Thought Leadership: In-Country Fulfilment in Canada: Unlocking Growth, Debunking Myths
Why In-Country Fulfillment Matters in Canada
For international retailers, Canada is no longer a secondary frontier; it’s a market where consumer expectations demand both precision and local agility. The Canadian cross-border e-commerce logistics market is set to grow from USD 6.0 billion in 2024 to USD 22.8 billion by 2030, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.3 percent.¹
That growth places a spotlight on in-country fulfilment—leasing or operating warehouses within Canada to support faster delivery, local returns, and reduced cross-border transit risk. The strategic advantage is clear: if you’re moving product into Canada from overseas, being locally present is increasingly a differentiator.
Yet despite the opportunity, there are persistent misconceptions that hold companies back from investing in Canadian in-country fulfilment. Below, we debunk three of the most common myths before sharing five key insights for success.
Myth #1: “We can simply fulfill Canada orders from the U.S. or Europe — in-country fulfilment isn’t required.”
Truth: While cross-border shipping remains possible, Canadian consumers have high expectations for delivery and transparency. Research shows that 82 percent of Canadian shoppers actively seek free shipping and prefer tracked, reliable delivery options.²
Additionally, the Canadian warehouse market is tightening: one study found over 16.8 million square feet of new warehousing under construction in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) alone, pushing total inventory to 819.9 million square feet.³
What to keep in mind: If you ship Canadian orders from outside the country, you risk longer transit times, customs delays, and higher return costs. An in-country facility de-risks transit and supports local returns—critical for e-commerce competitiveness.
Myth #2: “Operating a Canadian warehouse is too costly and complex to justify for our volumes.”
Truth: Yes, costs are non-trivial—but so too are the costs of not being local. The third-party logistics (3PL) market in Canada is forecast to grow with a CAGR of 7.8 percent through 2030, reaching USD 30.4 billion.⁴
Moreover, the inbound logistics market is expected to climb from USD 81.9 billion in 2024 to USD 120.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR 6.7 percent).⁵
What to keep in mind: View the investment as an enabler of customer experience—faster delivery, easier returns, and brand loyalty. Leverage partner-led models or hybrid fulfilment to manage cost while retaining a local presence.
Myth #3: “In-country fulfilment means we forego cross-border flexibility — we’re committed to Canada only.”
Truth: Setting up in-country fulfilment doesn’t mean limiting your global reach—it’s part of a hybrid network strategy. You can still consolidate shipments to Canada and use your in-country warehouse for final-mile delivery and returns.
What to keep in mind: Design your Canadian node as part of a broader fulfilment ecosystem. It can support both domestic operations and cross-border efficiency.
From Misconceptions to Market Advantage
The myths above often stem from a legacy mindset—one that views cross-border and in-country fulfilment as competing strategies rather than complementary ones. The reality is that Canadian in-country fulfilment acts as a force multiplier: it strengthens your customer experience, de-risks customs and last-mile delivery, and supports sustainable growth.
So, what does it take to succeed? The following five insights outline what every cross-border business should know—and how Landmark Global can help turn these principles into performance.
Sources: Grand View Research, “Cross-Border E-Commerce Logistics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report (Canada),” 2024, Landmark Global Internal Data, “Cross-Border E-Commerce Insights: Canada,” 2023.
Five Things to Know About In-Country Fulfilment
| What to Know | How Landmark Global Can Help | |
| 1 | Transit & Delivery Speed – Canadian shoppers expect 3–7 business days for domestic delivery and 7–14 days for international orders.² | Our network covers 70 percent of the population, handling 20 million parcels in 2023 with 98 percent on-time performance.⁶ |
| 2 | Customs & Clearance Efficiency – Duties, taxes, and delivery surprises can derail the experience. | We operate an in-house Canadian customs brokerage, offering Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) and Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) models to streamline consumer delivery. |
| 3 | Returns Infrastructure – Cross-border returns are costly if routed internationally. | Our Canadian warehouses manage local returns weekly, reducing cost and accelerating resalable inventory recovery. |
| 4 | Scalable Warehousing Footprint – E-commerce demand is pushing Canada’s industrial vacancy rate to historic lows.³ | We provide access to strategically located fulfilment centers across major metro areas, supporting scalable growth. |
| 5 | Hybrid Global Network Approach – Align offshore consolidation with Canadian final-mile delivery. | We integrate cross-border inbound logistics with in-country fulfilment, creating an end-to-end network from origin to doorstep. |
Making In-Country Fulfilment Work in Canada
In-country fulfilment in Canada is no longer optional for cross-border retailers serious about market leadership—it’s strategic. By challenging myths and focusing on the five priorities above, organizations can meet Canadian consumers’ expectations while controlling cost, complexity, and risk.
At Landmark Global, we combine cross-border logistics expertise with local warehousing capabilities to help global brands move closer to their customers—literally and operationally.
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