UK Groupage Shipping Services

Groupage shipping — sometimes called consolidated shipping, shared cargo shipping or groupage freight — is the practice of combining multiple part-load shipments from different customers into one shared ocean container. Each shipper pays only for the cubic metres (CBM) their cargo occupies, rather than the full container cost.

The result is significantly cheaper international freight for anyone with under 25 CBM of cargo. Groupage is the cornerstone of cost-effective international logistics for SMEs, online sellers, exporters, expats and anyone moving household effects overseas. It is functionally identical to our shared container shipping service and very similar to LCL shipping — the differences are mostly in terminology and how the rates are published.

Cost is the headline benefit — a part-load shipper might pay £400–£1,200 on a route where a full container would cost £3,000–£5,000. But groupage also offers operational advantages: weekly sailings on every major lane mean you don't wait to fill a container, professional consolidation by experienced load planners reduces damage risk, customs documentation is handled as part of the service, and marine cargo insurance is available at competitive rates.

Groupage is particularly popular for customers sending cargo to Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania where freight consolidation helps reduce transport costs that would otherwise make small consignments uneconomic to ship. Similar consolidation efficiencies apply to Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda — all destinations where weekly UK groupage services run reliably.

Groupage follows the same five-stage flow on every lane. 1. Quote and booking — you supply cargo dimensions, weight and destination, we confirm space on the next sailing. 2. UK collection or drop-off at our consolidation depot. 3. Consolidation and stuffing — your cargo is load-planned alongside other shippers' cargo and stuffed into the next container heading to your destination port.

4. Ocean freight on the booked vessel under one master Bill of Lading per container, with a House Bill of Lading issued for your individual shipment. 5. Destination clearance and delivery — the destination agent breaks the container down, clears each consignment through customs and arranges collection or delivery to the consignee.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of consolidation and timing, read our guide on how groupage shipping works.

Groupage rates are quoted per cubic metre (CBM) or per W/M (weight or measure, whichever is greater — 1 CBM or 1,000 kg). Minimum charges typically apply at 1–2 CBM. The components of your total are: ocean freight (CBM × lane rate), bunker/fuel surcharge (BAF, usually 8–10%), UK export documentation, cargo handling at origin, and optional marine cargo insurance.

Indicative UK groupage rates: Europe from £55/CBM, Middle East from £85/CBM, West Africa from £110/CBM, East Africa from £130/CBM, North America from £90/CBM, Australasia from £150/CBM. For a live breakdown by lane, see our groupage shipping costs guide and our shared container costs guide. Or use the cost calculator for an instant per-CBM estimate.

We run weekly UK groupage services to all major worldwide trade lanes. The most-booked destinations are Shared Container to Ghana, Shared Container to Kenya, Shared Container to Tanzania, Shared Container to Nigeria and Shared Container to South Africa.

Beyond Africa, our regular groupage lanes cover the Middle East (Dubai, Saudi Arabia), the Mediterranean (Cyprus, Malta, Greece), North America (USA, Canada), Asia (India, Pakistan) and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand). If your destination isn't listed it almost certainly still runs — contact us for a quote.

Every UK groupage booking includes the export customs entry filed with HMRC via the CDS system, the issuance of a Bill of Lading and basic export documentation review. Many destinations require additional pre-shipment certificates — SONCAP for Nigeria, PVoC for Kenya/Tanzania/Uganda, CTN for Ghana and other West African ports, ISF 10+2 for the USA, and Chamber of Commerce + embassy attestation for the GCC.

Our team handles certification on your behalf as part of the booking. Full destination-by-destination paperwork requirements are listed in our documentation hub.

Get an instant UK groupage quote in under a minute. Enter your destination, cargo type and dimensions in the cost calculator and see the full breakdown including ocean freight, BAF, documentation and insurance. For door-to-door collection or complex consignments, request a written quote and a specialist will reply within the hour.