Sea Freight From China to Canada (Definitive Guide 2022)

In 2019, China exported $44.5 million worth of goods to Canada. Electrical equipment, boilers, furniture and clothing are the most common exports. Your business may have imported these or other goods from China into Canada. Or you might be planning to trade between the two countries for the first time. Whatever your reason for your interest in shipping from China to Canada, you're on the right page.

In This Sea Freight From China to Canada Guide is divided into 9 parts：

· How long does it take to ship goods from China to Canada?

· How long does it take to ship from China to Canada?

· Ocean Cargo Port Guide

· Shipping Companies from China to Canada

· China and Canada Customs Clearance

· How much does it cost to ship goods from China to Canada?

· Ocean Freight From China to Canada

· Should you choose sea or air?

· Door to Door Shipping from China to Canada

· What STU Supply Chain Can Do for You?

How long does it take to ship goods from China to Canada?

China and Canada are vast countries separated by the Pacific Ocean. The time it takes to ship between the two countries depends on your preferred shipping method and the port or airport you choose. It takes 12,477 kilometers to travel from Guangzhou in southern China to Toronto in eastern Canada. However, the distance between Dalian in eastern China and Vancouver in western Canada is 8,334 kilometers, about 4,000 kilometers less.

This difference in distance will be reflected in transit times, especially by sea. You should allow 17 to 37 days for the ocean carrier to ship your shipment from China to Canada. Shipping by air may take 1 to 9 days.

How long does it take to ship from China to Canada?

We've listed a few examples of shipping times between China and Canada below:

Chiwan to Montreal - 29 days FCL

Dalian to Montreal - 33 days LCL

Ningbo to Toronto - 23 days FCL

Qingdao to Montreal or Toronto - 36 days FCL

Shanghai to Montreal - 29 days FCL

Shanghai to Toronto - 29 days FCL, 33 days LCL

Shanghai to Vancouver - 17 days FCL

Tianjin to Montreal - 36 days FCL

Xiamen to Montreal - 27 days FCL

Zhongshan to Toronto - 36 days FCL

Zhongshan to Vancouver - 27 days LCL

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Main Seaports in China

Before everything, you have to know that China has 2000 ports that 130 of them are open to international ships.

The major ports, available for sea freight include:

Dalian - Beihai - Lianyungang - Shanghai - Dandong - Fuzhou - Guangzhou - Haikou - Hankou - Huangpu - Jiujiang - Nanjing - Nantong - Shenzhen - Ningbo - Qingdao - Weihai - Qinhuangdao - Rizhao - Sana - Yangzhou - Shantou - Tianjin - Venuzhou - Xiamen - Yantai and Zhejiang

Main Seaports in Canada

There are 4 main seaports in Canada, such as:

Port Metro Vancouver:

The port of Metro Vancouver is the largest port in Canada regarding cargo throughput.

It lies on the southwestern shores of Canada stretching out from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet.

The port, for the most part, handles the most significant amount of cargo entering Canada from different parts of the world.

Actually, the port of Vancouver handles over half of Canada’s ocean imports,

Also, with the continuing development of the port, we hope to see more cargo tonnages being taken care of by this port.

Note that the metro Vancouver port houses the country’s largest container terminals.

These have boosted its annual cargo handling capacity to about 142 million TEUs as per the year 2017.

Port of Halifax:

On the eastern parts of Canada, there is the port of Halifax which although may not equal Vancouver; it is big in its own right.

The world’s top shipping lines call on this port connecting it to over 150 countries.

So whatever you are shipping be it electrical machinery and equipment, or toys, Halifax is your competitive solution.

Plus, the launch of the Suez Canal routes, shipping to Canada from China has become very fast and easy.

Port of Montreal:

If your focus is on ensuring the safety of your goods from the moment, it departs China to when it arrives in Canada, well this is the port for you.

Montreal is the one of the safest port in the world.

It has 24-hour surveillance with security checks for every person getting in and out of the port.

The port also has 24 hours security guards and fire inspectors that ensure goods and visitors are at all times safe at the port.

Port of Prince Rupert:

Prince Rupert is a port in Canada lying on the northern shores.

It is the perfect destination port if you want to ship via the shortest route from China.

Among all of Canada’s ports, Rupert is the fastest growing.

It was only opened in 2007 as a ship to rail transfer port but has since grown into one of largest ports in the country.

Shipping Companies from China to Canada

Now, the above are the ports that you use to receive items from China.

Note that each port has its advantages and disadvantages.

You need to choose the right one for your shipping needs.

To ensure smooth sailing, you should also choose the right carrier to ship your cargo.

The following are my recommendations for the top shipping companies operating routes from China to Canada.

· COSCO: China ocean shipping company is one of the largest and most popular shipping container companies in the world.

· APL: America president lines is a well-known shipping company offering scheduled shipping services from Asia to most parts of America.

· Hapag Lloyd: this is a German company that will offer you competitive shipping rates from China to any destination in Canada.

· Maersk Line: the largest container shipping company in the world is a popular name on the waters running from China to Canada.

Choosing this carrier will not only give you competitive shipping rates but also reliable, safe and fast shipping.

Other companies include; OOCL, MSC, among others.

China and Canada Customs Clearance

Whether you choose to ship your cargo by air or sea, there is one constant for all international shipments - your cargo needs to be cleared through customs. The rules and regulations can be confusing for both novice and experienced shippers. For this reason, many companies choose to hire the services of a freight forwarder to deal with the complexity. A freight forwarder will help minimize the chance of delays affecting your shipment and ensure your shipment complies with Chinese and Canadian shipping laws.

