FCL/LCL (Container Load)

The choice between FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) shipping fundamentally affects cost, transit time, and cargo handling for textile shipments. Understanding when each option makes sense helps buyers optimize their logistics strategy.

FCL means booking an entire container for exclusive use. The container gets loaded at the supplier's facility or a nearby depot, sealed, and transported directly to the destination port without intermediate handling. Standard sizes include 20-foot containers (approximately 28-30 cubic meters capacity, maximum around 21,000 kg), 40-foot containers (56-60 cubic meters, maximum around 26,000 kg), and 40-foot high-cube containers (68-70 cubic meters) that accommodate bulky but lighter cargo like fabric rolls.

LCL consolidates multiple shippers' cargo into shared containers. Goods travel to a Container Freight Station (CFS) where they're combined with other shipments, then separated again at the destination CFS before final delivery. Buyers pay only for the space they use, typically priced per cubic meter with a minimum charge.

The economics favor FCL when shipment volume exceeds roughly half a container, typically around 12-15 cubic meters for most trade lanes. Below that threshold, LCL usually costs less despite the per-CBM premium. However, the calculation isn't purely financial.

FCL offers advantages beyond cost efficiency at scale. Direct routing means faster transit—no waiting for consolidation or deconsolidation. The sealed container protects cargo from handling damage and cross-contamination with other shippers' goods. For sensitive textiles, this isolation matters. FCL also provides scheduling certainty; LCL sailings depend on sufficient consolidated volume.

LCL serves important purposes for smaller shipments. Sample orders, market-testing quantities, and urgent partial shipments all benefit from the flexibility to ship without filling a container. New suppliers often start with LCL orders before scaling to FCL volumes.

Fabric presents particular considerations because rolls are bulky relative to their weight. A container might "cube out" (fill by volume) before reaching its weight limit. Buyers should calculate both volume and weight when comparing FCL versus LCL costs, and consider whether fabric compression or vacuum packing might improve container utilization for FCL shipments.