Montreal, Canada
Sea freight in Montreal
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Montreal, via Port of Montreal. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Montreal
- AirportMontreal-Trudeau
YUL - AirportMirabel
YMX - SeaportPort of Montreal
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is the main airport of Quebec, with widebody passenger flights to Europe, Africa and other regions that carry belly cargo, as well as freighter operations. Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX), north-west of the city, is a cargo-focused airport and the site of aircraft assembly. By sea, the Port of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River is one of Canada's main container ports, with a strong focus on transatlantic trade with Europe and direct rail links to Ontario and the US Midwest.
Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 40 run east-west through Montreal, linking it with Toronto via Highway 401 and with Quebec City. Autoroute 15 runs south to the US border and I-87 to New York, and Autoroute 13 and Autoroute 15 connect Mirabel with the city. CN and CPKC operate rail lines that connect the Port of Montreal with Toronto, Chicago and Detroit.
Operational logistics facts for Montreal
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) | Belly cargo to Europe and freighter operations | Main air gateway for Quebec |
| Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX) | Cargo operations and aircraft assembly | Air freight close to the aerospace cluster |
| Port of Montreal | FCL/LCL containers, transatlantic focus | Direct rail links to Ontario and the US Midwest |
| Montreal aerospace cluster | AOG, engine and spare parts | Time-critical handling for aircraft parts |
Industries in Montreal and how we support them
Montreal has one of the largest aerospace clusters in the world, with aircraft and engine manufacturers, flight simulator makers and a wide supplier base, generating constant AOG and spare parts traffic. The city also has a strong pharmaceutical and life sciences sector and is a centre for artificial intelligence research. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via YUL and YMX, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for AOG parts, temperature-controlled transport for pharma, and FCL and LCL sea freight through the Port of Montreal. Customs data is prepared in advance.
FCL and LCL via Port of Montreal
Full containers are booked directly with the shipping line; for smaller volumes we use LCL consolidation services. Pre-carriage from Montreal to Port of Montreal, or on-carriage after arrival, is arranged by road or rail as part of the same booking.
Customs clearance in Canada
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Canada is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Canada we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Canada need a business number with an import-export account and registration in CARM.
Frequently asked questions
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Montreal?
Usually Port of Montreal. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.