Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From Brazil to Canada

Trade relationships between Brazil and Canada have been steadily growing in recent years. Brazil is Canada’s third-largest trading partner, with merchandise trade between the two nations totaling $12.6 billion in 2022. Canada's primary merchandise from Brazil includes precious stones and metals, inorganic chemicals, sugar and sugar products, and iron and steel. 

If you are looking to transport these or other merchandise into Canada, let’s discuss everything you need to know about ocean and air freight shipping from Brazil.

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

When shipping freight from Brazil to Canada, you have two options: ocean and air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Brazil to Canada

Ocean freight is the most popular way to ship goods from Brazil to Canada because of its cost-efficiency. Ocean freight is also flexible, allowing shippers to enjoy two shipment modes: less than container load or full container load. 

LCL is made for shippers shipping small volumes of goods to Canada. In this mode of shipment, your goods will be consolidated with cargo belonging to other shippers. This option allows you to reduce costs, paying only for the space your cargo occupies. The consolidation process, however, adds to the transit and customs clearance time of less than container load. 

FCL, on the other hand, requires no consolidation. Instead, the shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone. It’s best for shippers shipping large volumes of goods and those who want to get their cargo to Canada much faster. 

Air Freight from Brazil to Canada

The fastest mode of shipping from Brazil to Canada is air freight. It’s also the most secure due to more stringent airport regulations that limit what you can ship. However, you should know that air freight is the most expensive way to get cargo from Brazil to Canada. 

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

The cost of shipping goods from Brazil to Canada will depend on several things. Among these include: 

• 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

Use our online freight costs calculator to get an estimate of your shipping costs. The table below provides the current cost for shipping a standard 20-foot container from Brazil to Canada:

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

The duration for shipping goods from Brazil to Canada is primarily influenced by the international shipping mode chosen. Other factors that can affect this include:

• The season (whether it's peak or low season)




• The directness of the shipment route




• How popular the trade lane is




• Geopolitical instability




• Potential incidents at the ports

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

Sea freight from Brazil to Canada will take about 15 to 50 days. 

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

The transit time for air shipments from Brazil to Canada is 2 to 8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in Brazil to Canada

When your goods arrive in Canada, they will need to go through the customs clearance process. This procedure requires that you 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

If you need examples of these customs clearance documents, take a look at our full documents list. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Now that you know your shipping options, choosing between them comes next. We outlined some pointers to help you determine which shipping mode is the best for your needs. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the suitable mode of shipment for you if you’re prioritizing cost-savings and don’t mind waiting a couple of weeks before your goods arrive in Canada. When it comes to ocean freight, you should also consider whether to ship with less than container load or full container load. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL shipping is suitable for you if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity 




• Lightweight




• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 




• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value 




• Not requiring special handling or movement 

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

On the other hand, you might opt for FCL if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity 




• Heavy or overweight




• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 




• Delicate, fragile, or high-value 




• Requiring special handling or movement 

Air Freight

If your priority is getting your goods from Brazil to Canada fast, then air freight is your best bet. This shipping mode can get your goods to their destination in a matter of days, making it perfect for time-sensitive shipments. 

Air freight is also more secure than ocean freight, so you can count on safe shipping of your high-value goods. But remember that this security comes with more stringent rules regarding what you can ship and how heavy, large, or voluminous they can be. 

Air freight is also the most expensive mode of shipping goods from Brazil to Canada. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Brazil

Santos Port

The Santos Port is located in the São Paulo state of Brazil. It’s the busiest container port in Latin America and the world's 39th busiest container port. Santos Port handles 28% of Brazil’s foreign trade, seeing about 129.8 million tonnes of cargo annually. 

Port Of Santarém

The Port of Santarém is located in the Pará star of Brazil. It’s a popular river port that lies at Ponta do Salé. The port mainly handles shipments of wood and grain, such as soy and corn. It sees 12 million tonnes of cargo per year. 

Port of Salvador

The Port of Salvador is on the All Saints Bay in Salvador City. It has 12 berths for general cargo, one specialized for container shipments, and another that handles Ro-Ro. The port handles approximately 5 million tonnes of cargo per year. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Canada

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is an alternative to Canada’s Port of Vancouver. It boasts a massive reach to the worldwide market. The port primarily handles the movement of wheat and barley with its very own food production terminal with a storage capacity of 200,000 tonnes of grain. 

Port of Halifax

The Port of Halifax connects 150 economies worldwide. Its location is at the gateway of both ongoing and inbound cargo traffic in North America. Thanks to its self-imposed deadlines, it is a highly efficient port that can help it move cargo fast.

Port of Saint John

The Port of Saint John is located east of Canada and is the largest port in that region. It handles various cargo types, from bulk and breakbulk to liquid and dry cargo and containers. It can handle 28 million metric tonnes of cargo.

Air Freight from Brazil to Canada: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Brazil

Internacional de Galeao

The Internacional de Galeao, also called the Tom Jobim International Airport, is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The airport is among the busiest in the country in terms of passenger traffic. It houses Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, LATAM Brasil, Varig, and other airlines that help it transport cargo. 

Monte Dourado Airport

The Monte Dourado Airport, also called the Serra do Areão Airport, is the main airport serving the Monte Dourado district in Almeirim, Brazil. It houses the Azul Conecta Airlines for its cargo operations. 

Internacional de Campinas/Viracopos

The Internacional de Campinas/Viracopos Airport, also called the Viracopos International Airport, is the main international airport serving the Campinas municipality in São Paulo. It houses Azul Brazilian Airlines, Azul Cargo Express, and more for its cargo operations.

Airports of arrival in Canada

Hamilton International (YHM)

The Hamilton International Airport, also called the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, is in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It houses the following airlines for its cargo operations: Swoop, Cargojet, UPS Airlines, SkyLink Express, and KF Cargo, which handle 121,800 tonnes of cargo annually. 

Calgary International (YYC)

The Calgary International Airport is located in the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. It handles 79,500 tonnes of cargo per year with its airlines, which include WestJet, Air Canada, Lynx Air, WestJet Encore, and more. 

Toronto Pearson (YYZ)

The Toronto Pearson International Airport, also called the Lester B. Pearson International Airport, is in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is a hub for Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air Transat, and more, which help it handle 303,000 tonnes of cargo annually.