Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Finland
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 Helsinki and Turku. The rate starts at USD 6 per cubic foot to Helsinki, and the carrier estimates 23–50 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Finland applies EU rules: household goods of people moving from outside the EU are free of duty and VAT after twelve months abroad. Finnish Customs (Tulli) asks for the inventory and proof of your move. A commercial invoice is required and personal effects are accepted on carrier approval.
To bring household goods to Finland duty-free, register your Finnish address with the local register office (DVV) and fill in Tulli's relief application for removal goods; the items must have been in your use for at least six months. Cars and boats are declared separately from the boxes.
Commercial importers in Finland need an EORI number from Tulli and file the import declaration electronically. The standard Finnish VAT rate is 25.5 % (since September 2024), and VAT-registered businesses report import VAT in their own VAT return rather than paying it at the border.
Commercial cargo rates to Finland
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki | USD 6 / cu ft 23 days · min. USD 647.82 | USD 6 / cu ft 23 days · min. USD 653.52 | USD 9 / cu ft 50 days · min. USD 763.49 |
| Turku | USD 7 / cu ft 23 days · min. USD 597.01 | USD 7 / cu ft 23 days · min. USD 599.50 | USD 10 / cu ft 33 days · min. USD 706.50 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to Helsinki
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 647.82
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 647.82
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 1,027.91
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 Finland.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Helsinki
- From Toronto: USD 647.82, about 23 days
- From Montreal: USD 653.52, about 23 days
- From Vancouver: USD 837.18, about 50 days
Toronto is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to Helsinki. Choose the warehouse you can reach; from other Canadian cities the calculator shows the lowest of the three.
One pallet to different cities in Finland
- Helsinki: USD 647.82 from Toronto, about 23 days
- Turku: USD 710.03 from Toronto, about 23 days
The difference between the least and the most expensive of these is USD 62.21.
Dense goods are charged by weight: 1 CBM of tiles or metal parts weighing 800 kg costs USD 647.82 to Helsinki, against USD 647.82 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 Finland 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 Finland. 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 Finland
- 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 Finland.
Shipping to Finland by service
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Finland?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to Helsinki costs about USD 647.82 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Finland need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Finland 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.