Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Ecuador
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 Guayaquil. The rate starts at USD 13 per cubic foot to Guayaquil, and the carrier estimates 50–62 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Ecuadorians returning to live in the country can import used household goods (menaje de casa) free of duty once, with a SENAE application and proof of residence abroad; foreigners with a resident visa have similar rules. A local customs agent usually handles the clearance.
Commercial imports to Ecuador require the importer to be registered with SENAE in the Ecuapass system, with a RUC tax number and an electronic signature. Many consumer products also need an INEN conformity certificate before release, and Ecuadorian VAT (IVA) is 15 % since April 2024, charged on the customs value plus duty. Check the INEN requirement for your products before the cargo leaves Canada.
Commercial cargo rates to Ecuador
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guayaquil | USD 13 / cu ft 53 days · min. USD 752.42 | USD 13 / cu ft 50 days · min. USD 751.57 | USD 18 / cu ft 62 days · min. USD 929.33 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to Guayaquil
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 752.42
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 1,091.49
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 1,917.98
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 Ecuador.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Guayaquil
- From Toronto: USD 1,091.49, about 53 days
- From Montreal: USD 1,091.49, about 50 days
- From Vancouver: USD 1,409.37, about 62 days
Montreal is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to Guayaquil. 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 752.42 to Guayaquil, against USD 752.42 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 Ecuador 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 Ecuador. 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 Ecuador
The carrier's tariff lists no special conditions for Ecuador beyond the general rules on this page; the destination charges are confirmed for each booking.
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 Ecuador.
Shipping to Ecuador by service
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Ecuador?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to Guayaquil costs about USD 1,091.49 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Ecuador need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Ecuador 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.