You're likely looking to move goods from manufacturing hubs in China to the Canadian market. You might be asking: How long does it take? How much does it cost?
Shipping from China to Canada by sea is the most cost-effective way to import goods, but it involves many moving parts. Let's break down how it works, how we protect your business, and what you can expect when you ship with us.
Our Services
We offer comprehensive sea shipping services tailored to your needs, whether you have a small shipment or a full container of goods.
Full Container Load (FCL) Service
If your goods are enough to fill a whole container (usually 20ft or 40ft), FCL is the best choice. It is cost-effective, faster, and gives you full control over your shipment. We work with top shipping lines (such as COSCO, Maersk, MSC) to provide weekly direct sailings from major Chinese ports (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Qingdao, etc.) to Canadian ports (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, etc.).
Less than Container Load (LCL)
If you're shipping smaller batches, LCL is your solution. We consolidate your cargo with other shipments in a shared container. You pay only for the cubic meters (CBM) your goods occupy. It is suitable for startups testing the Canadian market, small businesses, or urgent top-ups of inventory.
Door-to-Door Service
Whether it's FCL or LCL, we offer door-to-door service. We handle everything-picking up your goods from your supplier in China, packing, customs declaration in China, sea shipping, customs clearance in Canada, and delivering the goods directly to your door (warehouse, or business address) in any Canadian city (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, etc.).
Please provide your specific address so we can confirm delivery availability.
Service Terms We Support
EXW (Ex Works)
Under EXW (Ex Works), the seller makes the goods available at their factory, warehouse, or another specified location in China. The buyer is responsible for almost all transportation and logistics arrangements.
With EXW shipments, our freight forwarding service can help buyers handle the entire export process, including:
- Picking up cargo from the supplier's factory;
- Transporting goods to the export port or consolidation warehouse;
- Export customs declaration in China;
- Sea freight space booking from China to Canada;
- Import customs clearance and delivery if required.
FOB (Free On Board)
FOB is one of the most widely used shipping terms in international sea freight.
Under FOB terms:
The seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the port of loading in China and completing export customs clearance.
The buyer is responsible for sea freight, insurance, and all costs after the goods are loaded onto the vessel.
Our services under FOB shipments typically include:
- Ocean freight space booking with major shipping lines;
- Container loading coordination;
- Bill of Lading issuance;
- Cargo tracking during transit;
- Import customs clearance and delivery in Canada if requested.
DAP, DDP, DDU
All three are door-to-door shipping terms, covering all intermediate processes from pickup at the Chinese supplier to the final destination in Canada.
DAP: DAP (Delivered at Place) means delivery to the door only, excluding customs duties and other destination port charges. Customs clearance is handled by the buyer's customs agent.
DDP: DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is the most comprehensive shipping solution. The seller or freight forwarder handles the entire shipping process from China to the buyer's final address in Canada, including duties and taxes.
DDU: DDU and DDP both include shipping, customs clearance, and delivery, but DDU requires the payment of taxes.
That is to say:
- DDU: Door-to-door service with duty excluded.
- DDP: Door-to-door service with duty paid.
- DAP: Door-to-door service with customs clearance done by yourself.
Case Study
One of Senghor Logistics' cases of handling China-to-Canada shipping:
Client Jenny runs a building materials and renovation business in Canada and needed to import various building materials and renovation products from suppliers in Foshan, China, and then use our cargo consolidation service to ship them to Canada.
Challenges in this shipment:
- The client had many suppliers, requiring extensive communication and coordination, demanding strong interoperability;
- The variety of goods being purchased was complex, resulting in cumbersome customs declaration and clearance documentation;
- The client's delivery address was on Victoria Island, making delivery more difficult than to traditional Canadian addresses.
These challenges didn't require special skills, only meticulousness, patience, and a responsible attitude.
The client provided us with the addresses and contact information of her suppliers, which we contacted one by one to confirm and compile the cargo information;
We collected all packing lists and invoices, completed the necessary customs declaration and clearance documents, sent them to the client for confirmation, and used them directly for customs clearance without any changes;
Due to the complexity of delivery at the destination port, the container needed to be picked up at the Port of Vancouver and then transported to the island by ferry. We tracked the entire process of cargo transportation, customs clearance, and delivery until the final container unloading.
The client was extremely satisfied and has become a long-term customer now.
Why Choose Us for Shipping from China to Canada by Sea?
International shipping may feel like a gamble, but it doesn't have to be. As the examples above demonstrate, by partnering with Senghor Logistics, you will gain:
Stable Sailing Schedules
We work with major carriers to ensure reliable space and first-hand prices.
Comprehensive and Professional Services
We own an 18,000 square meter warehouse in Shenzhen and also have partnered large warehouses near major ports across China, providing warehousing, consolidation, and palletizing services to meet your various needs.
Door-to-Door Service
Our door-to-door service offers end-to-end support and tracking, providing a one-stop service for your peace of mind.
No Hidden Costs
We uphold the principle of transparent pricing. We will inform you of the total cost in advance, including destination charges.
Click Here to Get a Free Sea Freight Quote Today
FAQ
Q1: How is sea freight cost calculated?
A: Calculations are based on cargo volume (FCL/LCL), container size, port selection, and customs fees (DDP or DDU). Additional services such as warehousing, palletizing, and repackaging will be charged separately.
Q2: How long does sea freight from China to Canada take?
A: Typical transit times range from 20 to 35 days, depending on the port pair and shipping line.
For example:
Shenzhen to Vancouver: about 20–25 days
Shanghai to Vancouver: about 18–25 days
Shanghai to Toronto (via rail): about 30–35 days
Q3: Does my cargo need cargo insurance?
A: Cargo insurance is not mandatory. As the real case in the article, if you are shipping goods from multiple suppliers and there are fragile items among them, we recommend that you purchase additional items to protect your goods from potential loss or damage during transportation.
Q4: Do you provide customs clearance in Canada?
A: Yes. We can assist with import customs clearance, documentation review, and coordination with local customs brokers to ensure smooth delivery.
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