Imported Raw Material Logistics: Containers, Freight and Delivery Times

FCL (Full Container Load) means an entire container is filled with cargo belonging to a single buyer — preferred for large-volume orders and generally more advantageous in terms of unit cost. LCL (Less than Container Load) means cargo from different buyers is consolidated into the same container — suitable for smaller quantities, but generally takes longer due to the consolidation/deconsolidation steps.

Standard 20' or 40' containers are used in polyolefin pellet trade; the amount of pellet a 20' container can carry varies depending on the packaging type (bag/big-bag) and the pellet's density.

International sea freight can fluctuate noticeably over time depending on route, seasonality, fuel prices, container supply-demand balance and general global logistics conditions (such as port congestion or route restrictions). This fluctuation is a significant and variable component of the domestic delivered cost of imported raw material (see the 'Factors Affecting Price' article).

The total delivery time for an imported order roughly consists of: production/procurement time, pre-port inland transport and export customs clearance, sea transit time (varies by route), customs/surveillance processing at the arrival port (see the related article), and finally domestic logistics (transport from the port to the warehouse).

Since each of these steps carries a risk of delay, delivery time for imported supply is generally longer and more variable than for domestic supply (Petkim) — for this reason it is important to account for this difference in stock planning.

By working with both Petkim and imported equivalents, we recommend the most suitable supply source and timing for you based on current freight and delivery-time conditions — domestic supply can be more advantageous for urgent needs, while the imported option can be more advantageous for planned, large-volume purchases.