Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Belgium
Samples, spare parts, stock for a small shop or goods for a customer abroad do not need a whole container. A1 ships commercial cargo in shared ocean containers (LCL) from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to Antwerp and Brussels. The rate starts at USD 3 per cubic foot to Antwerp, and the carrier estimates 16–35 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Moving to Belgium. Household goods enter free of duty and VAT under the EU transfer-of-residence relief (twelve months outside the EU, goods owned for six months). Belgian customs asks for the inventory and proof of registration with your new commune. Commercial cargo needs an EORI number.
Boxes for a student year or a posting in Leuven, Ghent or Liège can travel as personal effects too: keep the packing list detailed and tell the clearing agent in Antwerp whether you claim the transfer-of-residence relief or will pay duty on the goods.
Belgian importers usually appoint a customs representative in Antwerp who lodges the import declaration and pays duty and import VAT (21 % standard rate) on their behalf; a VAT-registered importer can often account for the import VAT in its VAT return. The commercial invoice should show the Belgian importer's EORI and VAT numbers, the HS code and the origin of the goods. Goods of Canadian origin can enter at reduced or zero duty under CETA when the invoice carries a valid statement on origin, and pallets and crates must be ISPM 15 treated.
Commercial cargo rates to Belgium
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antwerp | USD 3 / cu ft 16 days · min. USD 370.96 | USD 3 / cu ft 16 days · min. USD 370.96 | USD 5 / cu ft 35 days · min. USD 441.60 |
| Brussels | USD 3 / cu ft 18 days · min. USD 370.96 | USD 3 / cu ft 18 days · min. USD 370.96 | USD 5 / cu ft 28 days · min. USD 441.60 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to Antwerp
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 370.96
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 455.73
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 646.46
The totals include the A1 processing fee, surcharges and solar fee. The carrier charges by volume or by weight (1,000 kg per CBM), whichever is greater. Destination charges are confirmed by the carrier before you pay; customs duties and taxes are paid by the importer in Belgium.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Antwerp
- From Toronto: USD 455.73, about 16 days
- From Montreal: USD 455.73, about 16 days
- From Vancouver: USD 582.88, about 35 days
Toronto is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to Antwerp. Choose the warehouse you can reach; from other Canadian cities the calculator shows the lowest of the three.
One pallet to different cities in Belgium
- Antwerp: USD 455.73 from Toronto, about 16 days
- Brussels: USD 455.73 from Toronto, about 18 days
The difference between the least and the most expensive of these is USD 0.00.
Dense goods are charged by weight: 1 CBM of tiles or metal parts weighing 800 kg costs USD 370.96 to Antwerp, against USD 370.96 for 1 CBM at 200 kg.
Documents for commercial cargo
- Commercial invoice. Our commercial invoice (PDF): seller and buyer, a clear description of each item, quantity, unit value, total value, currency and country of origin. HS codes help customs in Belgium classify the goods.
- Packing list. The packing list (PDF) gives the pieces, packed dimensions and gross weight of every pallet, crate or carton, matching the invoice.
- Customs value. The customs value of the shipment may not exceed CAD 2,000.
The importer's details that the carrier conditions below ask for (tax or registration numbers) go on the invoice and the booking. More help: commercial shipping documents.
Pallets and crates
Commercial cargo travels palletized or crated. Wood packaging must be ISPM 15 heat-treated and stamped, or the cargo can be refused at the destination. Stack the cartons squarely on the pallet, no wider than the pallet itself, and stretch-wrap and strap them; label every piece with the consignee's name and city in Belgium. You deliver the cargo, already palletized or crated, to our receiving warehouse in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver: A1 does not offer pickup and does not palletize. The warehouse measures and weighs the cargo, and the final price follows those measurements.
Carrier conditions for Belgium
- Commercial Invoice Required
- Personal Effects / Household Goods On Approval
- Subject to ISPM 15 Packing Regulations
How to book
Calculate the price in the calculator above with the cargo type "Commercial cargo", accept the quote and upload the commercial invoice and packing list on your booking page. After the carrier confirms the destination charges, you pay and receive the labels and the warehouse delivery instructions. Sending your own belongings rather than goods? See personal effects shipping to Belgium.
Shipping to Belgium by service
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Belgium?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to Antwerp costs about USD 455.73 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Belgium need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Belgium require. The customs value of the shipment may not exceed CAD 2,000.
Does A1 pick up or palletize the cargo?
No. You deliver the cargo, already palletized or crated, to our receiving warehouse in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.
Rates valid through December 25, 2026; totals include A1 fees of USD 265.00. Destination charges are confirmed by the carrier, duties and taxes are paid by the consignee, and transit days are the carrier's estimate.