Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Egypt
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 Alexandria and Cairo. The rate starts at USD 5 per cubic foot to Alexandria, and the carrier estimates 45–67 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
ACID is mandatory. Egypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACID) system requires the importer to register the shipment before it leaves Canada, and the tariff adds an ACID filing fee per bill of lading. Egyptian labelling and packing rules apply, a commercial invoice is required, and personal effects are accepted on carrier approval.
Egyptian importers should complete the ACID registration with the foreign exporter's details at least a few days before the vessel sails; shipments without an ACID number cannot be loaded. Cairo cargo clears at Alexandria, so the consignee or broker must be present there, then trucks the goods to Cairo, about 220 km away. Arabic translations of the commercial invoice speed up clearance.
Commercial cargo rates to Egypt
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | USD 5 / cu ft 67 days · min. USD 441.60 | USD 5 / cu ft 67 days · min. USD 441.60 | on request |
| Cairo | USD 6 / cu ft 48 days · min. USD 476.92 | USD 5 / cu ft 45 days · min. USD 441.60 | USD 8 / cu ft 57 days · min. USD 547.56 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to Alexandria
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 441.60
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 582.88
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 900.76
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 Egypt.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Alexandria
- From Toronto: USD 582.88, about 67 days
- From Montreal: USD 582.88, about 67 days
Toronto is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to Alexandria. Choose the warehouse you can reach; from other Canadian cities the calculator shows the lowest of the three.
One pallet to different cities in Egypt
- Alexandria: USD 582.88 from Toronto, about 67 days
- Cairo: USD 582.88 from Montreal, about 45 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 441.60 to Alexandria, against USD 441.60 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 Egypt 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 Egypt. 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 Egypt
- Custom Clearance At Port of Entry. Commercial Invoice Required
- Egyptian Labeling/Packing Regulations Apply
- Personal Effects / Household Goods On Approval
- Subject to ISPM 15 Packing Regulations
- Cario Cargo Customs Clearance at Alexandria
- SUBJECT TO ACID FILLING FEE: USD 75 / BL
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 Egypt.
Shipping to Egypt by service
By city: Alexandria, Cairo.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Egypt?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to Alexandria costs about USD 582.88 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Egypt need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Egypt 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.