Indonesian IQF Vegetables LCL vs FCL: 2026 Cost Guide

A calculator-style, step-by-step guide to find your exact volume break-even where a 20ft reefer FCL becomes cheaper than LCL for Indonesian IQF vegetables in 2026. Includes pallet counts, carton math, and the fees that tip the decision.

We saved USD 10,247 on a single Surabaya to Rotterdam IQF shipment by switching from LCL to a 20ft reefer at the right volume. That is not a fluke. The break-even is predictable if you use the right assumptions and do the math in kg, pallets, and carton counts.

In this guide, we give you a simple calculator framework and a worked example. It is focused only on Indonesian IQF vegetables in 20ft reefers for 2026 planning. No supplier vetting. No air freight. No 40ft. Just the LCL versus 20ft FCL threshold.

The three pillars of the LCL vs 20ft FCL decision

Ocean rate structure and scope. LCL is priced per revenue ton. That is per cbm or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. IQF cartons are dense, so you are usually charged by weight. FCL is mostly fixed per box. Your per kg cost falls as you load more cargo.
Fixed fees and surcharges. Reefer plug-in and monitoring, pre-trip inspection, EDI, low sulfur or bunker factors, peak season add-ons, and CFS handling. These do not scale linearly with weight and they tip the break-even point more than most buyers expect.
Packing efficiency. Pallet height and floor-loading choices decide how many kg you can actually fit in a 20ft reefer without choking airflow. I have seen buyers miss break-even by 500 kg because their pallets were 2.28 m tall and got cut down at the gate.

Build your break-even calculator in 3 steps

Step 1. Capture the commercial scope.

Incoterm. Under FOB Indonesia, you as the buyer pay ocean freight and destination. Under CFR, the seller pays ocean and origin. The algebra is the same. Just make sure you compare like for like.
Route and transit. Indonesia to EU often has higher per kg LCL and longer transshipment exposure than Indonesia to US West Coast. That shifts break-even.
2026 surcharge assumptions. Use bands if you do not have live quotes. Then validate before booking.

Step 2. Lock your packing plan.

20ft reefer pallet capacity. Typical loads are 10 Euro pallets or 10 to 11 US pallets. Max recommended pallet height is 2.20 to 2.25 m including pallet to keep return-air clearance.
10 kg carton math. Most IQF cartons are 0.009 to 0.010 cbm each. A common pattern is 100 cartons per pallet for 1,000 kg at about 2.0 to 2.1 m. Or 90 cartons for 900 kg at 1.9 m. For example, our Frozen Mixed Vegetables and Premium Frozen Sweet Corn both stack cleanly to 90 to 100 cartons per pallet depending on your program.
Floor loading. If you can floor-load cartons safely, a 20ft reefer will take roughly 12 to 14 metric tons of IQF. Pallets are easier at destination but cap you closer to 8 to 11 tons.

Step 3. Do the math.

LCL total = F_lcl + R_lcl × Q. F_lcl is the fixed LCL fees. R_lcl is the variable per kg rate. Q is cargo kg.
FCL total per kg = F_fcl ÷ Q. F_fcl is the total FCL cost on the same scope.
Break-even Q happens when F_lcl + R_lcl × Q = F_fcl. So Q = (F_fcl − F_lcl) ÷ R_lcl.

Worked example: Surabaya to Rotterdam, 2026 planning assumptions

Use these as planning bands. Always check a live quote before finalizing.

LCL reefer. Variable R_lcl = 0.55 to 0.65 USD per kg. Fixed F_lcl = 350 to 450 USD. R_lcl typically includes ocean and the consolidator’s CFS handling. Expect separate plug-in and monitoring at the CFS of 15 to 25 USD per pallet. Some consolidators bundle this above 5 pallets.
20ft reefer FCL. F_fcl on a port-to-port scope, including ocean, origin THC, docs, pre-trip, reefer, and bunker, typically bands 5,400 to 6,200 USD. Destination THC is for the consignee and should be handled consistently in both scenarios if you want true landed comparisons.
Solve. Using midpoints R_lcl = 0.60, F_lcl = 400, F_fcl = 5,800. Break-even Q = (5,800 − 400) ÷ 0.60 = 9,000 kg.

What that means in practice. On pallets at 900 to 1,000 kg each, you break even around 9 to 10 pallets. If you floor-load and reach 12 to 13 tons, FCL wins comfortably.

What about Indonesia to USA in 2026?

These are planning bands. Routes and carriers vary.

To West Coast. R_lcl often 0.40 to 0.50 USD per kg. F_fcl often 4,600 to 5,400 USD. Break-even 10 to 12 tons.
To East Coast. R_lcl often 0.48 to 0.58 USD per kg. F_fcl often 5,800 to 6,600 USD. Break-even 9 to 11 tons. We see customers switch earlier if they value temperature control or want to avoid CFS delays. The math is close and the risk profile is different. More on that below.

