Shipping from Chinato CanadaShipping Times, Costs, and Delays

For shippers from China to Canada, the coronavirus has been profoundly disruptive, causing major delays to both manufacturing and shipping.

Production in China is back to normal, but COVID-19’s impact is creating a variety of other challenges including high demand for containers and delays at ports and warehouses.

Additionally, with new waves of the virus, restrictions on air travel can dramatically reduced air freight capacity, leaving space tight and prices volatile.

For the latest developments in international freight, visit the Freightos.com updates page. 

It’s also important remember that freight rates are seasonal, with regular fluctuations throughout the year. Check the following table to understand when peak seasons for shipping from China to Canada could affect your supply chain:

Often the most important freight factor when shipping from China is cost.

Shipping Small Packages from China

If you’re importing small goods, like a new product sample, freight shipping is overkill. It will cost you more and take you longer. You’re safer falling back on:

Regular Post

Mail might be an economical shipping option for shipping light and small products. For example, China Post offers several mail options: Air Mail/SAL or Surface Mail for small parcels; Air Parcel, SAL or Surface Mail for large packages; and the EMS/China International Express and EUB priority systems for packages.

Check each option and compare it with courier charges before choosing your mode. The heavier the parcel, the more likely it is that a courier will be cheaper. Mail is cheap, but with snail mail you’re also looking at a long wait time.

Express Shipping from China to Canada

Using an international courier is generally more reliable and quicker than by mail, whether it’s DHL, UPS or TNT.

As a rule of thumb, at about $5 per kilo, express freight is the cheapest shipping mode for packages or small shipments up to about 150 kg. But watch out because some couriers will charge an astronomical amount if you are not a registered customer.

Air freight costs and rates from China to Canada

Standard air freight is the cheapest option for shipments between about 150 kilos and 500 kg. Very light shipments for their size might be charged on dimensional weight, rather than actual weight.

Air freight by far the fastest for the price. Express air freight is a little more expensive.

Freight rates can vary widely between freight forwarders and prices change regularly, so make sure you shop around.

For larger shipments sizes and origin/destination pairs, LCL (less than container load) ocean freight costs might actually be cheaper than air freight costs – make sure you check it out!

Sea freight costs and rates from China to Canada

Once a shipment weighs more than around 500 kg, shipping by sea becomes the cheaper option. Ocean freight offers tremendous economies of scale (some ships can carry 20,000 twenty-foot containers) – but prices have risen steadily since summer 2020 making sea freight less economical than before the pandemic. Like air freight, ocean freight rates vary widely between forwarders and over time, so shop around before choosing your forwarder.

You can even start shopping around right now with our handy freight rate calculator. It will give you instant shipping estimates for both air and sea.

How can Air Freight be cheaper than Sea Freight?

Each shipping mode has its own combination of base and variable costs. Modes with a lower base cost are cheaper for smaller shipments while modes with lower variable weight costs are the cheaper options for larger shipments, even if they start out with a high base cost.

Rules of thumbs for lead times (in regular conditions) are 1-2 weeks for regular post, 3 days for air express freight, 8-10 days for air freight, and 30-40 days for ocean freight.

These estimates can be affected by a wide range of circumstances, especially in the current market, so it’s worth checking with your logistics provider. With things the way they are, expect that there may be delays.

Regular Post

Shipping from China by surface mail takes forever. China Post offers much quicker, cost-effective options in airmail and express mail service (EMS), which are both likely to take between one and two weeks.

Customs agencies will deprioritize release of parcels if something looks wrong with the paperwork. So, increase your chances of regular post only taking one week, by checking that the supplier gets the paperwork right before sending.

Express Shipping Options

When shipping from China by international courier, allow at least three days for picking up the parcel at the Chinese supplier’s door (unless the supplier has dropped it off at their depot). If it’s really urgent, there are more expensive premium services which may even be delivered overnight.

Air Freight

Standard air freight between China and Canada generally takes around 8-10 days. It’s not that planes are slower; it comes down to the fact that air freight processes are more complicated than for express freight.

