If you are a business with customers in Canada or looking to send personal items from Thailand to Canada, the following guide is intended to answer questions and offer hints on how to get your cargo from here to there safely, economically and in a time frame that works for you.
Tips of shipping from Thailand to Canada
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Rule # 1 – Plan ahead!
The old saying that “haste makes waste” is especially true when shipping internationally. While ocean freight is the cheapest, it can take up to 2 months depending on which ports you are shipping from in Thailand and which ports you are shipping to in Canada. Shipping schedules tend to be busiest leading up to the holiday season in Canada, so planning around those seasonal peaks can save on costs.
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Rule # 2 – Use a reputable Freight Forwarder
An experienced and service oriented freight forwarder will be able to offer you guidance and help with such items as documentation, identifying the right HS codes, the best ports to use and the right incoterms to assign to your cargo. These three items can significantly influence the overall cost you will incur as well as how smoothly your goods will go through customs upon arrival.
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Rule # 3 – Understand your options
Planning ahead is always a good idea, but we know that situations arise where customers make last minute changes, delays in the manufacturing process or when situations beyond your control will dictate expedited shipments. In a pinch, shipping express from Thailand to Canada can get cargo to a Canadian destination in under 4 days, but the costs can be significant. Regular air freight generally takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on the destination, carrier schedules and time of year.
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Rule #4 – Protect your cargo investment
Two items need to be considered when shipping long distances internationally……proper packaging and a commensurate amount of insurance. An experienced freight forwarder will be able to offer packing and insurance options that will insure that your cargo will arrive safely or that you will be compensated if accidents happen.
Last, but not least, be sure that you have planned for the costs that will be incurred for duties and taxes at the Canadian end. Depending on the types of goods and the HS Codes that the goods fall under, duties and taxes can often surprise. Here again, a professional freight forwarder will be able to help you understand what costs will be incurred so that either you or the recipient of the goods will not be surprised when getting the goods released.
Your Thai based freight forwarder will be working with their freight forwarding partners in Canada to insure that all of these issues are covered and understood by all parties before the goods are shipped. Eagles Air & Sea in Thailand has been working with their partners in Canada and throughout the world to ensure customer satisfaction for over 25 years. To discuss your shipping needs to Canada give us a call at +66 (02) 790 4599 or E-mail us at sales@eaglesthai.com to connect with one of our trained freight professionals.
