Skip to content
First Base FreightFreight forwarding
Container cranes loading a cargo vessel at a port during sunset

UK to Canada

Container Shipping from the UK to Canada

Montreal for fast transatlantic service into Eastern Canada, Vancouver for Pacific gateway access — we run both lanes weekly.

International shipping to and from Canada (CA) runs through Vancouver (CAVAN) and Montreal (CAMTR). We ship full container loads from the UK to every one of them, with sea transit of 10–26 days port to port and air freight in 1–3 days. Groupage on this lane is quoted on request. We collect from any UK address and handle export clearance with HMRC and import clearance at the far end.

UK to Canada at a glance

Origin
United Kingdom
Destination
Canada
UK gateways
6 ports
Canada ports
Vancouver, Montreal
Sea transit
10–26 days
Air transit
1–3 days
FCL from
£1,700.00 per 20ft container
LCL from
£85.00 per cubic metre

On request — not confirmed on this lane yet

Indicative figures for planning. Transit is port to port and excludes collection, customs and delivery. The rates above are starting prices for the freight only, each shown with the unit it is charged in — they are not shipment totals. What you actually pay depends on your volume or weight, the exact route, and any customs, collection and delivery. Anything marked on request is a service we have not recorded on this lane — that is not the same as there being none, so ask and we will confirm what is arrangeable.

Port options from the UK to Canada

Every pair below is bookable. The gateway that suits you is usually the one nearest your cargo rather than the one nearest the other end — on most lanes the inland leg is where the avoidable cost sits.

SouthamptonVancouver

FCLLCL?

Transit
2026 days

SouthamptonMontreal

FCLLCL?

Transit
1015 days

LiverpoolVancouver

FCLLCL?

Transit
2026 days

LiverpoolMontreal

FCLLCL?

Transit
1015 days

FelixstoweVancouver

FCLLCL?

Transit
2026 days

FelixstoweMontreal

FCLLCL?

Transit
1015 days

London GatewayVancouver

FCLLCL?

Transit
2026 days

London GatewayMontreal

FCLLCL?

Transit
1015 days

TilburyVancouver

FCLLCL?

Transit
2026 days

TilburyMontreal

FCLLCL?

Transit
1015 days

TeesportVancouver

FCLLCL?

Transit
2026 days

TeesportMontreal

FCLLCL?

Transit
1015 days

Rates on this lane are quoted per shipment rather than published, because they move with space, fuel and the commodity. Send us the route and we will come back with a firm all-in figure. Transit marked port average is the indicative range for that port rather than a figure specific to the pair. FCL ✓ means full container load is confirmed on that pair; LCL ? means we have no groupage service recorded for it yet — ask us, because one may still be arrangeable.

Duty, restrictions and paperwork for Canada

What you can send, what Canada charges on import, which goods need a permit, the documents your consignee files at the far end, and the export paperwork you file here — all of it is on the Canada country page, kept in one place so there is a single answer to maintain rather than two that drift apart.

Shipping to Canada: the full guide

A recent shipment: [CLIENT, SECTOR] was sending [CARGO] to [CITY] and had two consignments held because their buyer had no importer registration. We sorted the registration, cleared both, and the lane has run to [FREQUENCY] since.

Placeholder — replace with a real customer before publishing.

How it works

Shipping from the UK to Canada, step by step

1

Quote and book

Send us the collection postcode, the destination in Canada, and what you are shipping. We come back with an all-in landed figure and hold space on the next suitable sailing.

2

Collection and loading

We collect from your premises anywhere in the UK and deliver into Southampton — or whichever gateway suits your postcode and the sailing — for loading.

3

Export clearance

We file the UK export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI and raise the bill of lading before the vessel sails.

4

Arrival and delivery

We clear the goods into Canada, settle duty and tax with your consignee, and arrange onward delivery from the arrival port.

Shipping from the UK to Canada: common questions

How long does shipping from the UK to Canada take?

Sea transit runs 10–26 days port to port depending on the gateway and the service. Add roughly a week either side for collection, customs and delivery to get a realistic door-to-door figure. Groupage adds a further five to eleven days because the container has to be filled at one end and stripped at the other.

Which UK port should I ship from?

Usually the one nearest your cargo rather than the one nearest the destination — the inland leg is where the avoidable cost sits. Southampton is our default for Americas lanes, but Liverpool and Felixstowe often work out cheaper door to door if you are loading nearby.

What does it cost to ship a container from the UK to Canada?

It depends on the container size, the port pair and the sailing, so we price each shipment rather than publishing a single rate. Send us the route and the cargo and we will come back with an all-in landed figure — freight, clearance, duty and delivery — rather than an ocean rate you have to add to later.

Who pays the import duty in Canada?

Your consignee, under every Incoterm except DDP. If you have agreed DDP you are liable for it, which means you need to know the destination rate before you price the sale rather than after. Settle the Incoterm before booking — it is the single most common source of argument on an export.

Do I need an EORI number to export from the UK?

Yes. A GB EORI is required for any commercial export and the declaration cannot be filed without one. Registration is free through HMRC and usually issued within a few working days. If you do not have one we will tell you at booking, not when the vessel is loading.

A large cargo ship loaded with containers sailing under a vibrant sunset sky

Shipping from the UK to Canada? Get a quote.

Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.

Indicative from £1,700.00 per 20ft container on Canada lanes. Cities and cargo details next.

Or open the full quote form
Chat on WhatsApp