Container Rates and Costs from China to Canada

At a minimum of 30-40 days for a door to door shipment from China to Canada, sea freight has the longest lead time. That’s because ships move a lot slower than planes.

Beyond additional preparation, ocean liners also move slower to save fuel (and money) whenever possible.

On top of that, port congestion, customs delays, and bad weather condition affect sea freight more than they do for air freight.

As important as cost and speed is when shipping from China, you should also be aware of some key details and differences between various modes.

Regular Post

Shipping small packages of samples might be cost-effective by regular post. Also, importers just getting started might consider this mode to mail directly from the factory to the customer – essentially drop shipping.

This process can be set up quickly and avoids having to make an early outlay for warehousing costs. But from a cost perspective, you’re going to want to rethink your strategy when sales volumes start to pick up.

Express Shipping from China to Canada

The two big US domestic couriers, FedEx and UPS, are also popular choices for China-Canada deliveries. Other major international couriers like DHL and TNT also deliver in Canada.

Like sending personal mail, the process is simple: just find the rates online – no need for a formal quote. And like the other mode options, most courier companies provide air express shipping options.

Importers planning on buying large quantities of stock and using sea or air freight should still arrange a trial shipment by courier before signing a big contract with a supplier. This tests the waters with product sales and helps estimate profitability: the cost of this shipment being an upper limit for ongoing freight costs.

Air Freight from China to Canada

The larger the shipment, the more complex the shipping process. It’s harder finding space in a plane’s hold than with regular courier services and shipments are delivered to a facility where they are consolidated (packed with other shipments) first.

You also have to keep in mind that there are limitations on what products you can ship.

International law, national law, carrier organization regulations and individual carrier regulations all play their part in defining and restricting what goods are considered dangerous for transport.

Generally, more products are restricted as air cargo than ocean cargo, including: gases (e.g. lamp bulbs), all things flammable (e.g. perfume, Samsung Galaxy Note 7), toxic or corrosive items (e.g. batteries), magnetic substances (e.g. speakers), oxidizers and biochemical products (e.g. chemical medicines), and public health risks (e.g. untanned hides).

For further information on shipping hazardous material, check out the Freightos.com Hazardous Material Table.

FCL and LCL Shipping from China to Canada

Ocean freight usually means full containers. But if you don’t have enough material to fill a full 20’ or 40’ container’s worth of shipment (FCL), it’s usually worthwhile to ship a less-than-container load (LCL).

With LCL, several shipments are consolidated and packed into one container. This means more work for the forwarder when consolidating various shipments into a container before the main transit, and de-consolidating the shipments at the other end.

It is more difficult to keep a trace of a shipment that is one of many in a container than it to keep tabs on a container with FCL. And of course, there’s extra paperwork involved and more risk of delay.

For larger LCL shipments, it often makes more sense to upgrade to a 20-foot container and go FCL. The tipping point is typically somewhere around 15 cubic meters. FCL has three big advantages over LCL:

1. FCL takes less time to deliver than an LCL shipment. For China-Canada, LCL typically takes an extra one or two weeks.
2. There is less chance of damage, misplacement, and loss with FCL.
3. FCL costs less. For an average shipment, the main transit cost is often double an FCL charge when broken down by per cubic meter.

When shipping from China, there’s a lot of factors involved in mastering your freight. Getting the right mode is a good start.

If you are looking at air freight or ocean freight, make sure that when you request freight quotes that you are selecting a forwarder with a good reputation as well as a good price.

Find a Freight Forwarder

Using a freight forwarder will steer you clear of the pitfalls and take over the organizing and troubleshoot where necessary. But there’s one step that is often made before bringing in a forwarder. Before agreeing to a deal with your supplier, be sure that you understand about selecting incoterms.

Freight Documents and Forms

Having a forwarder means that you don’t need to understand everything about freight. But help yourself by being prepared for the barrage of paperwork and arm yourself with knowledge about freight documents.

