Mercator’s import team regularly handles LCL shipping from South Korea to the UK. Less than container load (LCL) shipping is common when the consignment does not require a dedicated shipping container due to size. When shipping from South Korea into the UK, it is possible that you can benefit from the UK-South Korea trade deal. In order to check this, search your commodity in the UK trade tariff tool, select “South Korea”, the result will show whether there is a tariff preference.
Utilising LCL shipping from South Korea can be economical as the sea freight cost is calculated on the “weight measure”. Weight measure is based on a ratio of 1cbm to 1000kgs. Sea freight charges for LCL are calculated as 1CBM per 1000kgs, whichever is larger. If your consignment measures 1m x 1m x 1m (1cbm) and weighs 300kg, you will be charged for 1cbm. However, if the same dimensions weighs 1200kg, you will be charged 1.2cbm.
There are other factors to consider when considering LCL shipping from South Korea, including whether your goods are suitable for stacking for transit. Naturally there is an extra charge for “non-stack” as it limits the space inside the shipping container for more consignments. If you have delicate goods, or goods which might have outer packaging damaged when stacking, then an option could be to ask your shipper (the supplier of the goods) to pack the shipment in a wooden crate.
Port to port transit time from South Korea to the UK is typically 40 days, depending on routing and whether there are any delays due to diversions. For LCL shipping from South Korea, you will need to add a few days at the beginning of the transit time so that your shipment is accepted at the port with sufficient time to be packed into the shared container. Equally, once the shipping container arrives in the UK, there will be a few days wait for unpacking, whilst this is happening, your freight forwarder (such as Mercator) can complete your import customs clearance, gaining permission to move your cargo out of the port and to your door as soon as possible.
Delivering LCL shipments to door in the UK can be flexible on delivery vehicle sizes if requested in advance. For example, if access to the delivery site is restricted, then it is possible to request a smaller delivery vehicle. Similarly, if the delivery site does not have a forklift, then another extra that can be added to the booking is a vehicle with a tail lift, to deliver the shipment to the ground.
Mercator has good freight rates with a reliable LCL consolidator, along with our contacts of reliable and trusted hauliers across the UK and our direct links with HMRC for customs clearances and AEO status, we are a good choice when arranging your LCL shipping from South Korea to the UK. We have a strong relationship with our partner agent based in Seoul, meaning we can even arrange EXW shipments, including pickup in Korea, export customs and sea freight to the UK.
Whether you have a single pallet, multiple wooden crates, or even a full container load for shipping from South Korea to UK, our team will be able to equip you with a comprehensive shipping solution, taking the stress out of your shipping tasks. To get in touch you can call (+44) 02392 756 575, email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or complete the form below and someone will be in touch.
