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. Four sourcing routes compared
| Route | What you buy | Lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct factory FOB | Custom cabinets to your spec | 16 weeks | Projects above 30 units |
| Canadian importer stock | Standard sizes from a local warehouse | 2–4 weeks | Small jobs and fill-ins |
| Local distributor | Branded cabinets, installed | 6–8 weeks | Single-family and retail |
| Hybrid | Factory boxes, local fronts | 12–14 weeks | 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. Five documents to request before deposit
CARB P2 or ULEF test report naming your board grade
Bilingual label artwork
Hardware specification with model numbers
Shop drawing sample for one typical unit
Pre-shipment inspection scope and checklist
The label artwork is easy to fix before printing and expensive to fix after. Ask for it with the quote.
4. Where the money goes per unit
| Cost line | Share of landed cost |
|---|---|
| Factory price | 58–68% |
| Freight and insurance | 8–12% |
| Duty and any anti-dumping | 0–20% |
| Clearance and delivery | 5–8% |
| Installation | 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
| Port | Best for | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | British Columbia and western provinces | 18–22 days |
| Montreal | Quebec, Ontario, eastern Canada | 30–35 days |
| Halifax | Atlantic provinces | 32–38 days |
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. Installation and defect management
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. Vetting a factory in 12 checks
Business and export licence
CARB P2 or ULEF report
Bilingual label capability
Hardware brand authorisation
Shop drawing capability
Edge banding line
Packing standard
Container loading photos
Canadian shipment references
Inspection history
Lead time record
After-sales response
8. A schedule that holds
| Week | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Drawings, approval, deposit |
| 3–9 | Production and in-line checks |
| 10 | Pre-shipment inspection |
| 11 | Loading and export clearance |
| 12–14 | Sea freight to Vancouver |
| 15 | CBSA clearance and delivery |
| 16 | Installation and snagging |
Winter adds days at both ends: loading can slip and installation slows. For projects closing after October, add a week of float.
9. Common mistakes on a first shipment
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. What to put in the purchase order
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 hardware specification and the packaging standard as annexes.
11. Lead time and cash
Most factories ask for 30% deposit and the balance before loading. That means cash leaves your account roughly ten weeks before the container arrives. Model the working capital, not just the unit price, and hold back a retention until the pre-shipment inspection is signed off. The landed cost guide shows how to include the financing cost.
12. A worked example
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 landed cost guide before asking for a second factory quote.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Which port should I use?
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.
