Sea Freight Case Study
FCL sports goods program from Karachi to Los Angeles
A US sporting goods retailer was importing from four Sialkot suppliers on separate LCL shipments with mixed results. Lonesons consolidated them into a single FCL program via Karachi Port and reduced landed cost per unit by 18%.
Client profile
US mid-market sporting goods retailer
Industry
Retail — sports & fitness equipment
Service
FCL sea freight + origin consolidation
Trade lane
Sialkot → Karachi Port (KICT) → Los Angeles (LAX)
Outcomes
18%
Lower landed cost / unit
26d
Average transit time
24
40ft HC containers / year
4→1
Suppliers consolidated
The challenge
Four suppliers, four sets of documents, four inland moves and four LCL bookings meant unpredictable arrivals in Los Angeles, high per-CBM freight cost, and frequent short-shipments. The retailer wanted one accountable partner and a lower landed cost.
Our approach
- Weekly pickup schedule from all four Sialkot suppliers with QC at a bonded CFS
- Origin consolidation into 40ft HC containers with contracted MSC and CMA CGM sailings from KICT
- Single L/C-compliant B/L, invoice and packing list per container
- Coordinated destination customs and drayage to the retailer's LA distribution center
The outcome
The retailer now runs a 24-container annual program with an average 26-day port-to-port transit. Consolidating suppliers and moving from LCL to FCL cut landed cost per unit by 18% and eliminated short-shipments across the year. The retailer expanded the program to include two additional Sialkot suppliers in year two.
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