Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Uruguay
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 Montevideo. The rate starts at USD 4 per cubic foot to Montevideo, and the carrier estimates 65–75 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Uruguay uses the peso, but many prices in Montevideo are quoted in US dollars. Commercial importers need registration with the Uruguayan tax authority (DGI), and customs clearance is handled electronically.
Commercial importers in Uruguay need an RUT registration with the DGI and work through a despachante de aduana, who files the declaration electronically. Uruguay is a Mercosur member, so goods from Canada pay the Mercosur common external tariff, from 0 % to 20 % for most products, plus VAT (IVA) of 22 % on most goods and 10 % on some basic items; customs also collects advance payments of VAT and income tax on many imports. The commercial invoice should show the HS code, the value and the origin of each line, and Spanish descriptions speed up the declaration. Montevideo also serves Paraguay: cargo can continue under customs transit when the documents name the final consignee there.
Uruguay's free zones let companies store and re-export goods without paying import taxes, which suits distributors serving the region; goods released from a free zone into Uruguay are taxed at that point. Food, cosmetics and medical products need prior registration with the relevant ministry before a commercial shipment is cleared.
Commercial cargo rates to Uruguay
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montevideo | USD 5 / cu ft 75 days · min. USD 441.60 | USD 4 / cu ft 70 days · min. USD 406.28 | USD 8 / cu ft 65 days · min. USD 547.56 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Montreal to Montevideo
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 406.28
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 519.30
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 773.61
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 Uruguay.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to Montevideo
- From Toronto: USD 582.88, about 75 days
- From Montreal: USD 519.30, about 70 days
- From Vancouver: USD 773.61, about 65 days
Montreal is the least expensive gateway to Montevideo, Vancouver the fastest: 5 days quicker for USD 254.31 more. 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 406.28 to Montevideo, against USD 406.28 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 Uruguay 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 Uruguay. 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 Uruguay
The carrier's tariff lists no special conditions for Uruguay 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 Uruguay.
Shipping to Uruguay by service
A1 services from Canada: Ocean LCL shipping, personal effects, commercial cargo, air freight (on request).
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Uruguay?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Montreal to Montevideo costs about USD 519.30 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Uruguay need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Uruguay 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.