Canadian projects buy from China on FOB terms and clear through Vancouver in 18–22 days or Montreal in 30–35. Two checks catch buyers out: bilingual labelling and anti-dumping status. Neither is hard to confirm, but both are expensive to discover after the container lands.
CARB P2 is the common baseline; ULEF is the stricter tier some projects specify.
Bilingual English and French labelling is generally required for consumer packaging.
Check current CBSA anti-dumping status before pricing; it can change the effective duty.
Vancouver is 18–22 days, Montreal 30–35; choose by inland distance.
A 16-week schedule holds if drawings are approved in week two.
1. What Canadian buyers actually verify
Canadian buyers verify board emission grade, labelling and anti-dumping status. CARB P2 is the common baseline, ULEF the stricter tier. Labelling must generally be bilingual. Anti-dumping is the one that surprises buyers, because a low factory price can become an expensive landed unit once a measure applies.
2. Comparación de cuatro rutas de abastecimiento
| Ruta | Lo que compras | El plazo de ejecución | Ideal para |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directo de fábrica FOB | Armarios a medida según sus especificaciones. | 16 semanas | Projects above 30 units |
| Canadian importer stock | Tamaños estándar de un almacén local | 2-4 semanas | Pequeños trabajos y sustituciones |
| distribuidor local | Gabinetes de marca, instalados | 6-8 semanas | Single-family and retail |
| Híbrido | Cajas de fábrica, frentes locales | 12-14 semanas | Design-led multifamily |
Anti-dumping exposure sits on the direct route, because that is where the origin is declared. Stock from a Canadian importer has already absorbed it.
3. Cinco documentos que se deben solicitar antes del depósito.
CARB P2 or ULEF test report naming your board grade
Bilingual label artwork
Especificaciones de hardware con números de modelo
Ejemplo de plano de taller para una unidad típica.
Alcance y lista de verificación de la inspección previa al envío
The label artwork is easy to fix before printing and expensive to fix after. Ask for it with the quote.
4. ¿A dónde va el dinero por unidad?
| Línea de costos | Participación en el costo de desembarque |
|---|---|
| Precio de fábrica | 58-68% |
| Fletes y seguros | 8-12% |
| Duty and any anti-dumping | 0-20% |
| Despacho y entrega | 5-8% |
| Instalación | 10-15% |
The wide duty range is the anti-dumping variable. Model the worst case, not the best, before committing to a factory price.
5. Shipping and clearance into Canada
| Cerca del puerto deportivo | Ideal para | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | British Columbia and western provinces | 18 – 22 días |
| Montreal | Quebec, Ontario, eastern Canada | 30 – 35 días |
| Halifax | Provincias atlánticas | 32 – 38 días |
CBSA clearance is usually one to three days for a clean entry. Valuation and origin queries are the common delays, so keep the commercial invoice and bill of materials consistent.
6. Instalación y gestión de defectos
Canadian installation is often subcontracted, and winter site conditions slow delivery and installation. Build weather days into the programme for projects that close in late autumn. Photograph damaged cartons before opening, and keep a spares pack per unit type.
7. Evaluación de una fábrica en 12 comprobaciones
Licencia comercial y de exportación
CARB P2 or ULEF report
Bilingual label capability
Autorización de marca de hardware
Capacidad de dibujo de taller
Línea de canteado
Embalaje estándar
Fotos de carga de contenedores
Canadian shipment references
Historial de inspección
Registro de plazos de entrega
Respuesta posventa
8. Un horario que contiene
| Semana | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Dibujos, aprobación, depósito |
| 3-9 | Controles de producción y en línea |
| 10 | Inspección de pre-envío |
| 11 | Carga y despacho de exportación |
| 12-14 | Sea freight to Vancouver |
| 15 | CBSA clearance and delivery |
| 16 | Instalación y corrección de errores |
Winter adds days at both ends: loading can slip and installation slows. For projects closing after October, add a week of float.
9. Errores comunes en un primer envío
Three mistakes show up on almost every first shipment. The first is a certificate that names the factory but not the board grade. The second is a quote that leaves out duty and any anti-dumping measure. The third is a drawing approved after production starts, which moves every later date. Each is cheap to prevent and expensive to fix.
10. Qué incluir en la orden de compra
The purchase order should state the board grade, hardware model, door finish, packing standard and inspection scope. It should also name the Incoterm, the port and the party responsible for CARB P2 or ULEF evidence. A PO that lists only sizes and colours leaves the important terms to interpretation. Attach the especificación de hardware y conectar Norma de embalaje como anexos.
11. Plazo de entrega y efectivo
La mayoría de las fábricas solicitan un depósito del 30 % y el resto antes de la carga. Esto significa que el efectivo saldrá de su cuenta aproximadamente diez semanas antes de la llegada del contenedor. Calcule el capital de trabajo, no solo el precio unitario, y retenga una cantidad hasta que se apruebe la inspección previa al envío . La guía de costos de entrega muestra cómo incluir el costo de financiamiento.
12. Un ejemplo resuelto
Take a 60-unit apartment kitchen with a cabinet value of about $180,000 FOB. Freight adds 8–12%, duty and any anti-dumping measure adds its share, and installation adds 10–18% of the installed cost. The factory price is roughly two-thirds of the landed total; everything else is the route. Two ports can move the same cabinet by several hundred dollars per unit, which is why the route decision should come before the factory negotiation. Run the numbers in the guía de costos de desembarque antes de solicitar un segundo presupuesto de fábrica.
Preguntas frecuentes
What formaldehyde standard applies in Canada?
CARB P2 is widely specified and ULEF is the stricter tier. Ask for a test report naming the board grade, and confirm whether the project specifies CARB P2 or ULEF.
Is bilingual labelling required?
Consumer packaging in Canada generally requires English and French. For project supply the requirement depends on the province and the buyer, so confirm before printing cartons.
Are there anti-dumping duties on Chinese cabinets?
CBSA has investigated cabinet imports in the past. Status can change, so check the current measure and normal value before pricing. Do not assume a quote is duty-free.
¿Qué puerto debo utilizar?
Vancouver for western Canada, 18–22 days. Montreal for central and eastern Canada, 30–35 days. Halifax is an option for Atlantic provinces.
How much duty do I pay?
Most cabinets enter under a tariff line with a low or zero Most-Favoured-Nation rate, but anti-dumping or countervailing measures can change the effective rate. Confirm the current classification.
How long does CBSA clearance take?
A clean entry is usually one to three days. Queries on valuation, origin or anti-dumping add a week or more.
