When it comes to ocean freight from India, the biggest decision affecting your cost and delivery timeline is LCL or FCL. Get this right and you save significantly. Get it wrong and you either overpay for empty container space or face unexpected LCL surcharges that wipe out your margin.
LCL (Less than Container Load) means your shipment doesn't fill an entire container. Your cargo is consolidated with other shippers' goods inside a shared container — you pay only for the space your cargo occupies, measured in cubic metres (CBM) or weight, whichever is greater.
A freight forwarder manages the groupage — collecting cargo from multiple shippers at the origin CFS (Container Freight Station) and deconsolidating at destination. Also called groupage freight or consolidation shipping.
Cargo under 15 CBM · Small & medium exporters · Infrequent shipments · Testing new markets with smaller quantities · Seasonal goods
FCL (Full Container Load) means you book an entire container — 20ft or 40ft — exclusively for your cargo. Even if your shipment doesn't physically fill the container, you pay for the whole box. FCL offers faster transit, lower per-CBM rates at scale, and complete cargo isolation.
Container sizes: 20ft GP (~25–28 CBM) · 40ft GP (~55–58 CBM) · 40ft HC (High Cube, ~67 CBM) · Reefer for cold chain cargo.
Cargo above 15 CBM · Regular large-volume exporters · Fragile or high-value goods · Hazardous DG cargo · Cold chain / reefer shipments · Full factory loads
Every factor that matters when choosing between LCL and FCL sea freight from India — side by side.
| Factor | LCL | FCL |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Volume | No minimum | 1 container |
| Ideal Volume Range | 1–15 CBM | 15 CBM+ |
| Cost Structure | Per CBM / W/M | Per container |
| Transit Time | Slower (CFS delays) | Faster (direct) |
| Cargo Security | Shared container | Exclusive container |
| Handling Points | More (CFS in/out) | Fewer (door-to-door) |
| DG / Hazmat Cargo | Restricted | Yes (with compliance) |
| Cold Chain / Reefer | Not available | Yes (reefer container) |
| Customs Clearance | Per shipment | Per container |
Under 15 CBM → LCL is typically more cost-effective. Above 15 CBM → FCL usually works out cheaper per unit. Always compare actual quotes — rates vary by origin port, destination, commodity, and season.
Sea freight from Bangalore moves by road or rail to a nearby port before sailing. Movizy coordinates the inland haulage and port logistics from pickup to vessel.
| Destination | Transit Days | Best Port |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East (UAE, Saudi, Oman) | 7–14 days | Mangalore / Kochi |
| Southeast Asia | 10–18 days | Chennai / JNPT |
| Europe (Rotterdam, Hamburg) | 20–30 days | JNPT Mumbai |
| USA / Canada | 25–40 days | JNPT Mumbai |
| East Africa | 12–18 days | Mangalore / Chennai |
Whether LCL or FCL, the core document requirements for sea freight export from India are the same. Movizy prepares and verifies all documents on your behalf.
