Ways to Ship Small Cargo from China to Iran: Costs, Delivery Times, and Key Tips
Shipping less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo from China to Iran is a practical solution for importers who want to send small-volume shipments without paying for a full container. Choosing the right transport method, from air to sea, can affect the final cost and delivery time of goods. To pick the best option, however, you should be familiar with shipping methods, cost calculation, and the customs clearance process for LCL cargo.
Small cargo shipping is one of the practical methods for importers whose cargo volume is not as much as a full container or who want to import the goods in a limited volume, as a sample or in several stages. In this method, the transport space is divided among several cargoes, and this issue can be a more economical choice for small and medium loads than using dedicated capacity.
In the following, we will examine the main methods of sending retail cargo from China to Iran, the factors affecting the cost and delivery time, and the most important points that you should know before sending cargo.
When is it a good choice to ship small cargo from China?
Simply put, when the volume or weight of your goods is not so much that it makes sense to use a container or a dedicated shipping capacity for it, you can use the small cargo shipping method. For example, small cargo can include:
Periodic orders with low volume
Goods purchased from several different sellers
Shipments that do not occupy the space of a full container
Methods of sending small cargo from China to Iran
The two main ways to send retail cargo from China to Iran are Air Consolidation and LCL Sea Shipping. The choice between these two items mostly depends on the volume and weight of the goods, the urgency and the value of the shipment.
If the volume of goods is not enough to fill a full container, you can use LCL or Less than Container Load service. In this method, the cargo of several importers is placed in a common container and sent to the destination.
In small cargo shipping, the volume of goods is usually measured by CBM or cubic meters unit. A CBM means a space with the dimensions of one meter long, one meter wide and one meter high.
For example, if the total packages of a cargo occupy 0.7 cubic meters of space, its volume is 0.7 CBM. However, some LCL services have a minimum calculable volume; For example, if the minimum calculation is one CBM, then for a cargo with a volume of 0.7 CBM, the fare is calculated based on one CBM.
Sea shipping is more suitable for shipments that have a larger volume and their delivery time is not very urgent.
Air freight is more useful for low-volume, valuable or time-sensitive shipments. Product samples, exhibition cargo, urgently needed parts and some specialized goods are among the cargoes that are usually sent by air.
In air transport, in addition to the actual weight, the dimensions of the package also affect the shipping rate. For this reason, a light but very bulky item may have a higher fare than what would be expected based on its weight alone.
The nature of the product is also important. Items such as batteries, liquids, some chemicals or other goods with special conditions must be checked before shipping to determine the possibility of accepting them by the airline.
Comparison of air and sea shipping of small cargo
These timeframes are approximate and may vary depending on the city of origin, flight or ship schedule, collection time, shipping route, and clearance.
Steps to send small cargo from China to Iran
In retail cargo transportation, the main difference from private transportation is that your cargo is not sent alone and is placed together with the cargo of other owners. For this reason, the load collection and consolidation stage is an important part of this process.
First, the cargo specifications, including the type of goods, the number of packages, weight and dimensions, are provided to the shipping company. Then the goods are received from the seller or delivered to the designated warehouse in China.
After the cargo enters the warehouse, its weight and volume are checked and the cargo is prepared for collective shipment. If the goods are purchased from several different sellers, the shipments can be collected in one warehouse and prepared for shipment in a unified manner.
In the next step, the small cargo is placed in the common space next to other cargoes; In sea transportation, this is usually done inside the LCL container and in air transportation in the form of consolidated service. After completing the origin formalities, the cargo will be sent to Iran.
After the shipment reaches its destination, the collected loads are separated from each other and each shipment will enter the final clearance and delivery process.
Cargo delivery in China → Transfer to warehouse → Weight and volume check → Consolidation with other small cargo → International transportation → Separation of cargo at destination → Clearance → Final delivery
How is the cost of retail shipping from China calculated?
The cost of transporting small cargo from China to Iran is not fixed and depends on the characteristics of the cargo and the type of service you choose.
The most important factors affecting the price are:
Shipping method: Air and sea shipping rates are different from each other.
Weight and volume of cargo: In air transportation, the weight and dimensions of the packages are more important, and in sea transportation, the volume of the cargo is more important.
Origin and destination: The distance from the seller's location to the warehouse, port or airport, as well as the final destination, affects the cost.
Product type: Sensitive, breakable or special condition products may have different shipping costs.
Packaging and warehousing: The type of packaging, the duration of storage in the warehouse and the consolidation of the load can be added to the final amount.
Insurance, clearance and domestic transportation: ancillary services in China and Iran should also be considered in the final calculation.
Daily shipping rate and currency: Airline rates, shipping lines and market fluctuations can change the price.
In general, the final cost can be divided into three parts: origin costs in China, international shipping costs, and destination costs in Iran. Therefore, when inquiring, it is better not to just ask for the rate per kilo or per CBM and specify exactly what services are included in the stated amount.
What documents are required to send retail cargo from China?
The required documents are different depending on the type of goods and import method, but usually these items are used in the shipping process:
Purchase invoice: (Invoice) includes price, quantity, product specifications, brand and payment terms.
The packing list specifies the number of packages, net and gross weight, dimensions and type of packaging.