joint shipment meaning

joint shipment meaning refers to the logistics process where multiple orders or items—either from one supplier or several—are consolidated into a single shipment to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This is commonly used in international trade, especially when importing goods from China, as it allows smaller shipments to be grouped into one container or air freight load. Joint shipments benefit buyers by lowering per-unit shipping costs and streamlining customs clearance. However, it may extend delivery time slightly due to coordination efforts. This method is widely used by freight forwarders and sourcing agents, particularly when buyers place orders from multiple vendors within a short time frame.