Top 10 Container Shipping Companies in Canada

Container shipping companies in Canada play a vital role in the nation’s international trade, connecting Canadian industries with global markets.

With its massive coastline and strategic location, Canada’s ports such as those in Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, and Toronto—serve as important transit points for goods travelling worldwide.

Key Canadian Ports

• Port of Montreal: It is located on Canada’s east coast and connects Canada to North American and European markets.
• Port of Vancouver: Located along the West Coast, it is a key port, particularly for trade with Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific region.
• Port of Halifax: Serves European Caribbean, Central, South,  and North American markets
• Port of Prince Rupert: Serves Asian markets.

Read: Top 10 Largest Container Shipping Companies in the UK

Top 10 Container Shipping Companies in Canada

The container shipping industry in Canada is dominated by global shipping giants. They offer a wide range of services that include:

• Container shipping: Standard containers, refrigerated containers (reefers), flat-rack containers, high-cube containers, and open-top containers.
• Global Reach: Services between North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
• Specialized Services: Logistics, inland transportation, supply chain management, and terminal operations.

The top container shipping companies operating in Canada are often subsidiaries of global shipping leaders. Their services extend to major international shipping lanes, such as those connecting Canada with Asia, Europe, and the United States.

These companies help facilitate Canadian exports of consumer goods, industrial machinery, agricultural products, and raw materials.

Here are the top 10 container shipping companies in Canada, along with details about their operations and services in the country:

Mediterranean Shipping Company

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping, Intermodal Transport, and Logistics & Supply Chain Solutions
• MSC Canada Trade Routes:
  • Canada to Europe (Transatlantic Route): This route links Major European ports, such as Antwerp (Belgium), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Le Havre (France), Valencia, and Barcelona (Spain).
  • Canada to Asia (Transpacific Route): Connect to ports across Asia, including the Ports of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Busan (South Korea), and Singapore.
  • Canada to the United States (North American Trade): Connect to New York, Miami, and other US ports.
  • Canada to Latin America (Transatlantic/Transpacific Route): Latin American ports in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
  • Canada to the Middle East and Africa: This route connects Canada to ports in the Middle East, such as Dubai, and African ports like Durban (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), and Mombasa (Kenya).
  • Canada to Australia and New Zealand: Connects Canada to key Australian and New Zealand ports, including Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Wellington

MSC is one of the largest container shipping companies in Canada. It serves major Canadian ports and provides import and export services to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions. The company also offers specialized container shipping solutions, including refrigerated containers (reefers), oversized cargo, and logistics services.

CGM Group

• Headquarters: Marseille, France
• Key Ports in Canada: Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping Services, Intermodal Services, & Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions
• CGM Group Canada Trade Routes:
  • Transatlantic Routes: This supports trade between Canadian ports and European ports, such as the Port of Felixstowe (the UK) and Hamburg (Germany).
  • Transpacific Routes: This route links Canadian ports to Asia, with prominent destinations like Shanghai and Ningbo (China) and Busan (South Korea).
  • Latin America & Caribbean Routes: The Route connects Canada with Central America, South America, and the Caribbean countries. Primary trade routes extend to Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.

It is one of Canada’s largest container shipping companies headquartered in France. The company provides cargo transport across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It also offers specialized solutions like refrigerated containers (reefers), dangerous goods transport, and inland transport logistics.

Maersk Line

• Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping Services, Intermodal Services, Supply Chain Management, & Cold Chain Solutions
• Maersk Canada Trade Routes:
  • Canada-Asia (Trans-Pacific Routes): This route links Canadian West Coast ports (Vancouver, Prince Rupert) to East Asia. It includes significant hubs in China (Shanghai, Shenzhen), Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
  • Canada-Europe (Trans-Atlantic Routes): This route links Canadian East Coast ports (Montreal, Halifax) to European ports. These include Rotterdam (Netherlands), Belgium (Antwerp), and Felixstowe (the UK).
  • Canada-Latin America (Intra-America Routes): Routes from Canadian ports (Vancouver) to Mexico, Central America, and South America.
  • Canada-US (North America Routes): Maersk also connects Canadian and US ports along the Pacific & Atlantic coasts.

Maersk is the largest container shipping company, offering global services from Canadian ports. It operates directly from Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, with a wide range of container types, including reefer and high-cube containers. It also offers integrated supply chain management services, including inland transportation, logistics, and terminal services.

Hapag-Lloyd

• Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping Services, Intermodal Services, Refrigerated Cargo Solutions.
• Hapag Canada Trade Routes:
  • Transatlantic Routes: Linking ports in Montreal and Halifax to European destinations like Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Antwerp (Belgium)
  • Transpacific Routes: From Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports to key Asian ports like Shanghai (China) and Busan (South Korea).
  • Intra-Americas Routes: These routes connect Canadian ports to Latin American and Caribbean destinations, with key trade epicenters in Mexico, Brazil, and others.
  • Inland North American Network: Through Canadian rail and road links, Hapag-Lloyd connects Canadian cities to US markets, enriching cross-border trade.

Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading container shipping companies. It provides services in Canada through significant ports like Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax and delivers reliable container shipping services to Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Ocean Network Express (ONE)

• Headquarters: Singapore
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Prince Rupert
• Services: Container Shipping Services, Export and Import Services, Intermodal Solutions, Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
• ONE Canada Trade Routes:
  • Canada—Asia (Transpacific Trade Route): This route links Canadian ports in Vancouver to Asian ports like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shenzhen (China), and Busan (South Korea).
  • Canada—United States Trade Routes: This route links the port of Vancouver with critical US ports, such as Seattle and Los Angeles.
  • Canada – Europe Trade Routes: Links Vancouver & Montreal ports to major European ports like Rotterdam (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), and Hamburg (Germany).
  • Canada – Africa & the Middle East: Links Canadian ports to African ports like Lagos (Nigeria), Durban (South Africa), Port Said (Egypt), and Jebel Ali (UAE).
  • Canada—South America: Vancouver port is connected to major South American ports such as Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

Ocean Network Express (ONE) Canada, the Canadian division of Ocean Network Express, is a global container shipping company. It was established by merging three major Japanese container shipping lines (K Line, MOL, and NYK). In Canada, ONE operates from Vancouver, Montreal, and Prince Rupert, offering comprehensive container shipping services across various international routes.

Evergreen Marine Corporation

• Headquarters: Taoyuan City, Taiwan
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Prince Rupert
• Services: Container Shipping, Logistics, and Port Coverage
• Evergreen Canada Trade Routes:
  • Canada—Asia: This route links Canadian ports in Vancouver and Montreal to Asian ports like Shanghai (China), Tokyo (Japan), and Busan (South Korea).
  • Canada—United States: This route links the port of Vancouver with critical US ports, such as Seattle, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
  • Canada – Europe: Links Vancouver & Montreal ports to ports in Europe like Rotterdam (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), and Hamburg (Germany).
  • Canada – South America: From Vancouver port to major South American ports in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile.

Evergreen Marine Corporation Canada is the Canadian branch of Evergreen Marine Corporation, a leading global container shipping company headquartered in Taiwan. In Canada, the company links major Canadian ports like Vancouver and Montreal to global markets in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It offers logistics and terminal services to streamline shipping operations.

COSCO Shipping Lines

• Headquarters: Shanghai, China
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions
• COSCO Canada Trade Routes
  • Transpacific Routes: From Canadian ports (especially Vancouver) to Asian markets, including China, Japan, and South Korea.
  • Transatlantic Routes: COSCO also serves European markets, providing services between Canadian ports (Montreal and Halifax) and significant European ports like Rotterdam and Hamburg.
  • North-South Routes: COSCO operates routes linking Canada to the East and West Coasts of the United States and Latin America.
  • Panama Canal: COSCO uses it to extend its services to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, boosting trade between Canada and various regions worldwide.

COSCO Shipping Canada is the Canadian arm of COSCO Shipping Lines, a global leader in containerized shipping services. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, it is one of the top container shipping companies in Canada and the world. It operates a vast network with major international shipping routes connecting Canada to global markets, especially in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. COSCO also provides logistics, supply chain management, and terminal services to its clients.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services

• Headquarters: Haifa, Israel
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions
• ZIM Canada Routes:
  • Transpacific Routes: ZIM operates routes from Canadian ports like Vancouver to major Asian ports in China, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
  • Transatlantic Routes: ZIM also connects Canada to vital European markets in Northern Europe ( Rotterdam, Hamburg) and the Mediterranean.
  • Intra-Americas Routes: ZIM services include routes from Canada to the US East Coast & West Coast and Latin American countries.
  • Panama Canal Services: ZIM uses the Panama Canal to extend its reach, linking Canada to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for more efficient and shorter routes.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Canada is the Canadian division of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd, headquartered in Haifa, Israel. This top container shipping company has established a strong presence in Canada, with operations in key ports such as Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. These ports link Canada to global markets across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. ZIM offers various services, including Full Container Load (FCL) and Less-than-Container Load (LCL), as well as integrated logistics solutions such as freight forwarding and inland transportation.

Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation

• Headquarters: Keelung, Taiwan
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax
• Services: Container Shipping, Logistics & Freight Services, Port & Terminal Services
• Yang Ming Canada Routes
  • Canada—Asia: This route links Canadian ports in Vancouver and Montreal to Asian ports like Shanghai (China), Tokyo (Japan), and Busan (South Korea).
  • Canada—United States: This route links the port of Vancouver with US ports in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
  • Canada – Europe: Links Vancouver & Montreal ports to ports in Europe like Rotterdam (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), and Hamburg (Germany).

Yang Ming is another critical Taiwanese shipping company providing container shipping services to Canada. The company operates through several major Canadian ports, including Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. In addition, its fleets offer various types of containers, and the company serves routes to and from Europe, Asia, and North America.

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM)

• Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
• Key Ports in Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax
• Services: Container shipping, Intermodal solutions, bulk cargo solutions
• HMM Trade Routes:
  • Transpacific Routes: HMM operates routes from Canadian ports like Vancouver to major Asian ports in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
  • Transatlantic Routes: HMM connects Canada to vital European ports like Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg.
  • Intra-Asia Services: These routes involve shipping within Asia but also serve Canadian import/export markets needing connections to these regions, such as services between Japan, Korea, and China, and further into Southeast Asia.

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), based in South Korea, is a prominent container shipping company. It operates from Canadian ports such as Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. The company offers reliable container shipping services to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. HMM also provides specialized services like refrigerated cargo shipping, logistics, and port terminal operations.