Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from South Korea to Canada

The two-way merchandise trade between South Korea and Canada is robust, with the former being the latter’s 7th largest trading partner and 6th largest source of merchandise imports. In 2022, Canada imported $13.2 billion worth of goods from Korea, most of which comprised mineral ores, mineral fuels, oils, precious stones, metals, wood, and meat.

If you are a South Korean business looking to tap into the Canadian market, here’s what you need to know about transporting cargo from South Korea to Canada. 

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

To ship freight from South Korea to Canada, you can either engage ocean or air freight. 

Ocean Freight From South Korea to Canada

Ocean freight is a budget-friendly way to ship goods from South Korea to Canada. It’s also very flexible, providing two shipping options to choose from. Namely, these are less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). 

In LCL, your goods will be consolidated with shipments belonging to other sellers, meaning you’ll share the space and shipping cost of the container with them. This reason is what makes LCL cheaper than FCL. However, it does have longer transit times. 

On the other hand, FCL allows you to maximize the space in an entire container. You rent the whole unit for your cargo, making FCL a good option for high-value shipments. However, FCL can be more expensive than LCL. But it does get your goods to Canada faster. 

Air Freight from South Korea to Canada

Air freight is the fastest way to get goods from South Korea to Canada. It’s also pretty secure, thanks to airport regulations. However, it does come with its drawbacks. Air freight is an expensive way to ship goods due to the price of fuel. It also has limitations when it comes to the type, size, weight, and volume of goods it can accommodate.  

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

The cost of shipping goods from South Korea to Canada 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

To determine your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. Additionally, you can find the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from South Korea to Canada in the table below:

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

The duration for shipping goods from South Korea 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 South Korea to Canada?

By sea, it can take cargo from South Korea bound for Canada 15 to 50 days to arrive.

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

If you ship by air, you can expect your cargo to arrive in Canada in 2-8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in South Korea and Canada

All goods that are imported to Canada need to go through the customs clearance process. Canadian customs requires the following documents from you:  

• 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 check out this full documents list for examples of these customs clearance requirements. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Whether you should ship by ocean or air depends on your priorities, needs, and cargo. To help you make an informed decision, here are some pointers for you to consider. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the cheapest way to get your goods from South Korea to Canada. However, it does have longer transit times than air freight. Regardless, you have more flexibility in ocean freight as you can choose whether to ship via LCL or FCL. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL shipping is the mode of shipment for you if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity




• Lightweight




• Suitable for consolidation with shipments belonging to other sellers 




• Not fragile, delicate, or high-value 




• Not required to be handled in a specific way

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

If LCL is not the right fit, consider FCL instead. This mode of shipment is suitable if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity




• Heavy 




• Not suitable for consolidation with other consignments 




• Fragile, delicate, or high-value 




• Requiring special handling or movement 

Air Freight

If you’re looking for a fast way to get your goods from South Korea to Canada, you should definitely consider air freight. Air freight can get your goods to their destination in a matter of days. It’s also the most secure, ensuring protection for high-value or fragile goods. 

Before you book an air freight shipment, make sure you are aware of the prohibited and restricted goods for air freight, as this mode of shipment can be quite strict about the type, size, weight, and volume of goods it can accommodate. Also, be ready to pay a higher shipping price, as air freight can get expensive. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in South Korea

Port of Busan

The Port of Busan is the largest in South Korea, located in river Naktong. Its location puts it within close proximity to Japan. The port is also the fifth busiest container seaport in the world, handling more than 200,000,000 tonnes of cargo annually. 

Port of Incheon

The Port of Incheon in South Korea’s river Han is located within close proximity to Seoul, the country’s capital city. It is the second busiest port in South Korea, handling general cargo, containers, petroleum goods, and more. Every year, it sees 150,000,000 tonnes of freight. 

Port of Donghae

The Port of Donghae is located on the eastern coastline of South Korea. It is the area’s biggest trade port and can handle the world’s biggest container vessels. The port handles 20,000,000 tonnes of cargo per year. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Canada

Port of Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver is the largest port in Canada and the third-largest in North America in tonnage capacity. It handles 76 million metric tonnes of Canada’s total cargo. 

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is an alternative to the bustling port of Vancouver. It was built with over 200,000 tonnes of cargo storage capacity, which primarily handles Canada’s grain shipments. 

Port of Saint John

The Port of Saint John is located east of Canada and is the largest port in that area. It has connections with over 500 ports worldwide and can handle 28 million metric tonnes of bulk, liquid, dry, and breakbulk cargo and container shipments. 

Air Freight from South Korea to Canada: An airport guide

Airports of origin in South Korea

Incheon International Airport

The Incheon International Airport is South Korea’s largest airport. It is located in its capital city, Seoul, and is rated as the fourth-best airport in the entire world. The airport is a hub for airlines such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, and T'way Air. 

Gimpo International Airport

Gimpo International Airport, also called Kimpo International Airport, is in Seoul. Before the development of the Incheon airport, Gimpo was the main international airport serving South Korea’s capital city. 

Jeju International Airport

Jeju International Airport is located in the city of Jeju. It is the second-largest airport in South Korea, next to Incheon. The airport houses Jeju Air, Jin Air, and Eastar Jet airlines. 

Airports of arrival in Canada

Toronto Pearson

The Toronto Pearson International Airport is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It serves the Toronto metropolitan area. The airport is a hub for airlines such as Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Porter Airlines, and Swoop, which handle its 303,000-tonne yearly cargo operations. 

Hamilton International

The Hamilton International Airport, also called the Toronto–Hamilton International Airport, is in Ontario, Canada. It houses airlines such as Swoop, Cargojet, UPS Airlines, SkyLink Express, and KF Cargo, which handle 121,800 tonnes of cargo per year.

Calgary International

The Calgary International Airport serves the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. It is the busiest airport in its province and the fourth-busiest in the whole country. The airport is a hub for Lynx Air and WestJet, contributing to its yearly cargo handling of 79,500 tonnes.