what is lcl in shipping

LCL stands for "Less than Container Load" and is a term used in sea freight to describe loads that are not large enough to fill a full 20ft or 40ft shipping container. LCL shipping is a method of shipment where cargo doesnt fill a full container, and it takes up "less than a container load". LCL shipping allows goods to share container space with other small shipments to make up a full container between them, and the buyer only pays for the space they use. The ocean freight cost of an LCL shipment is per cubic meter (CBM), which is typically higher compared to the total cost of a full container. The client is invoiced per CBM or per ton, according to the ship. LCL is typically a more cost-effective way of shipping small volumes of goods, making it ideal for small businesses that arent yet ready to import full container loads.