If you have less than a container's worth of cargo headed to West Africa, you do not need to pay for a full container. You need a forwarder who runs a real consolidation program - a weekly cutoff, a real CFS, real cargo insurance, and real customs work at the destination. We have run that program since 2007 and West Africa is its home market.
Consolidation at Icon
Weekly cutoffs. Real CFS. Real schedules.
Two consolidation programs
Ocean LCL groupage
We collect cargo at our US CFS hubs, build the master container, and sail weekly to West Africa. Transit 22-35 days port-to-port. Best for cargo over 500 lbs that is not time-critical.
Air consolidation
Bi-weekly air consols from JFK, IAD, and ATL to Lagos, Accra, Dakar, and Abidjan. Transit 4-8 days door to airport. Best for spare parts, samples, e-commerce, and high-value low-volume cargo.
What consolidates well
Personal effects & household goods
Diaspora moves - furniture, appliances, kitchenware, clothing, electronics for personal use. We pack and palletize at our CFS or accept your pre-packed cartons.
Barrel shipping
Standard 55-gallon plastic and steel barrels. Common diaspora-to-family freight pattern. Per-barrel pricing, weekly cutoff. See our [barrel shipping page](/barrel-shipping).
Vehicle spare parts
Engines, transmissions, body panels, tires, batteries (with proper documentation). Common pairing with a RoRo car shipment.
Commercial samples & retail goods
Importers building stock in country - clothing, cosmetics, electronics, food (subject to destination rules). FDA-restricted items handled separately.
Light machinery & tools
Generators, compressors, welders, agricultural hand tools. Typically palletized from the supplier and routed direct to our CFS.
Charity & church shipments
Mission goods, school supplies, medical equipment for registered NGOs. We help with the tax-exempt documentation at destination.
How an LCL shipment runs
Step 1 - Cargo arrives at our CFS
Drop off at our consolidation warehouse or we arrange pickup. Each piece is weighed, measured, photographed, and entered into your portal.
Step 2 - Master container builds against the cutoff
We have a published cutoff day per destination (e.g. Wednesday for Lagos, Friday for Tema). Cargo received before cutoff sails on that week's vessel.
Step 3 - AES filing and master BL
We file AES, issue the house BL to you, and consolidate under our NVOCC bond.
Step 4 - Ocean transit
Direct or transhipment via Algeciras / Las Palmas / Tangier to West Africa, depending on the lane.
Step 5 - Destination deconsolidation & clearance
Master container is broken at the destination CFS. Each consignee clears their own house BL, or we arrange clearance for them.
Pricing method
How LCL is quoted
LCL is billed on revenue weight — the greater of volume or chargeable weight. We quote both, the carrier picks the higher one.
Volume
CBM × lane per-CBM rate
Most consumer cargo prices this way.
Weight
Chargeable weight × per-kg rate
1 CBM = 1,000 kg basis. Dense cargo (machinery, vehicle parts, barrels) often prices this way.
We quote both methods and use the lower one for your reference; the carrier will bill the higher one. Transparency on this matters — ask if you're unsure which side will rule for your shipment.
Other cost components
- Origin handling
- AES filing
- Ocean freight
- Destination handling
- Deconsolidation
- Door delivery (optional)
- Customs clearance (optional)
- Cargo insurance (0.5–1.5% of value)
Air consolidation - when it makes sense
Time-critical samples
Spare parts that have a vessel waiting in Lagos. Medical samples. Auction-day documents. 4-8 day door-to-airport.
Small high-value
Electronics, jewelry, watches, pharma. Insurance is cheaper, theft risk is lower, transit is shorter.
Trade samples
Importers proving a market - get product on shelves before paying for an LCL container.
Air consolidation
Lanes we operate
From
- JFKNew York
- IADWashington Dulles
- ATLAtlanta
To
- LOSLagos — Murtala Muhammed Cargo
- ACCAccra — Kotoka
- DSSDakar — Diass / AIBD
- ABJAbidjan — Félix-Houphouët-Boigny
- Bi-weekly cutoffs
- IATA-bonded handling
- Full chain of custody
What does NOT consolidate
We cannot accept hazardous goods (without DG declaration), perishable food without cold chain, weapons or ammunition, drugs, ivory or wildlife products, counterfeits, or used mattresses (banned in several West African countries). We can usually accommodate lithium batteries, paint, aerosols, and chemicals - but only with proper IMO/IATA documentation booked in advance.
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum I can ship LCL?
1 CBM (about a small pallet, ~35 cubic feet). Below that, air or a courier-style express service is usually cheaper.
How long does LCL take to West Africa?
Door-to-door: typically 35-55 days. Port-to-port ocean transit is 22-35 days; the rest is consolidation lead time, deconsolidation, and clearance.
Can I send barrels?
Yes. Barrel shipping is one of our highest-volume diaspora services. See barrel shipping for per-barrel pricing and cutoff days.
Do you handle clearance at destination?
Yes - through our broker network in Lagos, Cotonou, Tema, Lomé, Dakar, Abidjan, Douala, Conakry, and Banjul. We can quote clearance as part of the booking or hand off to your own broker.
Can I ship a car and personal effects together?
Best practice: ship the car RoRo and the effects LCL, two separate bookings. Combining them in one container is possible but usually more expensive and slower.
Ship less than a container.
Tell us what you have, where it's coming from, and where it's going. We'll quote LCL and air side by side.