Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Sri Lanka
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 Colombo. The rate starts at USD 5 per cubic foot to Colombo, and the carrier estimates 48–55 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Freight must be prepaid, the HS code must appear on the bill of lading and no package may exceed 3,000 kg. Sri Lankans returning after living abroad can import used personal and household goods with baggage concessions.
Many Sri Lankan-Canadian families send household goods and gifts to Colombo. Sri Lanka Customs allows duty concessions for returning residents and dual citizens under specific conditions; the consignee should check them before you ship. Colombo port is close to the city, and cargo for Kandy, Galle or Jaffna continues by road.
English is widely used in Sri Lankan business, and invoices in English are accepted.
Toronto has one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside Sri Lanka, centred on Scarborough and Markham, and many families send household belongings and gifts before Thai Pongal, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April, or Christmas. Allow for the ocean passage to Colombo plus clearance, and book a few weeks earlier than you think. Pack clothes, linens and kitchenware in strong double-wall boxes, because shared-container cargo is unloaded and reloaded on the way, and describe the contents of each box in English on the packing list. Electrical goods, new items still in their packaging and large quantities of one kind of item may be treated as commercial and taxed, so ship them separately or ask the consignee to check with Sri Lanka Customs first.
The Sri Lankan importer clears commercial cargo with its taxpayer identification number (TIN) and pays customs duty, VAT and other levies on arrival, so agree in writing who pays the destination charges before booking. Because freight to Colombo must be prepaid, the Canadian shipper pays the ocean freight at booking. A clear commercial invoice with the HS code, the number of packages and the net and gross weight avoids delays, and food products or plants need the import permits of the relevant Sri Lankan authority, which the importer arranges before the cargo leaves Canada.
Commercial cargo rates to Sri Lanka
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo | USD 5 / cu ft 55 days · min. USD 441.60 | USD 5 / cu ft 50 days · min. USD 441.60 | USD 5 / cu ft 48 days · min. USD 441.60 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to Colombo
- 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 Sri Lanka.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Colombo
- From Toronto: USD 582.88, about 55 days
- From Montreal: USD 582.88, about 50 days
- From Vancouver: USD 582.88, about 48 days
Vancouver is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to Colombo. 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 441.60 to Colombo, 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 Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. 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 Sri Lanka
- Freight Prepaid Only
- Subject to ISPM 15 Packing Regulations
- Cargo Weight Not To Exceed 3000kgs/Pkg
- HS Code Required on 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 Sri Lanka.
Shipping to Sri Lanka by service
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Sri Lanka?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to Colombo costs about USD 582.88 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Sri Lanka need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Sri Lanka 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.