| chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: November 5, 2026
For small- and medium-sized exporters, shipping to overseas markets can be costly when their cargo is not of a sufficient size to fill a container. Shandong Port Group (SPG) has addressed this challenge with a dedicated less-than-container-load (LCL) service that makes exports to East Africa more flexible and cost-efficient.
Recently, more than 20 cubic meters of consolidated cargo was assembled at SPG's Huangdao LCL warehouse in Qingdao, cleared through customs and loaded for direct shipment to Mombasa, Kenya. From there, the goods will be distributed to multiple destinations across East Africa.
Launched this year by Shandong Port Overseas Development Group, the dedicated LCL service connects exporters in North China with Kenya. It accepts shipments starting from just one cubic meter and provides an integrated service covering cargo consolidation, customs clearance, container loading, warehousing and onward distribution, all through a single point of contact.
By pooling smaller shipments into shared containers and coordinating operations at both ends of the route, the service eliminates the need for exporters to pay for unused container space. It is estimated to reduce overall logistics costs by 8 to 16 percent and cut end-to-end transit time by around three days.
The service has handled a cumulative 216 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) since its launch, offering smaller exporters a more accessible way to reach East African markets and strengthening trade links between China and the region.
SPG's LCL service successfully launched recently, marking a new step in strengthening direct shipping links between China and East Africa. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]
