Bulk shipping, also known as LCL (Less than Container Load).
Bulk cargo in maritime transportation generally refers to general cargo, which needs to be consolidated into a container if it does not fill a full container (such as books, clothes, daily necessities, and similar items). Therefore, there is a significant difference between bulk cargo and consolidated bulk cargo in maritime transportation. Bulk cargo and consolidated bulk cargo in maritime transportation are two different concepts. One should not confuse consolidated bulk cargo with bulk cargo. In fact, consolidated bulk cargo in maritime transportation refers to a small amount of cargo that cannot fill a full container alone and is consolidated with the cargo of other shippers before being packed and shipped to the destination.
Less than Container Load (LCL) involves sorting and organizing goods based on their nature and destination. Goods destined for the same destination are consolidated into a full container load for shipment together.
So a container will carry goods from different shippers, and everyone will share the cost.
Therefore, bulk cargo also incurs port of loading and port of destination charges; the transportation terms can also be CIF/CNF/FOB/DDU/DDP, etc.
A 20GP small container can normally accommodate 28 cubic meters, so if the volume is much smaller than this, such as a few cubic meters or a dozen cubic meters, many people may choose LCL (Less than Container Load) shipping.
Bulk cargo starts from 1 cubic meter (unit: cubic meter), which means that any quantity less than 1 cubic meter will be calculated as 1 cubic meter.
So, is it true that a square can be of any weight?
Generally, 1CBM:500KGS means that the upper limit for one cubic meter is 500KG. As long as it does not exceed 500KG, it is counted as one cubic meter. If it exceeds 500KG, for example, 1000KG, even if your volume is one cubic meter, it will be calculated as two cubic meters (however, there are also some cases where 1CBM:1000KGS is used).
International Express
Currently, the main international express delivery services include: DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEX, and EMS.
Another popular option now is international small parcels, such as China Post small parcels.
The terms are usually sent directly to the customer (but generally, the customs duties incurred upon arrival at the customer's end need to be paid by the customer)
We know that international express delivery is transported by air, which ensures fast delivery.
We all know that air transportation costs are relatively high among common means of transportation. Therefore, the placement space of aircraft is very important. In addition to the actual weight of the cargo, there is another very important indicator: volume.
If the actual weight of the goods is small but the volume is large, the calculation will not be based on the actual weight, but on the volume (after all, your goods occupy more space).
And how to calculate volume?
International express delivery services calculate volumetric weight based on the volume:
Volumetric weight = length * width * height * 200 (unit: m) (alternatively, 1 cubic meter equals 200KG)
So, based on the actual weight and volumetric weight of the goods, whichever value is greater will be used.
for example
If a piece of cargo has an actual weight of 10KG and a volumetric weight of 5KG, then the weight is 10KG.
If a piece of goods has an actual weight of 2KG and a volumetric weight of 8KG, then the weight is 8KG.
air freight
The difference between air freight and international express delivery lies in the fact that express delivery is typically for small and lightweight items; for bulky or heavy goods, air freight is the preferred option. Air freight is primarily provided by airlines, such as EK/EY/CX/TK/SA/CZ/CA/AA.
Terms: Deliver to the destination airport or deliver to the door.
The general starting weight for air freight is 45KG and above.
The same principle applies: the numerical value of the actual weight and volumetric weight of the goods shall prevail.
However, the volumetric weight for air freight is somewhat different.
Air freight volumetric weight = length * width * height * 167 (unit: m) (alternatively, one cubic meter equals 167KG)
(With these formulas, you no longer have to worry about being tricked. When making inquiries, you will know to tell others about the volume or dimensional weight.)
Customs declaration and clearance are more complicated than express delivery, as the customs clearance for express delivery is all handled by the express delivery company, requiring no concern. In contrast, air freight often requires the shipper to handle customs declaration themselves or find an agent to handle it, which is why air freight generally incurs customs declaration fees.
Whether it's international express delivery or air freight, the heavier the weight, the lower the cost per kilogram.
