Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Canada to China

In 2022, Canada exported over $27.9 billion worth of goods to China, a historic high after the slump in the two countries' trade in 2018.

If you’re looking to tap into the Chinese market for your commodities, you’ve come to the right place. Learn everything you need to know about ocean and air freight shipment from Canada to China.

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Canada to China?

To ship goods from Canada to China, you can select either ocean freight or air freight.

Ocean Freight From Canada to China

Ocean freight is a more economical shipping option to get goods from Canada to China. It’s the best choice for businesses needing to ship large and heavy cargo or large quantities. However, ocean freight has longer transit times.

In ocean freight, you can either ship via less than container load (LCL) or full container load (FCL).

In LCL shipping, your goods will be consolidated with other consignments belonging to other sellers. You share the container space with them, which leads to a cheaper shipping cost but a longer transit time.

In FCL, on the other hand, you lease the entire container for your shipment alone, which makes it ideal for goods that need to be transported in isolation. While this also means that the costs can rack up, transit times for FCL are much quicker than in LCL.

Air Freight from Canada to China

If you need your goods to arrive in Canada faster, you can go for air freight shipping. This mode of shipment is ideal for high-value, time-sensitive goods, not only because of the fast transit time but also because of the extra layer of security. Air freight, however, can be significantly more expensive than ocean freight.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Canada to China?

The cost to ship goods from Canada to China will differ based on the following factors:

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

To estimate your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. The table below also shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Canada to China:

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

The transit time for goods shipped from Canada to China is mainly determined by your selected international shipping method. However, other influencing factors include:

• The season of shipment (peak or low season)
• Whether the shipment route is direct or not
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Possible incidents at any port

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from Canada to China?

Ocean freight from Canada to China will take an average of 15-50 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from Canada to China?

Air freight can get your goods from Canada to China much faster, taking around 2-8 days.

For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.

Customs Clearance in Canada and Singapore

Before your goods can be imported to China, it needs to clear Chinese customs. For that to happen, you need to prepare and submit the following documents:

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

To help you familiarize yourself with these customs clearance documents, check out our full list.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Before you decide on which mode of shipment is right for you, you need to consider your unique needs and priorities. We help you with our pointers below.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the best choice for your shipment if you’re looking for an economical way to get cargo from Canada to China. But it’s less ideal if you need to get your goods to their destination quickly, as transit times for ocean freight can be lengthy. Regardless, ocean freight can accommodate larger and heavier shipments.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL freight shipping is best for cargo that is:

• Small/ few in quantity
• Not delicate or perishable

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

FCL freight shipping, on the other hand, might be ideal if your shipment is:

• Large, heavy, or overweight
• Delicate, fragile, and high-value
• Large quantities

Air Freight

Air freight is for shipments that need to arrive in China at a specified time. Although it’s more expensive, it allows you to enjoy greater security. However, air freight cannot accommodate large and heavy shipments as it has more stringent regulations as compared to ocean freight.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Canada

Port of Montreal

The Port of Montreal is located in the Saint Lawrence River seaway and serves the areas of Montreal and Quebec. It provides the shortest direct trade route between Europe, the Mediterranean, and North America.

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert has a massive global market reach and a large storage capacity of 200,000 tonnes. It is one of the most efficient ports, with modern facilities and effective means to avoid congestion.

Port of Halifax

The Port of Halifax is connected to 150 economies around the world. It is an efficient port that employs self-imposed deadlines to ensure the fast movement of cargo.

Cargo ports of arrival in China

Port of Shanghai

The Port of Shanghai is the biggest in the world. It is located in the Yangtze River, a strategic spot that enables it to accommodate over 2000 ships per month and handle 35 million TEUs.

Port of Shenzhen

The Port of Shenzhen is China's second most important port, following the Port of Shanghai. It is one of the busiest and fastest-growing ports in the world and provides a direct trade route between China and Hong Kong.

Port of Ningbo

The Port of Ningbo is one of the busiest ports in the world, handing over 20 million TEUs annually. It typically handles goods such as raw materials, finished products, and cargo from North America, Oceania, and South America.

Air Freight from Canada to China: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Canada

Toronto Pearson

The Toronto Pearson Internal Airport is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It serves the Toronto metropolitan area and its surrounding regions. The airport has a wide-scale cargo operation, handling 303,000 metric tons of cargo in 2020.

Vancouver International

The Vancouver Internal Airport is located in Richmond, British Columbia. It is the second-busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest, handling 232,600 metric tons of cargo in 2020.

Hamilton International

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport is located in Ontario, Canada. It specializes in the domestic and international distribution of air cargo. In 2020, it handled 121,800 metric tons of goods.

Airports of arrival in China

Shanghai Pudong Airport

The Shanghai Pudong Airport is one of two airports serving the Shanghai metropolitan area. It spans 40 square kilometers and has terminals for cargo operations. In 2021, it ranked first among Chinese airports in terms of cargo throughput, handling 4 million metric tons of cargo.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport serves the capital of the Guangdong province in China. It follows Shanghai Pudong Airport in terms of cargo throughput, handling 2 million metric tons of cargo in 2021.

Shenzhen Baoan International Airport

The Shenzhen Baoan International Airport is also in Guangdong Province, located east of the Pearl River. It also has a large cargo throughput, handling 1 million metric tons of cargo in 2021.