This is one of the most common questions when you are importing from China. In most cases, you will have goods from multiple suppliers that need to be shipped together. Collecting them at one address, sorting and packing them together, and then shipping them out in one shipment is called consolidation.
Whenever you have orders from more than one supplier that need to be sent out together, that’s consolidation service.
Why Do You Need a Consolidation Service?
- Reduce shipping cost — one shipment is usually cheaper than several small ones.
- Fewer tracking numbers — no matter if it’s express, air, or sea freight, it’s safer and easier to follow.
- Better inspection and management before shipping — your sourcing agent will check the quantity and quality, re-pack the goods together, and make the shipment safer.
- Simpler customs clearance — in many countries, customs clearance is becoming more strict. If you have 10 suppliers, and each one needs to do separate customs clearance, for a new seller this is almost impossible to handle.
When to Consider Using a Consolidation Service
You may already have rich experience importing from China, and sometimes you can ask one bigger supplier to help you collect goods from other suppliers. However, in most cases, suppliers are not willing to take the risk or spend extra time preparing other suppliers’ customs documents. The best solution is to find a company that provides professional consolidation service.
- Sample consolidation — you want to order samples from different suppliers to compare quality and ship them together in one package.
- Repeat small orders — if you have frequent small orders weekly or monthly, a sourcing agent offering consolidation can help you save cost and time.
- Multiple suppliers for FCL or LCL — You need combined all the supplier items in one container. In most case, consolidation in one Commercial invoice and custom clearance document to simple and smoothly custom clearance process.
- Single shipment for customs clearance — we can combine all shipments into one invoice and prepare customs documents.
Which Consolidation Service Is Best for You?
- Sample consolidation-
- Bulk order consolidation (LCL/FCL)
- Consolidation with inspection service
- Consolidation with inspection + shipping service
- Consolidation + shipping service
- Buying+ Consolidation+Shipping service
What’s the cost per service? Contact us now to get one quick quotation, you can also check this consolidation shipping service to know more.
What Shipping Services We Offer for consolidation
- Consolidation + Express Shipping — DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT
- Consolidation + Sea Freight — FCL or LCL to your port
- Consolidation + Air Freight — to your airport
- Consolidation + E‑commerce Shipping — YunExpress, 4PX
- Consolidation + Sea DDP — we handle customs clearance and deliver directly to your warehouse
Step by Step: How to Consolidate Shipments from China
- Find the right suppliers — make a list of how many suppliers and how many items you will consolidate. You can find the supplier easily from Alibaba or Made in China, here is one list for wholesale B2B website.
- Choose a consolidation service option you need
- Send the warehouse address and shipping mark to your supplier (with code and your name on carton) to make sure they can identify your goods. This is an important tip.
- Your sourcing agent receives the goods — they take pictures, check all items, and prepare a final list and packing list.
- Inspection — count the final quantity and match with your purchase order.
- Arrange shipment — to your address or your shipping agent’s address.
- Prepare documents — packing list, commercial invoice, CO.
- Send tracking code or Bill of Lading for shipment tracking.
Why Choose SourcingXpro for Consolidation?
- 10 years’ experience as both sourcing agent and shipping agent
- First in the industry to offer consolidation service with inspection included
- Free warehouse for 6 months — no other company offers such a long period
- Over 4,000 clients served worldwide
If you need consolidation service, we should be your first choice. Contact us to know more.
FAQ: China Consolidation Service
Q1: What is a consolidation service in shipping?
A consolidation service means collecting goods from different suppliers at one warehouse, checking them, and shipping them together in one shipment. This helps reduce shipping costs, simplify customs clearance, and make tracking easier.
Q2: Why should I use a consolidation service when importing from China?
Because it saves shipping costs, reduces the number of tracking numbers you need to follow, allows better quality control before shipping, and makes customs clearance easier by using one invoice and one declaration for all goods.
Q3: Can I consolidate samples from different suppliers in China?
Yes. Sample consolidation is one of the most common requests. We can receive samples from multiple suppliers, check their quality, and send them in one package to save money and time.
Q4: What is the difference between LCL and FCL consolidation?
LCL (Less than Container Load) means you share one container with other supplier you don’t even know what’s the name and what’s the products they are shipped. FCL (Full Container Load) means you own this container. No need to share with others, and even it is empty space left. No matter it is LCL or FCL, we both can help you offer consolidation shipping service.
Q5: How does SourcingXpro handle consolidation?
We receive goods from all your suppliers, take photos, inspect quantity and quality, prepare a packing list, and ship everything together using the shipping method you choose. We also prepare all customs documents.
Q6: How much warehouse time do you offer for free?
SourcingXpro offers 6 months of free warehouse storage, which is much longer than the 30 days most companies offer.
Q7: Which shipping methods are available for consolidated shipments from China?
We can ship by express (DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT), by sea (FCL/LCL), by air, or by e‑commerce logistics like YunExpress and 4PX. We also provide DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) service to deliver directly to your warehouse.
