/es/lp/blog/key-terms/lcl-freight-supply-chain-strategies
What is LCL Freight and How Does it Support Modern Supply Chain Strategies
27/11/2025
Key Takeaways:
- LCL freight enhances flexibility and agility by allowing businesses to ship smaller volumes without waiting for a full container.
- LCL allows SMEs, start-ups, and retailers to test new products or trial new markets with reduced risk.
- While flexible, LCL freight often comes with longer transit times, increased handling (raising the risk of damage), less control over shipping schedules.
LCL, or less-than-container-load shipping, allows businesses to ship smaller volumes of cargo without them needing to wait to fill a full container.
In a world where consumer demand shifts quickly and global uncertainty makes flexibility even more important, understanding ‘what is LCL freight’ and cased where you can use it in your supply chain can be helpful.
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The Importance of Staying Nimble:
How LCL Freight Keeps
Your Supply Chain Moving
In instances where you’re shipping smaller order volumes, or looking to test a new market, LCL freight may be a good match for you.
Flexibility
LCL freight can help keep your supply chain moving by allowing you to ship goods when they’re ready. While full container loads offer similar flexibility, LCL can be used when production volumes are smaller or when part of the cargo needs to be shipped faster than the rest. It allows you to avoid delays associated with waiting to fill a container, making it easier to respond to market changes and adjust to shifts in demand with greater agility.
Consolidation
Another way LCL cargo helps support supply chain agility is by maximizing container space through shipment consolidation. Not only does this help make your supply chain more sustainable by reducing the environmental impact, but also more cost-effective, allowing you to adjust your ongoing operations in instances of delays or global disruptions.
Leaner inventory
LCL services can help you maintain a leaner inventory and improve cash flow by reducing the need to hold excess stock. However, during peak seasons or periods of high demand, you may need to plan for more frequent shipments to keep pace, which can be expensive.
Consolidation
Another way LCL cargo helps support supply chain agility is by maximizing container space through shipment consolidation. Not only does this help make your supply chain more sustainable by reducing the environmental impact, but also more cost-effective, allowing you to adjust your ongoing operations in instances of delays or global disruptions.
Leaner inventory
LCL services can help you maintain a leaner inventory and improve cash flow by reducing the need to hold excess stock. However, during peak seasons or periods of high demand, you may need to plan for more frequent shipments to keep pace, which can be expensive.
Making an Impact with Smaller Loads
From maintaining operations to enabling flexibility in challenging market conditions, LCL freight can be a good strategy for businesses looking to enhance their operations.
Some significant examples where LCL can be particularly helpful include:
- Aiding retailers looking to test seasonal or trial products without the fear of overstocking.
- High-value goods manufacturing
- Cases where SMEs or start-ups need to scale operations and can benefit from the lower upfront costs of LCL shipments.
- Reducing emissions and improving supply chain sustainability through consolidating multiple shipments into a single container.
Some significant examples where LCL can be particularly helpful include:
- Aiding retailers looking to test seasonal or trial products without the fear of overstocking.
- High-value goods manufacturing
- Cases where SMEs or start-ups need to scale operations and can benefit from the lower upfront costs of LCL shipments.
- Reducing emissions and improving supply chain sustainability through consolidating multiple shipments into a single container.
Nearshoring Success with LCL
LCL cargo shipping may align with ‘just-in-time’ inventory models which are increasingly becoming part of the nearshoring logistics strategies.
Nearshoring as a manufacturer means that your transit times can be reduced through increased proximity to your cargo’s destination. As a result, you’ll be able to:
- Replenish your stocks more quickly.
- Improve your responsiveness to market changes.
- Mitigate the risks of stockouts during volatile periods within the market.
Ultimately, this approach reduces your reliance on one supplier or shipping strategy, helping you to maintain continuity in your supply chain even when disruptions hit.
Navigating Market Shifts with LCL Freight
In times of uncertainty, it’s natural for your business to want to reduce risk and diversify trade. Less-than-container-load shipping, while it can be challenging does offer the chance for you to test newer markets in a lower-risk manner.
Key Considerations: What are the Challenges with LCL Freight
While there are advantages to LCL freight, it is important to understand where some of the drawbacks of this type of shipping lie. This will ensure you make the best choice for your business.
Longer Overall Transportation Time
Your cargo needs to wait until the container is full before it can depart and must be unpacked with all the other cargo when it reaches port. As a result, this can cause delays in your supply chain due to the increased time needed for consolidating and deconsolidating your cargo.
Higher Risk of Damage or Loss
LCL freight also means your cargo is handled more frequently than with full-container-load. The frequent loading or unloading can increase the risk of damage occurring to your cargo during transportation. Equally, there is also the chance your cargo may be shipped in a container with incompatible or poorly packed items, again increasing the potential for your cargo to be impacted during shipping.
Less Control Over Timing
Although LCL freight can increase the flexibility of shipping, because your shipment schedule is tied to others ultimately you may have less control of the timing in your supply chain than with full container load shipping.
It can also be more difficult to predict delays as problems (for example at customs) can lie with other shipments yet still impact your cargo.
Potentially Higher Costs per Unit
With LCL shipping there are some additional fees you should consider, including charges for consolidation, documentation, and handling. At a certain point, it may be better to use FCL shipping within your strategy, as this can be cheaper per unit.
Customs Complications
Customs procedures can be complicated enough without the added stress of shared documentation which comes with LCL freight. For example, if another shipper’s paperwork is incorrect, this can delay the release of your own.
Equally, mixed cargo is more likely to be flagged for inspection at customs, which can again result in delays.
Ask MSC
If you’re worried about LCL shipping or looking to level up your supply chain using our FCL services, speak to a member of our team today.
As a global shipping company, we have the expertise and scale to work with your team to support you at every stage of your supply chain. This combined with our full portfolio of solutions enables you to optimise your logistics operations to achieve your business goals.
Contact us today to find out more.
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Learn MoreFAQs
What does LCL freight mean?
LCL freight (less-than-container-load) describes shipping cargo that doesn’t fill an entire container. Multiple shippers share container space, with goods consolidated into one shipment.
When is LCL shipping a good option?
LCL is ideal for:
- Shipping small volumes of cargo.
- Testing a new market or product.
- Instances where you need to reduce your warehousing needs.
- Moving goods faster than waiting to fill a container.
Is LCL freight more expensive than FCL?
LCL can be more cost effective when shipping smaller loads, however the cost per unit can be higher than FCL (full-container-load) due to extra charges (consolidation, handling, and documentation fees).