Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Canada to France

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.

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

To ship freight from Canada to France, you can choose between ocean freight and air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Canada to France

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 from Canada to France

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. 

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

The cost of shipping cargo from Canada to France will depend on various factors. 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 deliveries
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

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

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. 

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

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

Air freight from Canada to France takes around 5-8 days. The table below shows more specific transit time estimates.

Customs Clearance in Canada and France

When your goods arrive in France, they must go through customs clearance. This process requires that you prepare and submit the following paperwork: 

• 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

For examples of these documents, refer to our full documents list. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

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

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. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL shipping is best if your cargo is: 

• Small/ small quantities
• Suitable for consolidation with other cargo 
• Not delicate, fragile or high-value
• Not requiring special handling or movement
• Not expected in France at a specified time.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

On the other hand, you may opt to go for FCL shipping if your cargo is: 

• Large and heavy 
• Not suitable for consolidation with other cargo 
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Requiring special handling or movement
• Expected to arrive in France at a specified time. 

Air Freight

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. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Canada

Port of Montreal

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. 

Port of Prince Rupert

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. 

Port of Halifax

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. 

Cargo ports of arrival in France

The Autonomous Port of Paris

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. 

The Port of Marseille

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

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. 

Air Freight from Canada to France: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Canada

Toronto Pearson

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. 

Montreal Trudeau

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. 

Vancouver International

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.

Airports of arrival in France

Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle

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.

Paris-Orly 

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. 

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport

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.