Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Canada to South Korea

Canada and South Korea enjoy strong trade connections. The latter is Canada’s 7th largest trading partner and 6th largest merchandise export market. In 2022, Canada exported $8.6 billion worth of goods to South Korea, with goods like wood, meat, mineral ores, fuel, oil, and precious metals making up the majority of shipments.

If you’re a Canadian business in these industries looking to take advantage of your country’s trade relations with South Korea, here’s everything you need to know about ocean and air freight shipping. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Canada to South Korea?

To ship freight from Canada to South Korea, you can opt for ocean or air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Canada to South Korea

Ocean freight is the easiest way to get your goods from Canada to South Korea. It can accommodate a range of cargo types and is also an economical mode of shipment. Within ocean freight are two container shipping methods: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). 

In LCL, your goods will be consolidated with consignments belonging to other sellers. You share the container space with them, which makes LCL very cost-efficient. However, it also has longer transit times. 

On the other hand, FCL requires you to rent the space in an entire container. Your goods will be shipped in isolation, allowing faster transit time but more expensive shipping rates. 

Air Freight from Canada to South Korea

Air freight is the fastest way to get your goods from Canada to South Korea. It’s also the most secure because of stricter airport regulations. These stringent guidelines, however, may limit what you can ship with air freight and how large, heavy, and voluminous your cargo can be. Air freight is also more expensive than ocean freight. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Canada to South Korea?

The cost of shipping goods from Canada to South Korea will depend on the following factors: 

• 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

Determine your shipping costs by using our online freight costs calculator. The table below shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Canada to South Korea:

How long does it take to ship cargo from Canada to South Korea?

Shipping goods from Canada to South Korea varies in transit time, primarily based on the international shipping mode you choose. Additional factors impacting this include:

• The shipping season (peak or low)
• The directness of the shipment's route
• The popularity of the trade lane
• Geopolitical issues
• Potential incidents at ports

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

If you ship your cargo from Canada to South Korea by sea, you can expect a transit time of about 15-50 days.

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

Air freight from Canada to South Korea will take roughly 2-8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in Canada and South Korea

When your goods arrive in South Korea, they will need to go through the customs clearance process. This should be a breeze, provided that you have completed and submitted 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

You can refer to our full documents list for samples of these customs clearance paperwork. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

The choice between shipping via ocean or air freight should consider your priorities, needs, and cargo specifications. Here are some pointers to help you make an informed decision. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the best option if you’re looking to ship from Canada to South Korea on a budget. It’s a cheap shipping option, especially with less than container load. It’s worth noting, however, that ocean freight can have long transit times. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL freight shipping is best for cargo that is: 

• Small in size and quantity 




• Lightweight 




• Not requiring special handling or movement 




• Suitable for consolidation with other shipments 




• Not high-value, delicate, or fragile

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

If LCL does not sound like the best option, consider FCL freight shipping. This mode of ocean freight is ideal for cargo that is: 

• Large, heavy, oversized, or overweight 




• High in volume 




• Requiring special handling and movement




• Not suitable for consolidation with other shipments




• Requires isolated shipping 




• High-value, delicate, or fragile 

Air Freight

If speed is your priority, then you should go for air freight. However, remember that certain types of goods are not allowed on an aircraft, and there may be limits on the size, weight, and volume of cargo you can ship. Air freight is also more expensive than ocean freight. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Canada

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is an alternative to the Vancouver Port. Like the latter, it is well-connected to the worldwide market and has efficient port operations. It’s primarily used to transport Canada’s natural resources. 

Port of Montreal

The Port of Montreal serves the Canadian cities of Montreal and Quebec. It provides the shortest trade route between the Mediterranean, Europe, and North America. The port boasts of using the latest technology, including AI, to improve port efficiency. 

Port of Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver is the largest port in North America and the third-largest in terms of tonnage capacity. It handles over 76 million metric tonnes of Canada’s total cargo, worth about $43 billion. 

Cargo ports of arrival in South Korea

Port of Busan

The Port of Busan is South Korea’s largest seaport. It is also the fifth-busiest container port in North East Asia. It connects South Korea to 500 major ports in over 100 countries, handling more than 21 million TEUs a year. 

Port of Incheon

The Port of Incheon is the nearest to South Korea’s capital city, Seoul. It is the country’s second biggest port, handling over 1.8 million TEUs and 150,000,000 tonnes of general cargo, containers, petroleum goods, and LNG annually. 

Port of Donghae

The Port of Donghae is the biggest trade port in South Korea’s eastern region. It can accommodate the biggest container vessels, helping strengthen the country’s maritime trade relations with countries worldwide. 

Air Freight from Canada to South Korea: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Canada

Halifax/Robert L Stanfield International

The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is located in Goffs, Nova Scotia, in the Halifax Regional Municipality. In 2021, it had substantial air traffic, loading and unloading 29,562.8 of total cargo. 

Montréal/Mirabel International

The Montreal-Mirabel International Airport is a cargo airport located in Quebec, Canada. It houses airlines such as Nolinor Aviation, Cargojet, Canadian Airlines, SkyLink Express, Nolisair, and Inter-Canadien, which contributed to its air cargo traffic of 82,508.1 in 2021. 

Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International

The Montreal-Trudeau International Airport is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. In 2021, it loaded and unloaded 87,749.1 shipments managed by its airlines, such as Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines, and OWG.

Airports of Arrival in South Korea

Incheon International Airport

The Incheon International Airport is the largest in South Korea. It is the primary airport that handles cargo traffic and is one of the busiest in the world. It houses a range of cargo airlines, including Cargolux, ANA Cargo, and Asiana Cargo.