Are you starting your shipping business and looking for the most cost-effective shipping solutions from China to Australia? Do you want to explore the available shipping methods and prices and understand how to utilize them when importing from China to Australia effectively?

Then, this is the ultimate shipping guide for you. It is designed to streamline your import business from China to Australia, saving you valuable time and effort.

Sea freight from China to Australia is ideal for importers dealing with large quantities of goods and not constrained by tight timelines. This shipping mode offers flexibility, allowing you to transport various items in varying amounts. Sea freight can accommodate your needs, whether it’s clothes, kitchen items, machinery, chemicals, furnitures, car parts, electronics, or even vehicles.

You can choose between Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) shipping from China to Australia. In FCL, you fill an entire container with your goods alone. Conversely, LCL consolidates your packages with those of other importers. However, LCL may take longer as separating your cargo from other consolidators requires additional handling time.

Regardless of your choice, a freight forwarding company can assist you at every step. Freight companies organize freight and assemble goods, help determine the shipping route from China to Australia, pick up goods from the supplier, handle customs clearance at both ports and provide final delivery.

Air freight from China to Australia is the second fastest method for delivering goods, following express shipping. It is an excellent choice for transporting fragile and sensitive items, offering enhanced protection and safer delivery.

While air freight is more expensive than sea freight shipping, it becomes cost-effective for goods weighing between 300 and 500 kilograms. For goods below this weight range, the cost increases substantially.

Generally, air freight is not recommended for bulk shipping due to its higher cost. Although possible, most importers find it too expensive compared to other options.

Express shipping is the fastest transportation method, but it comes at a higher cost due to its high-speed delivery service.

Express shipping is typically used for lighter goods, with a total weight below 200 kg, as bulky and heavy items are not suitable for this mode of transport.

Various reputable courier companies, including FedEx, UPS, and DHL Express, offer express shipping.

You pay the courier service for the shipping process when shipping goods via express shipping. This includes picking up the goods from the Chinese supplier and delivering them to your local address in Australia. The express company manages the entire shipping journey.

DHL Express is one of the prominent express shipping services. The delivery time for shipping from China to Australia is approximately 1-5 working days. The DHL shipping cost per kilogram ranges from around 7-12 AUD from China to Australia.

Winsky Freight is one of the best DHL shipping agents, enabling us to offer competitive shipping prices. DHL Express is one of the fastest express services, delivering your parcel to your doorstep in Australia from a Chinese supplier in just about three working days.

DHL Express is highly regarded in the shipping market, and you can take advantage of our diverse range of express services to choose the one that suits your requirements.

Shipping to Amazon in Australia is possible from China, and Winsky Freight specializes in shipping to Amazon in Australia from China. We offer air and sea freight door-to-door options for shipping to Amazon in Australia.

We can provide you with DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) with import customs clearance under your ABN (Australian Business Number) account or ship by DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) with customs clearance and duties service included if you are not a registered company in Australia.

Below are the Amazon fulfillment centers in Australia and famous 3PL warehouses where we provide shipping services:

Contact us now for the fastest and cheapest shipping for delivery from China to Australia Amazon!

There are several shipping ports from China to Australia, Choose the right shipping ports and route can save more shipping time and money, below you will find some major shipping ports between China and Australia

The Main Port origin from China;

• Ningbo
• Shanghai
• Shenzhen
• Xiamen
• Qingdao

The Main port of Destination in Australia

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Adelaide

According to the United Nations COMTRADE database in 2022, Australia did 72.86 billion dollars of imports from China.

Let us now see the steps you must follow to ship to Australia successfully.

Step 1- Know Your Import Rights

The first step to importing goods from China is to have your import license in Australia as an importer. Without an import license, you cannot bring goods to Australia legally.

Step 2- Choose A Supplier

Select a supplier from whom you wish to import goods. You can choose your supplier online through various websites and social media or visit China to look for a supplier.

There are various online platforms where you can look for a supplier in your budget. These websites scan thousands of goods to find the right one that matches your search.

These websites are Alibaba, AliExpress, China Sources, HKDC, Made In China, and more.

Step 3- Goods Purchase

Once you find a reliable supply source, it is time for you to purchase goods. Look for the goods you want to import for business in your country and seal your deal.

Before making the purchase, ensure there is a demand for these goods in Australia and you can profit from them. Various kinds of goods are available; sometimes, one particular product will have different qualities and be of varying prices.

Step 4- Hire A Freight Forwarder

Once you finish the purchase, hire a freight forwarding company for your shipping. Elaborate on what shipping routes you are willing to take from China to Australia and ask for a quote.

