Ocean freight
FCL vs LCL from Korea: how the costs work and when to choose each
A shipment from Korea travels either in a container of its own (FCL, full container load) or shares one with other shippers' cargo (LCL, less than container load). The choice changes how you are charged, how long the goods take, how often they are handled, and what the US or EU paperwork looks like.
The two options in brief
FCL means you book an entire container, typically 20-foot or 40-foot, whether or not you fill it. The factory loads and seals it, a trucker takes it to the container yard (CY), and it stays sealed until the consignee opens it.
LCL means a consolidator (often a forwarder, sometimes called an NVOCC) collects cargo from several shippers at a container freight station (CFS), packs it into one container, ships it, and unpacks it at a CFS at destination. You pay for the space your cargo uses.
| FCL | LCL | |
|---|---|---|
| How ocean freight is priced | Per container | Per revenue ton (W/M), with a minimum charge |
| Where cargo is received | Container yard (CY), already sealed | Container freight station (CFS), loose |
| Extra origin and destination costs | Terminal handling (THC), documentation, drayage | THC plus CFS charges at both ends, documentation |
| Handling of your goods | Loaded once, unloaded once | Handled at both CFSs, alongside other cargo |
| Time | Moves on the booked sailing once at the CY | Adds time for consolidation and deconsolidation |
| Exposure to other shippers | None | A hold or inspection on any shipment in the box can delay all of it |
| Main time-based charges | Demurrage and detention on the container | Storage at the destination CFS |
How LCL is charged
LCL freight is billed per revenue ton, also written W/M (weight or measurement). The carrier compares the volume in cubic meters (CBM) with the weight in metric tons and charges on whichever is greater, with 1 CBM treated as equal to 1,000 kg. A pallet of 2.4 CBM weighing 600 kg is charged as 2.4 revenue tons. A 900 kg crate of 0.5 CBM is charged as 0.9. Most consolidators also set a minimum, often one revenue ton.
On top of the ocean rate, expect CFS charges in Korea and at destination, terminal handling, documentation and delivery-order fees, and at destination the consolidator's own handling fee. Destination charges are often billed to the consignee, so a low origin quote does not tell the whole story.
How FCL is charged
FCL freight is a price per container plus surcharges set by the carrier. Around it sit origin and destination terminal handling, documentation fees, and trucking (drayage) at both ends. Two time-based charges matter most: demurrage for a container left in the terminal beyond the free days, and detention for keeping the carrier's container outside the terminal too long. Both can add up quickly when customs or a warehouse appointment delays pickup.
Container sizes
| Container | Approximate internal volume |
|---|---|
| 20-foot standard | About 33 CBM |
| 40-foot standard | About 67 CBM |
| 40-foot high cube | About 76 CBM |
These are nominal figures. Usable volume is lower once pallets, bracing and irregular packaging are counted, and weight limits often bind before volume does for dense cargo such as steel parts. Check the carrier's container specifications and the road weight rules at destination.
Finding your break-even point
There is no fixed volume at which FCL becomes cheaper. The answer depends on the lane, the season, the carrier's rates and the destination charges. The reliable method is to price both.
- Measure the shipment properly. Total CBM and gross weight from the packing list, with pallet dimensions included.
- Get an all-in LCL quote. Ocean rate times revenue tons, plus origin CFS and THC, destination CFS, handling and delivery-order fees, and delivery from the CFS.
- Get an all-in FCL quote for the smallest container that fits, including drayage at both ends and a realistic allowance for free time.
- Add the non-price factors. Extra days in transit, extra handling of fragile goods, and the risk of a shared container being held.
- Repeat when rates move. A choice that was right last quarter may not be right now.
Some shippers also consider a 20-foot container that is not full when the cargo is fragile or high-value, because avoiding CFS handling can be worth more than the freight difference.
What LCL changes on the paperwork
- Two bills of lading. The consolidator issues a house bill of lading to you, while the carrier issues a master bill of lading to the consolidator. Know which one your buyer or bank expects; see export shipping documents.
- US Importer Security Filing. For US-bound ocean cargo, the ISF includes the consolidator (stuffer) and the container stuffing location, which for LCL is the CFS. The importer's filer needs that data from the forwarder in time; see ISF 10+2 filing.
- Cut-offs come earlier. The CFS closing time in Busan or Incheon is usually earlier than the CY cut-off for the same sailing.
- Marks matter more. Every package should carry clear shipping marks and package numbers that match the packing list, because it will be separated from other cargo at destination.
Packing for each option
FCL cargo still needs to be braced inside the container, because loose pallets shift at sea and during drayage. LCL cargo is handled by forklift at two CFSs and stacked next to other shippers' goods, so it needs stackable, fully wrapped pallets or crates, with any "do not stack" or orientation marks clearly shown. Heat treatment and ISPM 15 marks on wood packaging matter for both, and a missing mark can hold the whole consolidated container.
Choosing: a quick guide
- Small, robust, non-urgent cargo: LCL is usually the practical choice.
- Cargo that nearly fills a container, or is fragile, high-value or time-sensitive: price FCL.
- Regular volume: consider consolidating several orders into one FCL rather than shipping LCL each week.
- Very urgent or very small: compare with air freight from Incheon; see shipping routes from Korea.
Common questions
Is LCL always cheaper for small shipments?
Usually, but not always. Destination CFS and handling charges can be large relative to a small shipment's ocean freight. Compare all-in quotes, including charges billed to the consignee.
Why does LCL take longer than FCL on the same route?
The cargo has to wait for the consolidator to fill and close the container, and then be unpacked and released at the destination CFS. A hold on any other shipment in the same container can also delay release.
Who pays demurrage and detention?
It depends on the contract and the Incoterms rule. Usually the party arranging destination pickup bears them. See Incoterms 2020 for Korea trade.
Can I track an LCL shipment by container number?
Yes, once the consolidator tells you which container your cargo is in, but the container's milestones do not show when your cargo was received or released at the CFS. Ask the consolidator for those events too.
Last reviewed 2026-09-17