SplitCargoSplitCargo
Lower shipping fees. Pay only for the space you use.
We group UK importers on the same route into one shared container — you pay a fraction of the cost, not full solo rates.
Small loads from China usually mean LCL, the priciest option. We fill the container with compatible shipments and split the cost.
Typical savings £200–£600 per shipment · BIFA forwarders · No payment until your container is confirmed loaded
See your savings
Typical solo LCL cost vs your estimated share of a shared container.
Shipment
Your estimate
Solo LCL
£673
Estimated shared-container total
£334–£474
Final cost depends on how many compatible shippers join your container.
Savings: £199–£339
Likely container group: 3–6 shippers
Chargeable weight (volume): 7,920 kg
Assumptions & V1 limits
- Typical rate shown: ~£85 per m³ (varies by lane).
- We use whichever is larger: space (m³) or weight (kg).
- V1: Shipment 3–12 m³ buffered. Container target 20–22 m³ (max 24). Max 21,000 kg total. 3–8 shippers per container. China origin, UK only. 14+ day overlap.
No payment until you're matched.
How SplitCargo compares
Example: 7 CBM shipment, Ningbo → Felixstowe
| Solo LCL (budget) | Solo LCL (typical) | SplitCargo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £960 | £1,362 | ~£650 |
| Transit time | 51–62 days | 52–62 days | 45–55 days |
| Upfront payment | Yes | Yes | No — paid after loading confirmed |
LCL rates sourced from live market quotes, March 2026. SplitCargo estimate based on 5 shippers sharing a 20ft FCL.
About us
Alfred Afriyie, Founder
I used to import — the costs were brutal. LCL rates for small shipments meant paying for space I didn't use. That's why we built SplitCargo: to group UK importers on the same route into one container so you only pay for what's yours.
Built by an importer, for importers.
Small importers often pay the highest shipping fees
If you're shipping a few pallets from China, you usually get stuck with LCL (less-than-container) rates — the most expensive way to move cargo, because you're paying for space you don't use. SplitCargo finds other UK brands on the same route and groups you into one shared container. Same container, same forwarder, lower fees.
How it works
We group compatible shipments into one container so you pay for the space you use—not the full box. We don't get paid until your cargo is loaded.
Submit your cargo
Enter dimensions, weight, and destination. Get an instant estimate of your share of a shared container.
We match you
We match you with compatible shipments and place the group with a BIFA-member freight forwarder. You get a clear estimate.
Pay your share
Pay a one-off matching fee. Funds are held until the forwarder confirms your container is loaded.
How matching works
We look at your cargo size, origin port, destination region, and preferred shipping window. We then match you with 2–5 other importers whose shipments are compatible — similar size, same route, overlapping dates. Once the group is confirmed, we place the full container with a BIFA-member forwarder. You get one clear quote for your share only.
Why importers choose SplitCargo
We group your shipment with 3–6 importers in one container. Clear pricing, your share only, pay after loading confirmed.
Funds held until loading confirmed
BIFA forwarders only
No unexpected local charges*
MSDS verification for battery & chemical cargo
What happens to your money
Your matching fee is collected only after your group is confirmed. We don't take payment until your forwarder has confirmed the container is booked and your cargo is scheduled for loading. If we can't match you, you pay nothing.
Simple, transparent pricing
A matching fee per shipment. Nothing paid until the container is confirmed loaded.
You only pay your share of the container and a one-off matching fee—no hidden costs. We don't get paid until your forwarder confirms your cargo is loaded.
The numbers
Real savings, real groups. We match you with compatible shippers so everyone pays only their share.
£200–£600
Typical savings per shipment
vs solo LCL rates
3–6
Importers per container
Compatible shipments grouped together
20+
UK importers in pipeline
April/May container runs
Join importers from clothing, homewares, accessories and sports equipment already in our April/May pipeline.
For forwarders
We do the hard part — finding, vetting and grouping the shippers. You get a single FCL booking with cargo details, dimensions and weights already consolidated. No chasing multiple small shippers. No LCL complexity. Just a straightforward FCL booking from a single point of contact.
- ✓SplitCargo brings pre-grouped FCL cargo—you handle booking, customs, and movement.
- ✓20+ UK importers in our April/May pipeline, ready to fill containers.
- ✓No upfront cost to partner. We match; you move.
Where we operate
China–UK shared containers. Origin and destination coverage below.
Origin ports
- Ningbo
- Shanghai
- Shenzhen
- Guangzhou
Destination regions
- Greater London
- Midlands
- East Anglia
- North West
- Yorkshire
- South West
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what importers and forwarders ask most.
Contact
Questions, partnership enquiries, or ready to get matched? Get in touch.