Sea freight moves the vast majority of world trade, and Rotterdam is Europe's gateway for it. This guide covers the essentials for importers and exporters, and Nexport Logistics arranges the whole move for you — booking, documents, Customs and delivery — managed in one place in the Nexportal platform.
FCL or LCL?
- FCL (Full Container Load) — you ship a full container (20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC). Best when you have enough volume; you pay for the box, not per cubic metre.
- LCL (Less than Container Load) — your cargo shares a container with other shippers' goods, consolidated and deconsolidated at warehouses. Priced on weight or measure (W/M, whichever is greater). Ideal for smaller, regular shipments — and it decouples your order size from a full container.
Choosing the right one is mostly a cost-per-unit question, and it changes as your volumes grow.
The documents that matter
- Bill of Lading (B/L) — the transport contract and title to the goods. The house B/L (HBL) is issued by the forwarder; the master B/L (MBL) by the carrier.
- Packing list & commercial invoice — drive the Customs declaration; these must match the manifest exactly. A mismatch in colli or weight is a red flag that delays clearance.
- Arrival Notice (AN) — tells the consignee the vessel is arriving, with charges and release conditions.
Costs beyond the ocean freight
The quoted sea freight is rarely the whole story. Watch for terminal handling, port charges, demurrage and detention (waiting time on the container/terminal), and the road leg with its own surcharges. Planning the pick-up and customs in advance is what keeps the landed cost predictable.
How Nexport Logistics ships it
Nexport Logistics is a freight forwarder under the FENEX conditions, with its own warehouse, customs declarants and transport. We book FCL and LCL worldwide, consolidate and deconsolidate in our own warehouse, handle the Customs (T1, EUR.1, A.TR, Article 23 VAT deferment) and deliver to the door. Because freight, customs and warehousing sit in one house, the paperwork is cross-checked before the box moves.
Quote, book and track every shipment in the Nexportal portal — one screen for the whole journey from factory to front door. Ready to ship? Email info@nexportlogistics.nl.
Related reading: Rotterdam terminal surcharges explained, and the customs guide.