Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From Germany to Canada

Germany is Canada’s fifth-largest trading partner in the world. In 2022, two-way merchandise trade between the two countries amounted to $30 billion, while Canada’s imports from Germany were valued at $22.5 billion.

If you have a business in Germany and are looking to take advantage of this strong trade relationship, you must first learn about your options to ship freight from Germany to Canada. 

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

To ship freight from Germany to Canada, you can engage either ocean freight or air freight services.

Ocean Freight From Germany to Canada

Ocean freight is the most popular shipping option for goods coming from Germany and bound for Canada. It’s because it’s highly versatile and economical. 

Ocean freight provides two shipping options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). 

LCL is best for shipping small goods because it consolidates your cargo with other sellers' goods. You share the space in a single unit with others, making transport costs relatively cheap. However, LCL does have longer transit times. 

FCL, on the other hand, is ideal if you’re shipping large and heavy cargo. You rent the space in an entire unit for your goods alone, perfect for delicate or fragile items. LCL provides your shipment with more security and faster transit times. However, a drawback is the higher cost. 

Air Freight from Germany to Canada

Air freight is the fastest way to ship goods from Germany to Canada. It’s also the most secure owing to stricter airport security measures. But this also means that shipping goods by air will have certain limitations involving the type of goods you can ship and their dimensions and weight. Air freight is also more expensive than ocean freight. 

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

The cost of shipping cargo from Germany to Canada will depend on factors including: 

• 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 calculate your shipping costs, try our online freight costs calculator. The table below displays the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Germany to Canada:

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

The transit time for goods shipped from Germany to Canada 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 Germany to Canada?

Ocean freight from Germany to Canada will take approximately 15 to 50 days. 

How long does shipping cargo by air from Germany to Canada take?

Air freight from Germany to Canada can take as fast as 2-8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in Germany to Canada

When your goods arrive in Canada from Germany, they must go through customs clearance. This requires you to 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

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

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

There are several things to consider before deciding how to ship your goods from Germany to Canada. Here are some pointers for each mode of shipment to help you make the best decision. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is right for you if you’re looking for an economical and flexible way to get your goods from Germany to Canada. It’s also a good idea if time is not of the essence in your shipment. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

Less than container load is the correct mode of shipping for you if your cargo: 

• Is small in size and quantity 
• Is lightweight 
• Is suitable for consolidation with other shipments
• Does not require special handling or movement 
• Is not delicate, fragile, or high-value 

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

If LCL does not seem like a good fit, you might be better off choosing FCL. Full container load is best for cargo that: 

• Is large in size and quantity 
• Is heavy, bulky, or overweight 
• Is not suitable for consolidation with other shipments 
• Requires special handling or movement 
• Is delicate, fragile, or high-value 

Air Freight

If your main priority is getting your goods from Germany to Canada fast, then you should choose air freight. It also gives you the added benefit of more security for your cargo, which is perfect if you’re shipping perishable, high-value goods. 

Keep in mind, however, that air freight has stricter limitations regarding what you can ship. It’s also the most expensive way to ship goods from Germany to Canada.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Germany

Port of Hamburg

The Port of Hamburg is the busiest in Germany, serving as its primary container shipping hub. It is also one of its oldest ports, operating for over 800 years. The port handles 9 million containers per year. 

Port of Bremerhaven

The Port of Bremerhaven is located in the Weser River, giving it good access to the North Sea. It has a large container traffic, handling about 4.8 million TEUs annually. It caters to a wide range of cargo, including containers and bulk commodities. 

Port of Wilhelmshaven

The Port of Wilhelmshaven is located in Lower Saxony, Germany. It boasts the latest harbor facilities for the transshipment of containers and handles bulk cargo, general cargo, refrigerated cargo, and project shipments. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Canada

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is a secondary port to the Port of Vancouver. It handles most of Canada’s import and export of natural resources, including grain, coal, and steel. This is thanks to its access to mines, forests, and fields in the country. 

Port of Halifax

The Port of Halifax is the most efficient in Canada, imposing deadlines on itself to speed up cargo movement. It has connections with 150 economies around the world, which contributed to its container traffic doubling in the last couple of years. 

Port of Saint John

The Port of Saint John is the largest in East Canada. It handles a wide range of cargo, including liquid and dry cargo, bulk and breakbulk, and containers. Every year, it sees 28 million metric tonnes of cargo. 

Air Freight from Germany to Canada: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Germany

Frankfurt International Airport

The Frankfurt International Airport is the leading international airport in Germany. It is located in Frankfurt, the fifth-largest city in the country. The airport houses Lufthansa, Condor, Eurowings Discover, SunExpress, and more. It also handles over 2 million tonnes of cargo annually. 

Leipzig/Halle Airport

The Leipzig/Halle Airport is located in Saxony, Germany, and serves a wide area, including Leipzig, Saxony, and Halle. It is the 14th largest airport in Germany by passenger traffic. In terms of cargo, the airport handles over 1.5 million tonnes of cargo per year.

Cologne Bonn Airport

The Cologne Bonn Airport is located in Germany’s fourth-largest city, Cologne. It is a hub for Eurowings, Ryanair, Germanwings, TUI fly Deutschland, and more. In 2022, it handled 971 tonnes of cargo. 

Airports of arrival in Canada

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport is in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Its airlines include Swoop, Cargojet, UPS Airlines, SkyLink Express, and KF Cargo. The airport handles 121,800 tonnes of cargo per year.

Vancouver International Airport

The Vancouver International Airport is located in Richmond, British Columbia. It serves Vancouver and its lower mainland region. The airport houses Air Canada, WestJet, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Air Transat, and more, which handle its cargo volume of 232,600 tonnes per year.

Toronto Pearson International Airport

The Toronto Pearson International Airport, also called the Lester B. Pearson International Airport, is in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It houses Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Porter Airlines, Swoop, and more and handles 303,000 tonnes of cargo annually.