International Moving
Shared Container (LCL / Groupage)
Pay only for the space you use — perfect for small shipments.
Pay only for the space you use — perfect for small shipments.
LCL (Less than Container Load), also called groupage or consolidated cargo, lets you share a single container with other clients' shipments. You pay only for the volume you use, measured in cubic meters, which makes it the most economical option for small moves.
It's the ideal choice for students, people moving with just a few pieces of furniture, top-up shipments for a previous move, or anyone relocating only personal belongings and boxes. At Panama International Movers, we consolidate your cargo securely and with a full inventory inside the shared container.
Unlike an exclusive container, LCL is billed by volume (cubic meters) or by weight, whichever is greater. That's why good packing and efficient loading directly affect your cost: the better we make use of the space in your boxes, the less you pay.
When you share a container, transit time can be somewhat longer than with FCL, because the cargo waits for the groupage load to fill up and goes through consolidation and deconsolidation at port. In exchange, the savings on small volumes are significant.
LCL shines when the volume doesn't justify an entire container: a student heading abroad for a year of study, someone shipping just their bedroom's contents, or anyone topping up a previous move with a few extra boxes.
As your volume grows, at some point an exclusive container becomes more cost-effective per cubic meter. During the survey, we calculate both scenarios and show you which one genuinely works out better for you.
In an LCL shipment, your cargo is grouped with other clients' shipments inside the same container at a consolidation warehouse. Each lot is carefully packed, labeled, inventoried, and identified by client, so it's never mixed up with the rest. Upon arrival, the container is deconsolidated and each shipment continues on to its owner.
This consolidation and deconsolidation process is what makes the savings possible, but it's also why LCL typically takes a bit longer than FCL: the cargo waits for the groupage load to fill up and goes through an extra step at each port. For small volumes, that extra time is more than made up for in price.
Since LCL is billed by volume, good packing translates directly into savings: well-assembled boxes with no dead space and standard dimensions make the most efficient use of room. Disassembling bulky furniture also reduces cubic meters.
Our team advises you on what's worth shipping this way and how to pack to minimize billable volume without compromising the protection of your belongings. It's the difference between an efficient shipment and one that pays for empty air.
Billed by cubic meter — ideal for small volumes.
The most common option for anyone moving with just a few boxes.
Every item is labeled and inventoried within the groupage load.
Frequent consolidations to all major destinations.
About shared container (lcl / groupage).
For small volumes, yes: you pay only for the space you use. As volume grows, an exclusive container becomes more efficient per cubic meter. We'll calculate both options for you.
You share a container, but your cargo is carefully packed, labeled, and inventoried, kept separate and clearly identified from the rest of the groupage load.
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