Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Canada to Saudi Arabia

Canada and Saudi Arabia have strong bilateral relations, which helps facilitate trade between the two nations. Every year, more than $2.2 billion worth of goods are imported from Canada to Saudi Arabia, primarily transportation equipment, machinery, electrical equipment, and optical, medical, and precision instruments.

Tapping into the Saudi Arabia market is bound to lead to great opportunities. But before everything else, you need to know everything about ocean and freight shipping from Canada to Saudi Arabia. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Canada to Saudi Arabia?

To ship goods from Canada to Saudi Arabia, you have the option of engaging ocean freight or air freight services. 

Ocean Freight From Canada to Saudi Arabia

Ocean freight is the cheapest shipping option to get goods from Canada to Saudi Arabia. Within it are two options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). 

In LCL, your goods will be consolidated with shipments from other sellers and shipped together in one container. This makes LCL much cheaper than other shipping options, but it also means that it has longer transit times. 

In FCL, on the other hand, you rent the space of an entire container. Hence, it allows for more isolated shipments of your high-value or large goods. But because you own and are free to utilize the entire container space, FCL can become more expensive, but in exchange are shorter transit times. 

Air Freight from Canada to Saudi Arabia

Air freight is the fastest way to get your goods from Canada to Saudi Arabia. It can complete your shipment in a couple of days and give your goods more security thanks to airport regulations. But air freight can be costly, not to mention that there are a lot of limitations when it comes to what and how much you can ship. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Canada to Saudi Arabia?

The cost of shipping cargo from Canada to Saudi Arabia would 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 shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

To estimate your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. The table below also shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Canada to Saudi Arabia.

How long does it take to ship cargo from Canada to Saudi Arabia?

The transit time for goods shipped from Canada to Saudi Arabia depends mainly on the international shipping mode you select. Additional factors influencing the transit time are:

• The shipping season (peak or low)
• Direct or indirect shipment route
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Potential incidents at ports

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

Ocean freight from Canada to Saudi Arabia usually takes about 15-50 days. 

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

Air freight from Canada to Saudi Arabia will take a meager 2-8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in Canada and Saudi Arabia

When your goods arrive in Saudi Arabia, they will need to go through customs clearance. This process should be a breeze as long as you have prepared the required paperwork. These include: 

• 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 more information about these documents, look at our full documents list.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

The choice between ocean freight and air freight can sometimes be challenging. But to help you decide, we outlined the pros, cons, and other considerations of each mode of shipment below. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the ideal choice if you’re looking for an economical way to get your goods from Canada to Saudi Arabia. It is generally cheap, but there’s a tradeoff — longer transit times.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL shipping is best for cargo that 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

FCL shipping is the right option for cargo that 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

Air freight is the best option if your priority is the speed of shipment. It can get your goods from Canada to Saudi Arabia in a matter of days and ensure better security for your cargo. However, air freight is not for everyone. There are strict regulations as to what you can ship, how much they can weigh, and the volume of your goods. So air freight might only be ideal for smaller shipments.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Canada

Port of Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada by tonnage capacity. It has expertise in handling refrigerated and perishable goods. The port is strategically located in the middle of most ocean trade routes.

Port of Montreal

The Port of Montreal is an innovative port incorporating advanced technology in its operations, such as AI, which it uses to streamline and improve operations. This makes it the most expensive in its region.

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is the third-largest port in Canada by cargo tonnage and container volume. It handles a large volume of goods per year, which mostly consist of wheat, barley, and other natural resources.

Cargo ports of arrival in Saudi Arabia

Jeddah Islamic Port

The Jeddah Islamic Port is the busiest in Saudi Arabia. It is located in the country’s largest city and serves the holy cities of Medina and Mecca. The port has a long history of contributing to international trade.

King Abdul Aziz Port

The King Abdul Aziz Port, also known as the Dammam Port, is one of the busiest ports in the middle east. It serves the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia, particularly contributing to the oil and gas industry.

King Fahad Industrial Port

The King Fahad Industrial Port is Saudi Arabia’s main port for moving crude and refined petroleum. It spans 6.8 square kilometers and has 34 berths and 10 terminals, allowing it to accommodate 210 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Air Freight from Canada to Saudi Arabia: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Canada

Toronto Pearson

The Toronto Pearson International Airport, also called the Lester B. Pearson International Airport, is in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It serves the Toronto area and handles 303,000 tons of cargo per year.

Hamilton International

The Hamilton International Airport is Canada’s largest airport for domestic and international cargo operations. It can handle 121,800 tons of cargo per year.

Calgary International

The Calgary International Airport serves the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. It spans 20.82 square kilometers and handles 79,500 tons of cargo per year.

Airports of arrival in Saudi Arabia

King Fahd International Airport

The King Fahd International Airport is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It is the region’s central hub for cargo operations, housing airlines such as Air France Cargo, Cargolux, Emirates SkyCargo, Saudia Cargo, and more.

King Abdulaziz International Airport

The King Abdulaziz International Airport is located in the holy city of Mecca. It is the busiest airport in Saudi Arabia and handles a solid air freight operation, housing airlines such as DHL International Aviation ME, Lufthansa Cargo, and Ethiopian Airlines Cargo.

King Khalid International Airport

The King Khalid International Airport is located north of Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh. It handles a good number of cargo airlines, including Saudia Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, Cargolux, Ethiopian Cargo, and DHL International Aviation ME.