Canada publishes a free, official list of importers: the Canadian Importers Database from the Government of Canada lists companies importing goods by product, by city and by country of origin, with their names and locations. It covers the major importers, the businesses that together make up to 80% of imports of a product. It does not show how much each company buys or from whom, so the work is checking which of them sell or use what you make, and who decides there.
Where Canadian importer lists come from
| Source | What it gives you | Where it falls short |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Importers Database | Company names and locations by product, city and country of origin; free open data | No values, suppliers or contacts; includes customs brokers and non-resident importers; major importers only |
| Trade shows in Canada | Buyers in your category, exhibitor lists | Most exhibitors are sellers |
| Your country's trade office in Canada | Introductions and distributor contacts | Depth varies |
| Web buyer research | Companies that sell or use your product today, including smaller ones outside the 80% | You have to describe the buyer well; Outfound does this work |
Using the database well
- Search by your product and, if useful, by the country you export from: the list of companies already importing it from your country is short and relevant.
- Remove customs brokers and companies clearly outside your sector.
- Open each remaining company's website: does it sell or use your product, and at what scale?
- Find the purchasing or category manager.
Remember what the list leaves out: smaller importers outside the top 80%, and companies that buy from a Canadian distributor. Those are often easier to win. Outfound finds them by researching companies on the web, keeps the ones that fit with the reason and a source, and writes the first email in the buyer's language.
What Canadian buyers ask first
- Compliance: CFIA rules for food, and the product standards and certifications in your category.
- Bilingual labelling: consumer products sold in Canada generally need English and French labels.
- Landed cost: your price with freight and duty.
The rules for a first email
Canada's anti-spam law (CASL) is strict about commercial email. It has limited exceptions, such as a message relevant to the recipient's role sent to an address they have published without saying they do not want such messages. Identify yourself, include a working unsubscribe, and check the rules before emailing at scale.
For the methods in general, see how to find buyers for export. The US next door works differently: how to find importers in the USA.
Last updated: · By: Tolga Tatar