Even with the assistance of a freight forwarder, your business will need to provide important information needed to complete shipping documents. These documents include:

- Commercial Invoice

- Packing List

- Certificate of Origin

- Letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)

- Air waybill or ocean bill of lading (STU Supply Chain can organize these for you)

Customs officers usually require all of the above documents and sometimes permits, certificates and licenses. Your freight forwarder will advise you of the required documents. If you would like to see a sample of the documents listed above, please visit our document listing page.

How much does it cost to ship goods from China to Canada?

The short answer is that it depends. Freight forwarders must consider a number of factors when calculating shipping costs. These include:

· The nature of the goods being transported

· Whether an ocean or air carrier is delivering the goods

· What is the weight of the consignment

· The volume and dimensions of the cargo

· Choice of delivery method - door to door, port to door, door to port or port to port

If you are not sure whether to ship by air or sea, the weight of the shipment may influence your decision. Freight shipments weighing 100kg or more by air are generally as economical as sea freight and faster than air freight.

On the other hand, goods weighing more than 100 kg are expensive to transport as air freight. Ocean freight from China to Canada is generally less expensive but slower.

If your shipment weighs 35kg or less, you should contact an international courier company for a quote. Freight forwarders will generally not handle shipments below this weight.

Ocean Freight From China to Canada

When you choose ocean freight shipping as your means of import from China to Canada, you’ll need to decide between two modes of transportation: LCL and FCL.

Less than Container Load (LCL): With LCL ocean shipping, your cargo shares a container with freight being shipped by other businesses importing from China to Canada. LCL is usually best if you have smaller consignments to transport—goods amounting to less than the 33 cubic meter capacity of a standard 20ft shipping container, for example.

Full Container Load (FCL): With FCL shipping you pay for transportation of a shipping container from China to Canada loaded only with your goods. There’s no need for your freight to share space with other commodities. FCL often works out as the most cost-effective option for freight of sufficient volume to occupy a minimum of six standard-size pallets in a 20ft container or at least 12 in a 40ft container.

Should you choose sea or air?

Sea Freight

Shipping a container from China to Canada is a long process. All cargo must cross the Pacific Ocean. In order to reach any port in eastern Canada, ships from China also need to pass through the Panama Canal and a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, if you are looking for fast delivery, sea freight may not be the ideal solution. It takes 17 to 37 days to ship a container from China to Canada.

Ocean freight offers an economical way to transport goods if the Canadian consignee is willing to wait. Your shipment will most likely be packed in a 20-foot container. Other types of containers are available. If your shipment requires larger, longer, taller or specialized containers, your freight forwarder will make recommendations.

Importing from China to Canada by sea also requires you to choose between LCL and FCL shipping. Here are more details about both:

Precautions for LCL freight

· If your consignment, it is recommended to choose LCL shipping:

· Occupies no more than six standard trays

· Not urgently needed in Canada

· Suitable for transporting in the same container as other cargo

· Can withstand more frequent handling than other shipping methods

You should consider alternatives to LCL shipping if:

· Your shipping is required in Canada by a certain date

· Your cargo is fragile and can be damaged if handled too often

· Your cargo is perishable and needs to get to Canada ASAP

· Your consignment is large, irregularly shaped or generally not suitable for shipping in shared containers

Precautions for FCL Shipping

FCL shipping can meet your supply chain needs if:

· Your shipment must arrive in Canada by the specified date

· Your cargo is not suitable for transport in a shared container

· Your supplier in China can pack and seal, and your consignee in Canada can unload

· Your cargo is large enough to fill at least half the capacity of a 20-foot container

Air Transport

If sea freight cannot meet your business needs, air freight is another option for you. Many businesses find it the best solution when:

· Speed of delivery is more important than cost reduction

· Small shipments, no more than two or three pallets

· Delivery deadlines are tight

· Goods are perishable and need to get to Canada ASAP

· Cargo can be safely loaded onto the plane

· Cargo is valuable and requires a high level of security, such as that provided by airlines and airport operators

Door to Door Shipping from China to Canada

The door to door shipping is an excellent alternative if you are a busy person or just don’t want to be involved in the shipping process.

With this, you need to identify a reliable supplier in China and order the goods.

After this, you’ll find a freight forwarder who will handle their delivery from China to your final destination in Canada.

The forwarder, in this case, will pick the goods from the supplier and ship them to you.

He/she will handle everything including local transportation, customs clearance, loading and offloading of the cargo.

As you can see, each of these modes of shipping is preferable for different types of cargo, product nature and shipping distance.

So choose wisely.

What STU Supply Chain Can Do for You?

STU Supply Chain is an experienced, reputable Chinese freight company specialized in shipping goods from China to Canada.

We have an excellent reputation for sea shipping, and good customs reputation, and we are known for offering competitive pricing and timely delivery to capture the market in the freight forwarding industry.

At STU Supply Chain, we believe that the customer's gain is our gain. Establishing long-term relationships is the key to our success. Our principle of work is to place the customer first, together with our main values of integrity, honesty, and taking responsibility. Learning and growing have led us to be particularly successful both in shipping from China to Canada and in the international transport sector as a whole.

Our experts are ready to start your worry-free shipping journey, click here for more information, quotes, and offers.