shipments are separated for clearance and onward delivery.
This can suit smaller consignments, regular stock replenishment or shipments that are not large enough to justify a full container. Because LCL involves consolidation and additional handling, allow time for the warehouse stages as well as the sea journey. Appropriate packaging is important throughout.
If your shipment is larger, we can also discuss whether a full container shipment would better suit its volume and handling requirements.
Importing from China to the UK or Ireland
Whether you need a shipment delivered straight to your premises or brought into our warehouse for further handling, AJF can arrange an import service around your requirements.
Collection, sea freight and delivery
We can arrange the movement from the agreed handover point in China, the LCL sea freight and delivery to the required UK or Irish destination. Where needed, we can also arrange collection from your supplier and import customs clearance.
Tell us which parts of the journey are already covered by your supplier so that the quotation reflects the services you need. A port or warehouse handover and a delivery to your premises involve different arrangements; we will agree those details before booking.
Warehouse handling and onward distribution
Goods do not have to be sent on as one unchanged consignment. We can bring them into our warehouse, break down the incoming shipment and prepare goods for onward movement as required.
Depending on your instructions, services can include:
- Receiving and checking the incoming goods against the agreed instructions.
- Breaking down pallets or consignments into smaller delivery quantities.
- Repacking, relabelling and rebuilding pallets for onward transport.
- Holding stock for later release rather than delivering everything at once.
- Preparing separate consignments for different customers or delivery addresses.
- Arranging onward distribution or linking the goods to our order fulfilment services.
This can be useful when importing stock for several customers, separating a bulk purchase into smaller orders or releasing goods in stages. Please discuss any checking, packing or labelling requirements before the goods arrive.
Explore our warehousing services or order fulfilment services.
Exporting from the UK or Ireland to China
AJF can arrange LCL exports from the UK and Ireland to any major Chinese port, with import clearance and delivery in China where required.
You can use us for the freight movement to an agreed destination port or warehouse, or ask us to arrange further stages through to the receiving address. The collection point, port and final delivery requirements will determine the arrangements for your shipment.
Collection and export consolidation
We can arrange collection or agree delivery of the goods into our warehouse. If you have goods arriving from several suppliers or locations, we can consolidate them in our warehouse before shipment, where required.
Our warehouse services can support checking, repacking, labelling and pallet preparation before the goods move into the LCL shipping process. Consolidating goods ahead of export can help you bring separate purchases together and coordinate their dispatch to China.
Clearance and delivery in China
If you need more than port-to-port freight, we can arrange import customs clearance and onward delivery in China. Please provide the destination address and receiving party's details when asking for a quotation, and tell us whether they already have their own clearance or delivery arrangements.
Goods and shipment documents need to be suitable for the intended import. We will discuss the information needed for the proposed service before booking. Customs duties, taxes and destination charges should be considered alongside the freight cost; the quotation should make clear which services and charges are included.
Preparing your LCL shipment
LCL goods pass through handling and consolidation facilities, so they need packaging suitable for a shared-container journey. Tell us about fragile goods, unusual dimensions, heavy individual pieces, non-stackable pallets or any special handling requirements at the enquiry stage.
Do not assume that every type of cargo can travel on a standard LCL service. Describe the goods clearly so we can confirm suitability and the arrangements needed before collection or delivery into a warehouse.
Request a China LCL quotation
To help us prepare a useful quotation, please include:
- Whether you are importing to the UK or Ireland, or exporting to China.
- Collection and delivery locations, including postcodes where available.
- The Chinese port, handover point or final destination address, if known.
- A clear description of the goods and the number of packages or pallets.
- Dimensions and gross weight for each package or pallet, and whether it can be stacked.
- When the goods will be ready and any required delivery date.
- Whether you need customs clearance, warehouse consolidation, storage, repacking or split deliveries.
We will use those details to discuss the route, handling and delivery options for your shipment. Transit estimates and service availability will be confirmed for the proposed booking.
Request a shipping quotation, contact the AJF team or call +44 (0) 1469 571220.