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Meta description: Master ocean and air freight shipping from Canada to France. Discover cost-effective, secure shipping from Canada to France with ocean or air freight options.
France is one of Canada’s top fifteen trading partners and its fourth-largest European Union export market. In 2022, Canada exported $4 billion worth of goods to France. Both countries have strong commercial relationships thanks to the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
If you run a Canadian business wanting to export your products from Canada to France, you first need to know your shipping options.
To ship freight from Canada to France, you can choose between ocean freight and air freight.
Ocean freight transports your goods from Canada to France by sea. It is an economical mode of shipment that can accommodate any type, size, weight, and cargo volume.
Ocean freight provides two shipping options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).
In LCL, the goods will be consolidated with consignments belonging to other sellers and shipped together in one container. This makes the shipping option economical, with the cost of the container divided between the sellers depending on the size, volume, and weight of their cargo. Because of this consolidation process, however, LCL may have longer transit times.
FCL, on the other hand, is a more isolated shipping option. Your goods will be shipped in a solo container, allowing you to ship larger or heavier cargo than what LCL would allow. You can utilize the container to ship your goods without having to share the space with other consignments. This means that you shoulder the cost of the whole container, which can make FCL expensive.
Air freight is the fastest way to get your goods from Canada to France. It can get your goods to their destination in a matter of days while ensuring a secure shipment. This mode of shipping internationally, however, is also the most costly. Air freight also has strict guidelines about what you can ship and how big or heavy it can be.
The cost of shipping cargo from Canada to France will depend on various factors. These include:
TRADE LANE RATES
The transit time for your cargo will primarily depend on your chosen mode of shipment. Air freight will be faster than ocean freight in terms of getting your goods to France.
It takes around 2-6 weeks for your cargo to arrive from Canada to France if shipped via ocean freight. Take a look at the table below.
Air freight from Canada to France takes around 5-8 days. The table below shows more specific transit time estimates.
When your goods arrive in France, they must go through customs clearance. This process requires that you prepare and submit the following paperwork:
For examples of these documents, refer to our full documents list.
There are a lot of factors that you need to consider to determine if ocean freight or air freight is best for your shipment.
Ocean freight is ideal if you’re looking for the cheapest way to get your goods from Canada to France — as long as you’re also okay with longer transit times that can last several weeks. Through this shipping option, you also have more liberty to ship any type of goods you need, regardless of size, weight, and volume.
LCL shipping is best if your cargo is:
On the other hand, you may opt to go for FCL shipping if your cargo is:
Air freight is the fastest way to get your goods from Canada to France. So if time is of the essence, such as if your goods are perishable or high-value, this is the most suitable shipping option.
Air freight, however, has strict limitations when it comes to the type, size, weight, and volume of goods you can ship. But if your cargo meets the requirements, you can enjoy fast and secure shipping. Air freight is also the most expensive shipping option considering aircraft fuel costs and airport use.
The Port of Montreal is a highly-advanced Canadian port that uses AI technology to improve its operations. One of the most cutting-edge ports in the world, the Port of Montreal, handles over 40 million tonnes of cargo a year.
The Port of Prince Rupert is the third-largest port in Canada. It handles over 32 million tonnes of cargo annually, which continues to grow at a 9% uptick. The port handles the majority of the goods shipped from British Columbia.
The Port of Halifax is a data-driven port, which allows it to achieve more efficient operations. It has a truck wait time of less than 30 minutes, one of North America's lowest. The port is connected to 150 countries worldwide and welcomes 1,400 vessels per year.
The Autonomous Port of Paris is a State public institution that transports goods in Ile-de-France. It has port facilities that span 300 miles of navigable routes. This port was also France’s first inland container port.
Previously known as the Old Port of Marseille, The Port of Marseille is one of France's main ports and the largest in the country. It sees yearly traffic of 88 million tonnes of cargo and is ranked the 41st port in the world.
The Port of Lyon, also known as Édouard-Herriot, is in east-central France. It also serves Marseille and Paris City, handling over 12 million tonnes of goods annually.
The Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has a range of cargo facilities. It is a hub for airlines such as FedEx Express, which handles most of its yearly shipments of 303,000 tonnes of cargo.
The Montreal Trudeau International Airport is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. It is the only airport serving Montreal designated by Transport Canada. Every year, the airport handles approximately 81,400 tonnes of cargo.
The Vancouver International Airport is one of the main transport hubs in Canada, serving the areas of Vancouver and the lower mainland region. The airport boasts one of Canada's few US Border Pre-clearance facilities and handles 232,600 tonnes of cargo per year.
The Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport is also known as Roissy Airport or Paris CDG. It serves the capital city of France and is the country’s largest international airport. It handles around 2 million tonnes of cargo per year through operators like Air France Cargo and FedEx Express.
The Paris-Orly airport serves the city of Paris alongside the Charles de Gaulle airport. It is a secondary hub for domestic and international flights, housing airlines like Air France, easyJet Europe, TAP Portugal, Transavia France, and Vueling, which handles approximately 92,000 tonnes of cargo per year.
The Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is located in Blagnac, France. It flies to over 74 destinations worldwide and has facilities for passenger and cargo traffic. It handles approximately 72,000 tonnes of freight per year.
About Us
Shipping cargo takes into account many variables, like the season, the size of your cargo, the shipping method, and, of course, the origin and destination.
With years of expertise in the industry, iContainers can offer traditional freight forwarding services enhanced by modern technology for the convenience of their customers. Our digital platform allows you to control your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking your shipment to tracking your cargo and more—from your mobile device.
Feel free to contact us for a free quote anytime. We are always available to provide you with the information you need when you need it.