LCL Sea Freight Shipping in the Philippines: 8 Essential Facts for Businessmen
Less-than-container load or LCL shipping suits businesses that do not possess ample logistics facilities or make infrequent shipments. It allows you to occupy a portion of a standard shipping container while sharing cost and space with other shippers. LCL sea freight makes an affordable and flexible shipping option, especially for SMEs and low-volume product deliveries. It brings many business and logistics benefits to optimize your operations.
If you’re exploring options for LCL shipping in the Philippines, you should know how this cargo service can drive your profit, decrease logistics expenses, and maximize your resources.
8 Things Business Owners Should Know About LCL Shipping in the Philippines
1. Ship to popular cargo routes in the Philippines.
Is your business based in Manila, but you need to ship to a client in Iligan? Fortunately, you have many options for popular routes in the country. Look for an LCL freight forwarder that ships to Visayas or Mindanao. Direct and indirect cargo routes both let you gain access to wider markets.
Trans-Asia Shipping Lines offers LCL freight shipping to several port links in the country, such as Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Masbate, Ozamiz, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga City. Highlighted below are Trans-Asia’s two main routes between Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Northwestern and Northern Mindanao.
- Manila to Cebu and Cebu to Manila – One of the most traveled routes. It links the national capital to the top economic hub in the Visayas.
- Manila to Ozamiz via Cebu – A vital LCL route that links Manila to Central Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao. Through this route, goods coming from Manila or Cebu can reach Ozamiz in pristine condition.
- Ozamiz to Manila via Cebu – The return voyage to Manila and Cebu is just as important as the initial route. Key products like abaca handicrafts, seafood, packaged pasalubong, and diverse consumer goods.
- Manila to Iligan via Cebu – The Manila to Iligan shipping route passes by Cebu, which makes products originating from both locations available for distribution in Northern Mindanao.
Iligan to Manila via Cebu – This route enables Iligan City to ship its popular products like suka pinakurat, peanuts, agricultural products, and handwoven goods to Manila and Cebu.
2. Ship smaller cargo volumes faster.
Not all businesses need to ship a full container load (FCL) every time. Others only need to ship a couple of palletized goods, while others just ship four large boxes a month. For this reason, LCL allows you to use only a small portion of a standard 20 ft shipping container. It eliminates the need to produce additional shipment or waste void fill just to pack the container to the brim.
3. Consolidate cargo with other consignors.
The main point of LCL ocean freight is cargo consolidation. An LCL shipping company allows more than one consignor to group their shipment with others’. Goods from various shippers are consolidated into one container at the origin port, and deconsolidated upon arrival at the destination port, often to be delivered to separate destinations via land travel.
4. Get billed by LCL cargo volume.
Rather than a flat rate for standard containers, LCL shipments are billed according to their weight (metric tons) or volume (cubic meters). Depending on the shipping company, they take whichever of the two is higher, and apply charges to that figure.
5. LCL sea freight is affordable.
In general, sea freight is more economical than air cargo. It’s a great way to save on costs, especially if you are shipping on a strict budget. Business owners that encounter seasonal fluctuations can still ship for a lower price. This makes LCL shipping in the Philippines a great option for suppliers of agricultural produce.
6. Benefit more as an SME from LCL ocean freight.
If you own a small or medium enterprise, LCL shipping can speed up your operations and products to your consumers, even without a large budget, warehouse facilities, or general physical logistics infrastructures. Since SMEs can also experience low-demand seasons or have infrequent shipping, renting space in a container can prove to be more low-cost than other options.
7. Access expert cargo handling.
Because LCL ocean freight consolidates goods from various shippers, expect that your assigned container will contain an assortment of product types. Fortunately, cargo handlers are trained in different areas, from stevedoring, to warehouse and storage management, to using machinery used for moving items. For example, delicate goods are loaded using equipment like forklifts, cargo, containers, and manual labor. They are also adept at proper lashing, strapping, and storing of products to ensure no unnecessary movement happens during transit.
8. Avail flexible auxiliary services.
In the Philippines, many LCL freight forwarders provide more than just consolidation and deconsolidation. Look for ones that make it easy for you to scale up or down between LCL and FCL shipping, allow express courier services, and also offer breakbulk, dry bulk, refrigerated, and out-of-gauge cargo.
Some even offer land-based freight forwarding. Trans-Asia Shipping Lines also offers Cebu trucking services via their subsidiary, Big Hub Transport and Logistics Corp., which serves various port links across the country. The more options you have, the easier it is to adjust your shipment according to costs, market demands, and business needs.
Ship Your LCL Cargo from Manila to Visayas and Mindanao and Back
It’s easy to book cargo with a freight forwarder like Trans-Asia Shipping Lines. Here is a simplified guide on how to book a shipment.
1.Check the freighter rates for your cargo on our freighters rates page.
2.Book in advance by calling the nearest Trans-Asia Office
- Manila → 0917-871-5966 / 0915-291-1085
- Cebu → (032) 254-6491/ 0927-701-5200
- Iligan → (063) 302-0803 / 0917-5218-534
- Ozamiz → (088) 521-2916 / 0948-292-5020
3.Settle your payment (online payment, e-wallet, cheques for institutional accounts, credit cards are NOT accepted).
4.Bring the complete set of the bill of lading, freight official receipt, arrastre and wharfage/terminal fee receipts along with your LCL cargoes to the nearest container yard.
- Manila → C3 Lot 15, Phase 2 Area 5 A/B Industrial State, Dagat dagatan Avenue, Navotas City
- Cebu → North Reclamation Area, Arellano Blvd. Pier 5, Cebu City
- Iligan → Door 3, Pilar Bldg., Port of Iligan, Tomas Cabili Ave, Poblacion, Iligan City
- Ozamiz → Salavaria Bldg., Baybay Triunfo, Ozamiz City
NOTE: For other heavy equipment and vehicles not included on the rates page, send an email to starsy@transasiashipping.ph to get a quote.
Even if your low-volume shipment cannot occupy a whole shipping container, LCL proves that you can still achieve fast and efficient maritime transport. Partner with a dependable LCL shipping company in the Philippines to receive expert insights, customized services, and skilled cargo handling from origin to destination.
ALSO READ: Your Complete Guide to Navigating Less than Container Load Shipping to Visayas and Mindanao
Trans-Asia Shipping Lines connects you to key economic hubs in Northern Mindanao. We accommodate nearly all types of LCL freight from Manila to Cebu, Manila to Iligan via Cebu, and Manila to Ozamiz via Cebu. Ship your agricultural products, consumer goods, heavy equipment, and rolling cargoes with ease. For more information on reliable inter-island transport, contact us here today.
