REAL SHIPPING CASE STUDY

LCL Sea Freight of Tattoo Supplies from China to the UK

When a UK importer needed to ship tattoo supplies from China, the challenge was finding a cost-effective solution for a medium-volume LCL shipment without booking a full container.

Tonlexing arranged LCL sea freight from Guangzhou Nansha Port to Felixstowe Port, handling cargo consolidation, export documentation, customs coordination and ocean transportation.

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LCL sea freight cargo consolidation of tattoo supplies from China to the UK

ORIGIN

Guangzhou, China

Destination

Felixstowe, UK

Method

LCL Sea Freight

CARGO

Cartridge Needles & Plastic Film

SHIPMENT OVERVIEW

Case Summary

This shipment involved two types of tattoo supplies imported from China to the UK: cartridge needles and plastic film for tattoo aftercare.

Because the shipment volume was 7.669 CBM, booking a full container was not cost-effective for the importer. Therefore, LCL sea freight was selected, allowing the customer to share container space while reducing unnecessary transportation costs.

Tonlexing arranged the shipment from Guangzhou Nansha Port, China to Felixstowe Port, UK, including cargo consolidation, export documentation and ocean freight coordination.

Why LCL Sea Freight?

With 7.669 CBM of cargo, LCL sea freight was more practical than booking a full container.

The shipment was consolidated with other cargo at the China warehouse before being transported by sea to the UK.

Proper consolidation helped control shipping costs while maintaining reliable delivery.

ItemDetails
ProductTattoo Cartridge Needles & Plastic Film
HS Code7319900000 / 3919909090
Shipping MethodLCL Sea Freight
Origin PortGuangzhou Nansha Port
Destination PortFelixstowe Port
Cartons181 cartons
Gross Weight1,418 KG
Volume7.669 CBM

CARGO HANDLING NOTE

Why Cargo Consolidation Mattered

With a shipment volume of 7.669 CBM, this tattoo supply shipment was not large enough for a full container. Therefore, LCL sea freight was selected to optimize container space and reduce shipping costs.

The shipment included 181 cartons of tattoo cartridge needles and plastic film. Careful cargo measurement, labeling and consolidation helped ensure smooth export handling and reliable transportation from Guangzhou Nansha Port to Felixstowe Port.

Weight Comparison

Gross Weight

1,418 KG

Cargo Volume

 7.669 CBM

Packaging

 181 Cartons

Handling

LCL Consolidation

Use Our CBM Calculator

CLIENT NEEDS

Client Requirement & Shipping Challenge

The buyer needed to import tattoo supplies from China to the UK with a cost-effective shipping solution. Since the shipment volume was only 7.669 CBM, booking a full container was not economical, making LCL sea freight the preferred option.

The main challenge was coordinating the shipment of 181 cartons of tattoo cartridge needles and plastic film through the LCL consolidation process while ensuring accurate cargo information, proper documentation and smooth customs clearance in the UK.

Accurate Cargo Information

  • Confirm product details and HS codes
  • Provide accurate carton quantity
  • Prepare complete shipping documents
  • Ensure consistent customs declaration information

LCL Handling and Stowage

  • Arrange warehouse consolidation
  • Coordinate ocean freight from Guangzhou to Felixstowe
  • Prepare documents for UK customs clearance
  • Reduce delays during import processing

CARGO HANDLING

Real Cargo Photos

The photos below show the actual tattoo supply shipment prepared for LCL sea freight from Guangzhou, China to Felixstowe, UK.

The 181 cartons of tattoo cartridge needles and plastic film were packed, labeled and arranged at the warehouse before LCL consolidation and export shipment.

PROCESS

LCL Shipping Process from China to the UK

The shipment moved through five coordinated stages, from cargo preparation and LCL consolidation in Guangzhou to ocean transportation, UK customs clearance and final delivery in Felixstowe.

Confirm Shipment Details and LCL Plan

Before shipment, the product information, carton quantity, weight and volume were confirmed.

For this shipment:

  • 181 cartons
  • 1,418 KG
  • 7.669 CBM

Based on the cargo volume, LCL sea freight was selected instead of a full container shipment.

STEP 01

Arrange Pickup and Warehouse Consolidation

The tattoo supplies were collected from the supplier and delivered to the LCL warehouse in Guangzhou.

The cartons were checked, measured and prepared for consolidation before export.

STEP 02

Complete Export Booking and Documentation

After confirming the shipping route, the shipment was booked for ocean freight from:

Guangzhou Nansha Port → Felixstowe Port

Export documents were prepared, including:

  • Commercial invoice
  • Packing list
  • HS code information
STEP 03

Ocean Transportation from China to the UK

The consolidated cargo was loaded for sea transportation to Felixstowe Port.

The shipment was monitored during transit to ensure smooth movement from China to the UK.

STEP 04

UK Customs Clearance and Final Delivery

After arrival at Felixstowe Port, the shipment completed import customs procedures.

The importer used the prepared shipment documents, including HS codes 7319900000 and 3919909090, for customs declaration before final delivery.

STEP 05

TRANSIT TIME

Transit Time & Service Notes

The LCL shipment from Guangzhou Nansha Port to Felixstowe Port took approximately 30–40 days in total.

The ocean transportation time was around 25–30 days, while the additional time included LCL consolidation, export handling, customs procedures and destination processing.

The complete shipping timeline included:

  • Supplier cargo pickup and warehouse receiving
  • LCL cargo consolidation
  • Export customs clearance
  • Ocean freight from Guangzhou to Felixstowe
  • UK import customs clearance
  • Final delivery arrangement

The actual transit time may vary depending on vessel schedules, port conditions and customs processing requirements.

Customs & Compliance

Customs Preparation for Tattoo Supplies

Before departure, Tonlexing reviewed the product descriptions, HS codes, packing details and shipment documents for this LCL shipment from Guangzhou, China to Felixstowe, UK.

The shipment included tattoo cartridge needles and plastic film, which required accurate product classification and complete customs documentation to support smooth UK import clearance.

181 Cartons
1,418 KG
7.669 CBM
Guangzhou → Felixstowe

SUPPLIED HS CODE

7319900000 & 3919909090

7319900000: Tattoo Cartridge Needles
3919909090: Plastic Film for Tattoo Aftercare
Final classification should be confirmed
by the importer or customs broker.

Tonlexing Actions Before Arrival

  • Verified invoice, packing list, and bill of lading details.
  • Checked separate declarations for both cargo types.
  • Sent the pre-alert documents to the Miami agent.
  • Coordinated arrival, deconsolidation, and clearance preparation.

Practical customs note: Accurate product descriptions are important when importing tattoo supplies into the UK. The commercial invoice and packing list should clearly show product names, HS codes, quantities, values and shipment details to help reduce customs delays.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

LCL shipments from China to the UK usually take around 30–40 days, including consolidation, ocean transportation and destination handling.

Felixstowe is one of the UK's main container ports and handles a large volume of international ocean freight shipments.

For smaller shipments below container capacity, LCL is usually more economical. For larger shipments, FCL can offer a lower cost per CBM.

Yes. UK importers generally need a valid EORI number for customs clearance.

Importing tattoo supplies into the UK requires accurate shipping and customs documents, including a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and correct HS code information.

For this shipment, the product details were declared using HS Code 7319900000 for cartridge needles and 3919909090 for plastic film to support smooth customs clearance.

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