Partial and Full Shipping: How Your Order Reaches You
The difference between partial-load and full-load shipping, and between sea, road and air freight, so you can choose by quantity and deadline.
What is the difference between partial-load and full-load shipping?
The difference is who fills the container: you share it with other shipments, or book it for your order alone.
Partial Shipping LCL
You share the container or truck and pay by volume or weight. It suits small and medium orders, but consolidation takes time.
- You pay only for your shipment's volume
- Don't wait for the container to fill
- Suitable for small quantities
- Longer time for consolidation and sorting
- More loading and unloading
Full Shipping FCL
We reserve the container or truck for your order alone and keep it sealed until arrival, which suits large quantities and reduces damage risk.
- Fixed price for the whole container
- Faster port procedures
- Greater cargo safety
- Costs more for small quantities
When should you choose partial-load or full-load shipping?
Volume first, then the deadline. Calculate your shipment volume in cubic metres and compare it with the table.
| Shipment volume | Usually the best-fit option | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 m³, or an urgent order | Air or express shipping | For example, samples and small, light quantities |
| About 1 to 15 m³ | Partial shipping by sea or road | Because you pay only for the volume of your shipment |
| About 15 to 28 m³ | Full 20 ft container | Because at this volume it is usually cheaper than partial-load shipping |
| More than 28 m³ | 40 ft container or more than one container | For example, large quantities and orders from China |
| Container Type | Internal volume | Practical loading volume |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft container | About 33 m³ | 25 – 28 m³ |
| 40 ft container | About 67 m³ | 55 – 58 m³ |
| 40 ft high-cube container (HC) | About 76 m³ | 65 – 68 m³ |
Figures are approximate and vary with the shipping route, the season and the cartons. We confirm them in the quote.
Sea, road or air?
Each method has its own speed and cost, and they can be combined: the sample by air and the quantity by sea.
Sea freight
Istanbul to Misrata takes 5 to 7 days at sea and about two to three weeks door to door. A direct line also runs from China to Misrata.
Road freight
By road to Syria and Iraq: partial shipping for small quantities, or a full truck for large orders.
Air freight
For urgent orders, samples and light products. The price uses the actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater.
Calculate your shipment volume
Enter the number of cartons, their dimensions and weight to see the volume and the closest option.
Volume = length × width × height (m) × number of cartons. Air-freight volumetric weight per carton = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6000.
Delivery, documents and customs
The quote states the delivery point: our warehouse, the port of arrival or your door, so you know what the price covers.
- We help you prepare the invoice, packing list and shipping documents.
- We send you full shipment details: the waybill or container number and the expected arrival date.
- Ask for the cartons to be numbered and their contents written on them, to make receiving and stock counts easier.
Abbreviations of the international delivery terms (Incoterms). Learn more on the International Chamber of Commerce website.
Tips for Saving on Partial-Load and Full-Load Shipping
Combine your orders
One large shipment costs less than three small ones, so combine your branch orders.
Plan early
Ordering early allows sea freight instead of air freight, which saves a lot.
Ask about the container
A small increase in quantity may fill a whole container and lower the shipping cost per piece.
Sample by air, quantity by sea
Approve the sample by air freight, then send the full quantity by the most economical method.
Ask us about shipping your order
Send the product, quantity and delivery city. We reply with the best shipping method, price and transit time.