Shandong Port Group Launches LCL Service Linking Northern China with Kenya

Shandong Port Group (SPG) launched a specialized less-than-container-load (LCL) service this year connecting exporters in northern China with Kenya, designed to make access to East African markets more flexible and affordable for small and medium-sized exporters. The service allows shippers to send cargo that doesn't fill a full container, sparing exporters from paying for unused space.

Recently, more than 20 cubic meters of consolidated cargo were grouped at SPG's LCL warehouse in Huangdao, Qingdao, and after clearing customs were loaded for direct shipment to Mombasa, Kenya. From the Kenyan port, the goods will be distributed to multiple destinations within East Africa.

The service, driven by Shandong Port Overseas Development Group, accepts shipments starting from one cubic meter and offers an end-to-end solution that includes cargo consolidation, customs clearance, container stuffing, storage and onward distribution, all managed through a single point of contact.

According to sources, the scheme of grouping small shipments into shared containers and coordinating operations at both ends of the route cuts overall logistics costs by between 8 and 16% and shortens total transit time by around three days.

Since it began operating, the service has moved a total of 216 TEU, which according to SPG makes it easier for smaller exporters to access East African markets and strengthens trade ties between China and the region.