After you hire a shipping company for your particular needs, everything will be handled by them.

The delivery time will significantly impact your supply chain and sales plan. Therefore, choose it carefully and determine in advance if the shipment is urgent.

Shipment transit time is affected by several factors, including shipping options, factory address, destination address, product types, customs examination, port congestion, and weather. Below are the estimated shipping times for Air, Express Air, and sea for your reference:

Shipping times from China to Australia

• Express Air: DHL, FedEx, TNT (2-5 working days)
• Standard Air: 8-10 days on average, priced more competitively than Express Air, suitable for goods that are not urgent compared to Express Air. Ideal for high-value and high-benefit goods.

LCL sea freight time: 

• Sea carriers have a weekly sailing plan, taking about 20 days after dispatch, excluding customs examination.
• After loading the container, arriving at Sydney seaport takes about 14-20 days. Customs clearance will take about 3-5 working days, followed by transportation to the operation warehouse for sorting before delivery via courier or truck.

Meeting the cut-off time can save valuable shipping time. Below are the cut-off times for November-2024 for your reference:

Sea freight: 28-42 days for door-to-door business shipments, the most economical shipping option suitable for goods that are not urgent and have sufficient time for sea shipment.

A Delivery time Charter for your reference

Sea freight time from China to Australia

Air freight time from China to Australia

The shipping rates from China to Australia vary according to different factors, such as the shipping options. Take advantage of shipping from Winsky for the most competitive shipping cost to meet your delivery time requirements without hidden fees like destination port charges.

For more details on how to calculate the shipping cost to Australia, please refer to the information below:

1. Identify your product type: Is it general cargo, sensitive cargo, or dangerous cargo?

2. Understand how to calculate the chargeable weight in advance: The chargeable weight is determined by choosing the more excellent value between gross and volumetric weights.

For example, if the gross weight of the goods is only 12 kg per carton, but the volume weight of the goods is higher than the gross weight, it will be charged based on the volume weight.

For Door-to-Door Air and Sea shipping, the volume weight (KG) = The outer carton Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) ÷ 6000.

If each carton measures 52x48x40 cm, the volume weight = (52x48x40) ÷ 6000 = 16.64KG. Therefore, the charge weight is 16.64 kg per carton.

3. Check the extra delivery fee for the overweight or oversized package:

Notice: Receiver must prepare a forklift for unloading overweight and oversized packages, or there might be an additional tail lift truck service fee.

4. Consider the mode of transport you choose—Air or Sea, and the shipping mode: Port to Port or Door to Door.

Generally, if your cargo weight is above 100 kg or the total shipment volume is over 1CBM, sea freight becomes the more cost-effective option.

For weights below 100 kg, air freight is a quicker alternative. We provide air and sea freight door-to-door services, even for weights as low as 20 kg.

Still unsure about whether to choose air or sea freight service? Contact our sales experts.

To find the cheapest shipping from China to Australia, you need a clear idea of what goods are best to ship using which freight method.

More significant, heavy, or bulky goods are not cost-effective if shipped by air freight or express.

However, sea freight can transport vast goods at a lower cost. Sea freight allows you to ship various items at the most affordable and cheapest shipping rate.

You can also choose from FCL and LCL, which lets you decide how much you want to spend on shipping.

Express and air shipping is the cheapest for smaller parcels below 100 kg. Essential documents, catalogs, or other small items are best shipped using express shipping and will save you costs.

Fragile goods, items with a time-sensitive nature, and sensitive materials are more suitable to be shipped by air freight. Air freight provides the best security for your goods. Hence, theft or damage is less likely during the shipping process.

As sensitive goods need special treatment while importing, this cannot be given in sea freight. Damage to these expensive goods will incur more loss if shipped via sea freight to save money.

To learn more about this, you can follow this YouTube link.

Paperwork is an essential step for importing from China to Australia. Without the proper documentation, your cargo will not be allowed to enter the international border.

Ensure your cargo complies with the rules and regulations of Australian customs, and have everything ready before you present your cargo for customs clearance. The following are the necessary documents needed to ship from China to Australia:

1. Commercial Invoice
2. Packing List
3. Certificate of Origin
4. Airway Bill or Seaway Bill

It will require import customs clearance and GST duty for a total shipment value of over AUD 1000 when shipping from China to Australia. According to the terms of Sino-Australian trade, Sino-Australian certificates of origin can exempt Australian tariffs. We can arrange this FAT certificate of origin on your behalf for US$25 per shipment.

As Australian customs clearance is in pre-clearance mode, please confirm the terms of trade before shipment. Changes in the terms of trade after delivery will result in double customs clearance costs of approximately AUD 125.

