A US retailer buying from six factories in Vietnam and two in Cambodia rarely wants eight half-empty containers. Buyer's consolidation in a bonded warehouse brings all those lots into one place, checks them, and loads full containers to the US — often with one ocean bill of lading and one delivery appointment at the destination.
How it works
- Purchase orders and booking plan. The buyer or its DDP provider sets a target container and cut-off date for all suppliers.
- Inbound. Vietnamese suppliers deliver on export declarations; Cambodian suppliers truck in under customs seal via Moc Bai (details).
- Receiving and checks. Cartons are counted, measured and photographed; damages and shortages are reported per supplier.
- Waiting in bond. Early lots wait without Vietnamese duty or VAT while the remaining suppliers finish.
- Load planning. Heavy cartons at the bottom, by destination or by store, with a load plan the US warehouse can unload quickly.
- Release and shipment to Cai Mep or Cat Lai on the export declarations, then ISF, sailing and US clearance.
Bonded warehouse or CFS?
| Bonded warehouse | CFS (consolidation point) | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage time | Months — up to 12 + 12 now, 24 from 2027 | 90 days, one 90-day extension |
| Foreign goods (e.g. from Cambodia) | Yes, without import duty | Limited; built for LCL flows |
| Ownership transfer while stored | Yes | No |
| Best when | Suppliers finish weeks apart, mixed countries, stock held for release | Quick weekly LCL consolidation |
In practice we consolidate long-waiting lots at TBS Tan Van, LF Logistics or Sotrans Nhon Trach, and fast LCL lots at CFS Cat Lai — see the warehouses we use.
Paperwork for a consolidated container
- Per supplier: its own commercial invoice and packing list, with origin per line and shipping marks that identify the supplier and PO.
- Per container: a master packing list and load plan from the warehouse.
- ISF: each manufacturer listed, the warehouse as stuffing location and consolidator — see ISF guide.
- US entry: one entry can cover several invoices for the same importer of record; lines keep their own HTS code and origin.
What it saves
The gain comes from moving from LCL to FCL rates, fewer bills of lading and fewer US delivery appointments. For a buyer filling a 40' HC instead of shipping four LCL lots, freight per cubic metre usually falls sharply; handling and storage in Vietnam are the trade-off. Compare FCL and LCL before deciding.
Questions to ask the consolidator
- How are shortages and damages reported, and how fast?
- What is the free storage period and the daily rate after it?
- Who files export and re-export declarations for each supplier?
- Can the warehouse label cartons for Amazon or a 3PL — see FBA prep at origin?
- How is origin checked so one supplier's problem does not put the whole container at risk — see origin risk?