Consolidation: It's a Skill You Can Learn!

In logistics, you come across many terms that rarely appear in everyday language. "Groupage box" and "Buyer's consol" are two such examples, and in this blog we will explain what they mean.

In our previous blog, we described a container as more than just a black box - and that is absolutely true. After all, what exactly goes inside that rectangular box, the holy grail of modern sea transport?

When is consolidation needed?

If you, as an importer, are placing an order with a supplier that fills a container exactly, the process is simple. The container is loaded, transported to the port, shipped, and then unloaded at its destination.

But what do you do if you have much less to ship than a full container? Or when you have multiple suppliers, where all orders together make up a full container? That is where consolidation comes into play.

What is consolidation?

Consolidation is the process of combining multiple shipments from different suppliers into one single container for transport.

Berkman Forwarding manages this entire process from China under our own supervision. We have offices and warehouses in all major Chinese ports, which allows us to offer our customers the highest level of service.

Every week, our own groupage containers depart from these ports to Rotterdam on a fixed schedule. If your goods do not fill a full container, they can be transported in our Berkman box. Upon their arrival, they are unloaded, placed on pallets, and securely transported to their final destination.

We can also provide additional value-added services such as repackaging, labelling, or temporary storage in Rotterdam - all according to the motto: you ask, we deliver!

The advantages of consolidation for importers

1. Cost savings: By combining multiple shipments into a single container, the shipping cost per unit is significantly reduced.
2. Faster turnaround times: Shipping goods together can shorten lead times through more efficient routing and planning.
3. Reduced environmental impact: Consolidation lowers the number of separate transport movements, reducing CO₂ emissions and the overall environmental footprint.
4. Simpler customs procedures: A single consolidated shipment can simplify customs and documentation, helping to speed up the process.

What is a buyer's consol?

Now that we have explained what a groupage container is, let's have a closer look at a special variation: the buyer's consol.

For importers, this can be an excellent way to reduce costs, spread risk and optimise inventory management. Here's how it works.

Imagine you have five suppliers located near Shanghai. Each individual order you place is too small to fill a container on its own. However, combined, they make up a full 20-foot or 40-foot container. Berkman can coordinate this for you.

You simply ask your suppliers to deliver their goods to our warehouse in Shanghai. We will consolidate all your individual shipments into a single container. Once it arrives in Rotterdam, it is delivered directly to your chosen unloading address - without being unpacked or handled along the way.

This means reduced risk of damage, loss or theft, lower overall costs, and a smoother, more efficient logistics process.

Berkman Forwarding can arrange this service from various loading ports across the Far East. Another advantage is that upon arrival in Rotterdam, you only pay Bill of Lading and customs clearance fees once - regardless of how many suppliers contributed to that container.

In summary

Consolidation really can be learned. And Berkman Forwarding is here to guide you through it.

Curious about what this could mean for your business, and how much you could save? Contact us today to learn more about the different options. We are here to help!

Get in touch!