Payment proof is required for a value below AUD 1000 and a shipment weight over 70 kg, as the EMPP custom inspection rate is higher for this import volume.

Customs clearance is the checkpoint that controls everything coming in or going out of the country. Before shipping your goods, you must have your paperwork ready, ensure your goods are adequately packed, all duties and taxes are paid, and that your shipment does not contain any illegal items.

Customs usually estimates the cargo value based on the product name, weight, volume, and other factors.

If the shipment undergoes EMPP (Evidence of Money Price Paid) customs inspection and Customs have doubts about the value of the goods, you will need to provide commercial invoices, proof of payment, and product links (if there is no link, provide sales contracts or other invoices, orders). The above information is necessary to assist customs in releasing the clearance as soon as possible.

Please note that all documents provided, including invoices, packing lists, and sales contracts, must be accurate (for example, the time of the sales contract should be earlier than the invoice). They must also be consistent with the data declared to customs, including the product name, quantity, unit price, and total price. Particularly, the seller and buyer details on the document must align with the customs declaration.

It’s important to note that EMPP documents must be accurate, with no loopholes or discrepancies. Otherwise, customs may withhold the goods for inspection or even confiscate or destroy them.

Pay attention to the actual worth of the goods. The import customs examination rate is higher for goods weighing over 70 kg and having a value below AUD1000. If the declared value exceeds the Australian customs standard, the shipment might face further delays or a penalty fee.

Avoid shipping prohibited items or counterfeit branded goods without authorization.

Parcel delivery might experience delays due to random import customs inspections, although this occurrence could be more frequent. Planning your purchases and allowing ample time for delivery is necessary.

Delivery Notice in Australia:

For packages with a chargeable weight over 30 kg or pallet packages, ensure you have a forklift ready for unloading the goods. Failure to do so may result in an additional tail lift service delivery fee.

In case of local delivery by truck service, the truck company will contact you in advance to receive the goods. However, courier companies in Australia will only get the receiver after delivery. Hence, tracking the shipping status online is advisable to avoid missing the delivery and incurring a secondary delivery fee. Alternatively, you may need to pick up the package at the depot.

Fumigation Requirement:

Fumigation certificates are mandatory for the import of wood products, rattan products, bamboo products, and goods with solid wood packaging into Australia. Please refer to the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture for more information.

Regarding Cargo Insurance:

Fragile products are not covered by cargo insurance. Therefore, ensure that the Chinese factory packs the goods securely in rigid carton boxes.

If you are shipping via air freight, you can track it directly on the official websites of air carriers such as DHL, FedEx, and China Airlines using the provided tracking numbers.

If you are shipping via sea freight, you can track it directly on the official websites of sea carriers like COSCO, HPL, HMM, EMC, and MSK using the provided seaway bill number.

If you use the door-to-door service for air and sea freight with our Australia special line service, input the tracking number on the special line tracking website link we have provided. Tracking information will be available approximately two days after the goods are picked up.

If you have difficulty understanding the tracking information, contact your sales representative, and we will provide you with an estimated delivery time.”

Below is Winsky Freight’s shipping process from China to Australia for your information:

1. If it is on EXW terms with your China factory, we will arrange the pick-up from the supplier to our shipping warehouse when the goods are ready. If it is on FOB terms, your China factory will be responsible for shipping to the China shipping warehouse.
2. We will ask the supplier to complete the commercial invoice required for shipping.
3. We will check the goods and confirm the exact weight and dimensions with you after the goods arrive at our warehouse.
4. Send the shipping invoice for your payment confirmation.
5. We arrange the export customs clearance for goods sent out by sea/air freight.
6. Send you the sea/air freight tracking number.
7. After the goods arrive at the destination seaport/airport, a local agent in Australia will contact you to pay the import customs and tax fees if applicable.
8. After customs clearance, the local agent will arrange the goods’ delivery by truck or courier to your Australian address.

It is your best choice for shipping from China to Australia with Winsky Freight for the following reasons:

• Most economic freight
• Pick up from any Chinese factory
• Door-to-door convenient shipping
• Import customs clearance support
• Tracking online service

Shipping from China to Australia is simple if you understand the entire process. If you’re still unfamiliar with the process and when to choose which method, you may lose money and time, impacting your supply chain and ultimately affecting your business.

The best way to overcome these complications is to choose the best freight forwarder to handle the job for you. Regarding shipping from China, Winsky Freight is the best choice for you. We provide the most economical and secure shipping service. Contact us today for easy shipping.