Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From the United Kingdom to Canada

Canada is a growing export market for goods coming from the United Kingdom. In 2021, the UK exported goods worth $6.7 billion to Canada, with most shipments comprising silver, cars, and aircraft parts. In the last 26 years, the UK’s exports to the Canadian market have increased by 2.28% per year.

Now’s the time to take advantage of this healthy trade relationship. If you are a UK business looking to get your goods to the Canadian market, here’s everything you should know about ocean and air freight shipping from the United Kingdom to Canada. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From the United Kingdom to Canada?

You can choose either ocean freight or air freight to ship goods from the United Kingdom to Canada.

Ocean Freight From the United Kingdom to Canada

Ocean freight is the most economical way to transport goods from the UK to Canada. It offers affordable rates and flexibility regarding what you can ship. Ocean freight offers two container shipping options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). 

LCL is best for small shipments. It involves the consolidation of your goods with cargo belonging to other sellers. You share the cost of the container with them, making LCL the cheapest way to ship freight from the UK to Canada. A drawback, however, is its long transit times. 

FCL, on the other hand, is ideal for larger shipments. No consolidation is involved here, so you pay for the entire space in a container to ship your goods alone. This makes FCL more expensive than LCL, but you get to enjoy faster transit times. 

Air Freight from the United Kingdom to Canada

Air freight may be the most expensive way to ship your goods from the UK to Canada. However, it is the safest and fastest mode of international shipping. With air freight, you can get your goods to Canada in a matter of days. You can also rest assured that your goods are safe thanks to stricter airport regulations. 

However, air freight has restrictions regarding what you can ship by air and how large or heavy they can be. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From the United Kingdom to Canada?

The cost of shipping cargo from the UK to Canada will depend on a variety of 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 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 the UK to Canada:

How long does it take to ship cargo from the United Kingdom to Canada?

Shipping goods from United Kingdom to Canada 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 the United Kingdom to Canada?

If you’re shipping by sea, you can expect your goods to arrive in Canada in 15 to 50 days. 

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from the United Kingdom to Canada?

On the other hand, shipping cargo by air from the UK to Canada takes 2 to 8 days. 

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

Customs Clearance in the United Kingdom and Canada

When your goods arrive in Canada, they will need to go through the customs clearance process. To satisfy the requirements of Canadian customs, you will need 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

If you need examples of these customs clearance documents, refer to our full list. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Now that you know your options for shipping freight from the UK to Canada, it’s time to choose the one that makes sense for your shipment. Here are some pointers to help you decide. 

Ocean Freight

If your priority is to save money on your shipment, then you should choose ocean freight. It’s the most economical way to get your goods to Canada as long as you’re prepared for longer transit times. If you opt for ocean freight, you must choose between LCL and FCL. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is best if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity
• Lightweight 
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Not requiring special handling or movement 
• Not fragile, delicate, or high-value

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

On the other hand, you may be better off choosing FCL if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity
• Heavy 
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Requiring special handling or movement 
• Fragile, delicate, or high-value 

Air Freight

If your priority is getting your goods from the UK to Canada fast, then you should choose air freight. It only takes 2 to 8 days for your goods to reach their destination. Air freight is also a good option for shipping perishable or high-value goods because strict airport regulations help secure your cargo. 

However, if you ship by air, remember that air freight has a higher cost due to higher fuel costs. You may also be limited in terms of what you can ship and how large or heavy they can be. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in the United Kingdom

Port of Felixstowe

The Port of Felixstowe is located in Suffolk on the South East coast of the UK. It handles 48% of its country’s container trade and is the eighth busiest port in Europe. Every year, the port handles 3.8 million TEUs. 

Port of Southampton

The Port of Southampton is located in central UK, giving it access to rail and road systems. Although it’s the most popular passenger port, it handles cargo shipments. It has the second-largest container terminal in the UK and handles 1.5 million TEUs per year. 

Port of London

The Port of London is the second-largest port in the UK. It handles over 80 million tonnes of cargo annually, from containers and machinery to hazardous cargo and food. The port links the UK’s best rail, road, and sea hubs. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Canada

Port of Saint John

The Port of Saint John is located to the East of Canada and is the largest port in its region. It handles various cargo types, including dry and liquid cargo, containers, bulk, and breakbulk. The port is connected to 500 seaports worldwide. 

Port of Halifax

The Port of Halifax is highly efficient, with set deadlines to move cargo quickly. It is also connected to 150 economies worldwide, allowing it to handle large cargo volumes. 

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is Canada’s main port for shipping its natural resources, including lumber, coal, and grains. It has a food production terminal that ships 7 million tonnes of grain annually. 

Air Freight from the United Kingdom to Canada: An airport guide

Airports of origin in the United Kingdom

East Midlands (EMA)

The East Midlands Airport is the most important in the UK for freight traffic. It is the busiest airport in the country based on cargo aircraft movements, with a total of 2,056 in 2022. The airport is the only UK airport with a four-figure number of dedicated cargo aircraft movements.

London Stansted Airport (STN)

The London Stansted Airport had 1,602 dedicated cargo aircraft movements in 2022, making it another vital cargo airport in the UK. It has easy road access to Southeast England and the Midlands and has a 55,000-square-meter World Cargo Center. 

Edinburgh Airport (EDI)

The Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's largest air cargo gateway, seeing 417 dedicated cargo movements in 2022. It is a hub for various airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, Flybe, Canadian Affair, Monarch Airlines, SaxonAir, Flyglobespan, Flybmi, and Suckling Airways.

Airports of arrival in Canada

Calgary International (YYC)

The Calgary International Airport is located in Alberta, Canada. It houses a range of cargo airlines, including WestJet, Air Canada, Lynx Air, WestJet Encore, and more, that handle cargo shipments totaling 79,500 tonnes per year. 

Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau (YUL)

The Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is also called the Montréal–Dorval International Airport. It is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. The airport handles 81,400 tonnes of cargo per year. 

Hamilton International (YHM)

The Hamilton International Airport, also called the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport or Toronto–Hamilton International Airport, is in Ontario, Canada. It handles over 121,800 tonnes of cargo shipments per year.