You should take a few extra minutes to make sure that all documentation is complete and accurate. Those few minutes are very much worth the effort. And have a freight charges reference at hand; don’t blindly accept every surcharge and fee.

Use Correct Packaging

If you are looking at ongoing shipments, discuss packaging options with your supplier. You might be able to seriously cut freight costs.

What are incoterms and how do they affect freight prices from China to Canada?

When you’re comparing freight quotes, note the level of service the freight forwarder is offering.

For example, if you’re shipping from Shanghai, China to Vancouver, Canada, you’re going to want to ask your supplier about the cost difference between shipping from the supplier’s warehouse in Shanghai– which means using the EXW incoterm– and shipping from the port of Shanghai(CNSHA) – which means using the FOB incoterm.

Prices for FOB are typically lower, but shipping FOB doesn’t mean your total costs will necessarily be lower. You might make up the cost by paying your supplier to bring your goods to port. When comparing prices, take all your costs into account.

Note that some incoterms, including FOB, are used for sea shipping only.

Learn all about incoterms here.

What customs duties and taxes will I owe when shipping from China to Canada?

When importing from China to Canada, you will need to pay Customs Duty and GST before your goods are released into the country. These costs can be significant. Researching your costs early can keep you from getting caught by surprise.

How  does the customs process work?

When goods arrive at port, customs officials will first check to make sure all your paperwork is in order, and then calculate the amount of duties owed and collect payment. After payment, goods will be released.

To handle customs clearance, you can hire your own broker, or use the brokerage provided by your freight forwarder. If you book on Freightos.com, you can use our brokerage services as well.

Do I need insurance to ship from China to Canada?

When calculating your shipping costs, don’t forget to protect yourself in case your goods are damaged or lost. You can do this through your freight forwarder or a third party insurance agent. Insurance costs are typically around 0.3% – 0.5% of your Commercial Invoice Value, which is the amount you paid for the goods.

The bottom line is: make sure that you get comprehensive cargo insurance – basic carrier coverage is minimal.

On Freightos.com you can add insurance to your booking so you can ship knowing that your goods are safe and your are protected from damage, loss, and other potential issues.

What paperwork do I need to ship from China to Canada?

When shipping freight from China to Canada, make sure to get all your paperwork, such as the Commercial Invoice and Bill of Lading, in order.

Use our paperwork checklist here to make sure all your paperwork is in order before you ship.

How do I ship from China to an Amazon FBA Warehouse in Canada?

As an Amazon shipper from China to Canada, you’ll need to consider issues of timing and storage, as well as choosing the right forwarder. Check out this guide to learn more.

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

It depends on which shipping mode you use. Shipping express can take as few as 1-4 days – but express is the most expensive mode, and is not suitable for large shipments. Air freight shipping will take about 6-13 days. Sea freight from China to Canada takes 29-33 days, but is the most affordable if you can wait.

How much does it cost to ship a container from China to Canada?

On average, it costs $2,445 to ship one 40’ container from China to Canada during peak season.

What’s the cheapest time of month to ship a container from China to Canada?

Carriers can introduce increases to shipping charges, called General Rate Increases (GRIs) at the start of each month. But, toward the middle of the month as they try to fill supply on vessels, they often lower these prices. That means booking during the latter two weeks of the month can often save you money.

• Book in advance. Shipping by sea is the cheapest, but also takes the longest. Booking in advance when you can saves you money– and cuts out the stress if delays arise.
• Ship off-peak. When carriers get busy, both shipping prices and transit times go up. Ship during off-peak seasons whenever you can.
• Get your documentation in order. Having your documentation in order can make all the difference when it comes to clearing customs quickly.
• Know your HS Codes. A lot of shippers are surprised by how much customs fees can affect business costs. Do your research so you can budget effectively.
• Compare quotes from different providers. Quotes can vary, so check out offers from different providers before making a decision.
• Understand what’s included in your quote. Is your quote port to port or door to door? What service does it include? Know what you’re paying for to avoid getting hit with surprise fees.