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Canada and India are formulating a trade agreement to improve the services, mechanisms, and investments involved in their trade relations. This stems from a large import and export market between the two countries.
If you are a Canadian business looking to tap into the Indian market, read on to learn everything you need about ocean and air freight shipping from Canada to India.
To ship freight from Canada to India, you can either engage ocean freight or air freight services.
Ocean freight is the most economical shipping option to get goods from Canada to India. The only drawback is its long transit times, which makes it only suitable for goods that aren’t expected in India at a specified time.
Ocean freight provides two shipping options: less than container load and full container load.
The former, LCL, is when your goods are consolidated with other consignments and shipped together in a single container. This leads to greater cost-efficiency but also longer transit times to give way for consolidation and deconsolidation.
FCL, on the other hand, is faster but more expensive. This is because, in this mode of shipping, you pay for the space in an entire container for the sole shipping of your goods. You can ship as large or heavy as you need since you won’t share the container with other shippers.
Air freight is a great shipping option, especially if you need to transport goods quickly. While more expensive than ocean freight, it can get your goods to India within a few days. Thus, air freight is a solid choice for time-sensitive and valuable shipments.
The cost to ship goods from Canada to India would depend on a variety of factors that include:
To calculate your shipping costs, try our online freight costs calculator. The table below displays the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Canada to India:
TRADE LANE RATES
The transit time for goods shipped from Canada to India is mainly determined by your selected international shipping method. However, other influencing factors include:
It typically takes an average of 15 to 50 days to ship cargo by sea from Canada to India.
Air freight shipping from Canada to India only takes 2 to 8 days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
Before your goods can be successfully imported into India, they must go through customs clearance. As long as you prepare the necessary paperwork correctly and completely, however, this process should be a breeze. Below are the documents you need to satisfy for customs:
Learn more about the required customs documents in our full documents list.
The choice between ocean freight and air freight is not something to take lightly. Ultimately, the right mode of shipping for you would depend on your needs and preferences.
Ocean freight is an ideal choice if you’re shipping large, oversized, or overweight cargo. Some containers can accommodate goods no matter how large or heavy they are. The only drawback is the transit time, so if you’re shipping in a rush, it’s best to avoid ocean freight altogether.
LCL shipping is right for cargo that is:
FCL shipping, on the other hand, is better for cargo that is:
Air freight should be your choice of shipping if you need your goods to arrive in India fast, as most shipments can be completed in 2-8 days. Air freight is also more secure considering airport regulations, but that also means strict limits on how large or heavy your cargo can be accommodated. Air freight’s benefits also come at a much higher cost.
The Port of Halifax is a highly efficient Canadian port, serving over 150 economies around the world. It sits at a strategic location, making it a prime gateway for goods going to and coming from North America.
The Port of Saint John is the largest in East Canada. It handles the region’s liquid cargo, dry cargo, bulk, and breakbulk shipments, with connections to 500 ports around the world.
The Port of Prince Rupert is the prime location for the export of Canada’s natural resources. It handles lumber, coal, and other materials, considering its links to Canada’s forests, fields, and mines.
Also called the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the Nhava Sheva Port is among the busiest in India. It handles 5.05 million TEUs a year and is responsible for 56% of the country’s container traffic.
The Port of Mudra is the second-busiest port in India, handling 4.4 million TEUs annually. It’s ranked #32 of the Word’s Top 50 seaports. The port has four container terminals with a combined capacity of 7.5 million TEUs.
The Port of Chennai handles 1.5 million TEUs a year, making it the third-busiest in India. It’s also the country's oldest port, opening in 1881. The port is the location of India’s first container terminal.
Canada and India have several airports that facilitate trade between the two countries. These are:
The Vancouver International Airport is located in Richmond, British Columbia. It is one of the best airports in Canada, thanks to its cutting-edge facilities. The port focuses on sustainability, adopting a solar-powered heating system and a living wall filled with plants.
The Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport. Its modern and clean facilities make it attractive for passenger and cargo transit.
The Halifax Stanfield International Airport serves the regions of Halifax and Nova Scotia, located 36 kilometers away from downtown Canada. It’s an award-winning airport with sought-after facilities.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport serves the capital city of India, Delhi. It spans 5,106 acres and is the busiest airport in India regarding cargo traffic. It caters to cargo operators such as Cathay Pacific Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo, and SF Airlines.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport serves the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in India. It’s the country's second-busiest airport in terms of cargo traffic, handling about 950b aircraft movements per day.
The Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, is 4,000 acres large and serves to decrease congestion in the HAL Airport. It is the third-busiest airport in the country in terms of total cargo handled.
About Us
Shipping cargo requires considering various factors, such as the season, the size of the cargo, the shipping method, and the origin and destination.
With years of industry expertise, iContainers combines traditional freight forwarding services with advanced technology for your convenience. Our digital platform allows you to oversee your entire shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Feel free to contact us for a free quote at any time. We are always available to provide the information you need.