Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Colombia
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 Cartagena. The rate starts at USD 8 per cubic foot to Cartagena, and the carrier estimates 30–42 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Freight to Colombia must be prepaid. Colombians returning after living abroad, and foreigners with a resident visa, can usually import used household goods (menaje doméstico) with tax benefits through a customs agent; new goods and electronics are taxed. Commercial importers need registration with DIAN.
Cartagena is a busy Caribbean hub and cargo moves on to the interior by truck, which can take several days to Bogotá or Medellín in the Andes. Colombian customs (DIAN) checks declared values carefully, so the commercial invoice should show realistic prices. Personal shipments of returning Colombians should include a copy of the passport showing time spent abroad.
Commercial imports into Colombia. Colombia classifies goods in the Andean Community nomenclature (NANDINA), and most imports pay customs duty plus VAT at the standard rate of 19%. The importer's customs agent files the declaration with DIAN, so send the commercial invoice with HS codes and realistic unit values, the packing list and the bill of lading before the vessel arrives in Cartagena. For household goods, a numbered inventory in Spanish describing each item as used, with brands and serial numbers for televisions and appliances, makes the menaje doméstico inspection simpler for returning residents.
Commercial cargo rates to Colombia
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartagena | USD 8 / cu ft 30 days · min. USD 547.56 | USD 8 / cu ft 35 days · min. USD 547.56 | USD 13 / cu ft 42 days · min. USD 724.16 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to Cartagena
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 547.56
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 773.61
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 1,282.22
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 Colombia.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Cartagena
- From Toronto: USD 773.61, about 30 days
- From Montreal: USD 773.61, about 35 days
- From Vancouver: USD 1,091.49, about 42 days
Toronto is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to Cartagena. Choose the warehouse you can reach; from other Canadian cities the calculator shows the lowest of the three.
Dense goods are charged by weight: 1 CBM of tiles or metal parts weighing 800 kg costs USD 547.56 to Cartagena, against USD 547.56 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 Colombia 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 Colombia. 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 Colombia
- Freight Prepaid Only
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 Colombia.
Shipping to Colombia by service
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Colombia?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to Cartagena costs about USD 773.61 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Colombia need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Colombia 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.