How many pallets or cartons fit in a 20ft reefer?

Here is what works reliably for IQF vegetables.

Pallets. 10 Euro pallets. Or 10 to 11 US 40×48 in pallets, single-stacked. Plan 2 to 3 cm clearance from walls and ceiling.
Height. Keep total height at 2.20 to 2.25 m including the pallet. Do not block the T-floor or the top air channel.
Cartons. With 10 kg cartons, aim for 90 to 100 cartons per pallet. That gives you 900 to 1,000 kg per pallet. For products like Premium Frozen Okra or Frozen Paprika (Bell Peppers), we usually build to 90 cartons if the cuts are bulkier and need more airflow. For tighter packs like Premium Frozen Edamame, 100 cartons per pallet is common. Practical takeaway. If your forecast is 8 to 9 tons per sailing on pallets, you are right at the tipping point. Push to a clean 10-pallet plan and FCL usually wins.

Which fees tip the break-even most?

Plug-in and monitoring. In LCL, CFS plug-in and monitoring are charged per pallet or per day. In FCL, terminal plug-in is per box per day. Long gate queues or holidays make these swing. I have seen a 72-hour holiday closure add 120 USD to an LCL lot and 90 USD to an FCL box. That does change the break-even.
Destination handling. LCL has deconsolidation, CFS handling, and sometimes per pallet cold-room fees. FCL has THC and lift-on lift-off, but no deconsolidation. If your consignee pays destination, make sure both scenarios are on the same scope when you compare.
Reefer surcharges. Low sulfur, bunker, PSS, and reefer service fees move more on LCL lanes with low volume. Check validity windows. If you are shipping monthly, lock a named account if you can.

Do demurrage and detention change the picture?

They can. LCL avoids FCL detention on empty return and demurrage on the box. But it replaces that with CFS storage after free-time. If your customs broker pre-clears and your trucker has priority slots, FCL is safe. If your destination often delays two to three days, LCL’s per pallet storage is sometimes cheaper. We recommend modeling one extra day of FCL plug-in at origin and at destination, and two days of CFS storage for LCL. Then see which scenario still holds.

Is LCL riskier for temperature excursions than FCL?

Yes. In our experience, LCL reefers have more handoffs. Cargo moves through the consolidator’s cold room, then a shared reefer, then the destination CFS. Each handoff adds plug-in and monitoring dependencies. A dedicated 20ft reefer has fewer touches. If your IQF spec is tight on texture or color, FCL is the safer bet even if the cost is marginally higher.

Common mistakes we still see

Ignoring pallet height limits. A 2.30 m pallet that looks fine in the warehouse will hit the red line inside the reefer. You will cut layers on the floor. Your kg drop and your FCL per kg cost jumps.
Using volume-based LCL math for dense IQF. With 10 kg cartons you will be charged by weight, not cbm. Use per kg rates for LCL.
Mixing scopes. Comparing CFR FCL to EXW LCL is apples to oranges. Match origin and destination cost scopes before you decide.
Not counting plug-in days. Origin weekends, rollovers, or transshipment queues can erase a paper-thin LCL advantage.

Quick answers to the questions you are asking

At what size is a 20ft reefer cheaper than LCL for Indonesian IQF? Usually 8.5 to 11.5 tons depending on route, packing, and surcharge mix. Europe tends to break even slightly earlier than US West Coast when LCL per kg is higher.
How do I calculate per kg cost? LCL total equals fixed fees plus per kg rate times weight. FCL per kg equals total FCL cost divided by weight loaded. Set them equal and solve for weight.
Which fees tip the decision? Plug-in and monitoring, destination CFS handling for LCL, and THC plus extra plug-in days for FCL.
How many pallets or cartons fit? Plan 10 pallets in a 20ft reefer. 90 to 100 cartons of 10 kg per pallet. Keep height at or below 2.25 m including pallet.
US versus EU routes? EU often has higher LCL per kg and more transshipment exposure from Indonesia. That pulls the break-even lower in weight than US West Coast in many cases.
Demurrage and detention? LCL avoids box detention but adds CFS storage risk. FCL is fine if you control clearance and trucking. Model a day or two buffer.
Temperature risk in LCL? Higher due to more handoffs and shared reefer legs. FCL has fewer events and tighter control.

Need help applying these numbers to your exact route and product mix, like switching your Frozen Mixed Vegetables program from 8 pallets LCL to a clean 10-pallet FCL plan? Send us your lane, carton size, and forecast and we will run the calculator with current 2026 surcharges. You can Contact us on whatsapp and we will share a one-page model you can reuse.

If you also want to see which SKUs stack most efficiently, our export-grade frozen range is here. View our products.