Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada in 2024?

Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada? The Canadian economy relies heavily on shipping, despite the fact that doing so can be prohibitively expensive.

This is due to a number of factors, some of which are the high cost of fuel, the size and scope of the country, and the logistical challenges posed by the need to transport goods across difficult terrain.

It is one of the most expensive countries in the world to ship to due to the combined effects of all of these factors, which drive up the cost of shipping.

The sheer size of Canada is one of the primary contributors to the country’s shipping industry’s high prices, as the country is very spread out.

Canada is one of the largest countries in the world because it has a land area that is almost exactly 10 million square kilometers.

When moving goods from one location to another, this indicates that there is a significant distance that must be traveled. Shipping costs will increase proportionately with the distance between the origin and the destination.

The topography of Canada is another component that plays a role in the high cost of shipping in that country.

It is more expensive to ship goods to many parts of the country because a significant portion of the country is either mountainous or otherwise difficult to access in some other way.

In addition, the climate can make shipping difficult, which in turn can drive up the costs. For instance, during the winter, when snow and ice are common, it can be challenging to transport goods to their final destination on time.

Now let’s dig deeper!

Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada?

The vastness of Canada is a contributing factor in the extremely high costs associated with transporting goods to and from the country.

It is challenging and expensive to transport goods across Canada because of the country’s vast number of remote regions, which make it the second-largest country in the world in terms of landmass.

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In addition to this, Canada has a small population in comparison to the size of the country, which means that there are fewer people who could be potential customers for businesses located within the country.

This reduces the incentive for businesses to make investments in logistics infrastructure, which in turn drives up the cost of transporting goods.

Here are detailed reasons why shipping is so expensive in Canada:

Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada? Top 6 Reasons

1. Geography of Canada

The population of Canada is approximately 36 million, making it a very populous country despite its size. In terms of total land area, it is the second largest country in the world, behind only Russia.

Canada is surrounded on three sides by water: the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. It also has a land border with the United States to the south.

Shipping goods within Canada is prohibitively expensive due to the extensive distances that separate Canada’s major urban centers as well as the low population density that characterizes much of the country.

It is possible for the cost of shipping to be quite high from one end of the country to the other, which is especially true for goods that are either time-sensitive or perishable.

2. Brokerage Fees (Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada?)

The fees that are charged by brokerage firms are one factor that contributes to the high cost of shipping in Canada.

When packages are brought into Canada, they are required to pass through the hands of a customs broker, who does so at the expense of the sender.

This fee has the potential to be quite pricey, particularly for packages of a smaller size.

The fees that brokerage firms charge vary greatly depending not only on the size and weight of the package, but also on the value of the items that are contained within it.

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For instance, the brokerage fee for a small package that weighs less than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) and has a value of less than $20 Canadian dollars will be $9.95 Canadian dollars.

The brokerage fee for a larger package that weighs more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and is valued at more than $2,000 CAD is $235 CAD.

In addition to the fee charged by the broker, additional costs, such as import duties and taxes, may also be incurred depending on the circumstances.

The total cost of shipping packages into Canada can quickly skyrocket due to the accumulation of fees like these.

3. Tax and Import Duty

The fact that Canada has such high taxes and import duties is one of the reasons why shipping costs are so high in the country.

For instance, if you buy something in another country and then have it shipped to Canada, you might be required to pay a customs duty that is equal to up to 18 percent of the item’s total price.

Additionally, there are sales taxes levied at the federal and provincial levels, which can add up to an additional 5 percent or more.

Once you factor in all of the applicable taxes and duties, the overall cost of shipping an item can quickly become quite expensive, despite the fact that the item itself may not be particularly expensive.

4. High Gas Price (Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada?)

The high cost of gasoline is one of the factors contributing to the high shipping costs in Canada, as is mentioned in the aforementioned article. The population of Canada is relatively low compared to the size of the country overall, which contributes to the country’s high gas prices.

This means that there is not as much demand for gas as there is in other countries, which drives up the price of shipping because there is not as much competition for the product. People in Canada also have less discretionary income due to the country’s high cost of living, which means they have less money to spend on gas.

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5. Canada Post workers are highly Paid

Even though it is true that the Canadian government provides its postal workers with higher wages and benefits than in many other developed countries, this does not explain why shipping rates in Canada are so much higher than those in other developed countries.

Other developed countries, such as Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom, all have state-owned postal services that are able to offer shipping at prices that are lower than those offered by Canada Post.

6. The monopoly of Canada Post (Why Is Shipping so Expensive in Canada?)

Because Canada Post has a monopoly on the market in Canada, shipping costs in that country are significantly higher than in other countries. This is one of the primary reasons for this.

The only company that is legally permitted to deliver letters and packages through the Canadian postal system is Canada Post. Other companies are not permitted to do so. This provides them with a great deal of leverage in terms of determining prices.

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