Should a small importer choose FCL or LCL shipping?

It depends on volume per supplier and on how often you can afford to order.

Less than container load (LCL) shipping lets you pay for only the space you use, which suits small or irregular orders, but costs more per cubic metre, adds handling at consolidation hubs, and usually makes transit times longer and less predictable. Full container load (FCL) shipping is cheaper per unit once you can fill most of a container, and the box travels sealed from origin to destination.

A useful rule is to look at your typical order volume per supplier: if you regularly need more than about half a container, FCL with a fill strategy usually wins on total cost. Below that, LCL or consolidating several nearby suppliers into one container is often the better route. The decision should also weigh the cost of holding the extra stock needed to fill a box, not just the freight invoice.