Shipping from China to Australia
China is Australia's largest trading partner, and a free trade agreement means many goods clear at reduced or zero duty. Here's how a shipment actually gets there.
- Modes available FCL · LCL · Air
- Typical ocean transit 18–30 days
- Typical air transit 3–7 days
Main gateways
Which port your cargo enters through depends on your final delivery state.
Sydney (Port Botany)
Australia's busiest container port and the default gateway for cargo destined for New South Wales.
Melbourne
One of the country's largest ports by container volume, well placed for Victoria and inland distribution.
Brisbane
The main gateway for Queensland-bound cargo, with regular direct China services.
Fremantle
Western Australia's principal container port, serving Perth and the surrounding region.
Air Freight typically routes through Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane airports, depending on your destination and carrier.
Choosing a mode for this lane
FCL
The standard choice once volume passes roughly 15 CBM. Direct, sealed, and the most predictable option into any Australian gateway.
FCL Shipping →LCL
Share a container and pay only for the space you use — the right call for smaller or occasional shipments to Australia.
LCL Shipping →Air Freight
Days instead of weeks, for urgent restocks, high-value goods, or time-sensitive Amazon Australia replenishment.
Air Freight →ChAFTA, GST & documents
Most goods originating in China qualify for reduced or zero duty under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) — but only with the right paperwork. Typical documents for a commercial shipment:
- Commercial invoice & packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of Origin (required to claim ChAFTA preferential duty)
- Correct tariff classification for your goods
On duty and GST: Australia charges a flat 10% GST on the landed value (goods, freight and insurance included), separate from customs duty. Standard duty is commonly around 5% based on the FOB (goods only, excluding freight/insurance) value, but many China-origin goods qualify for a reduced or zero ChAFTA rate with a valid Certificate of Origin. Because eligibility and exact rates depend on your product's tariff classification, we confirm the applicable rate as part of your quote.
Shipping inventory into Amazon Australia warehouses
If your cargo is headed to Amazon AU fulfilment centres, we handle labelling, carton marking and FBA-compliant documentation alongside your FCL, LCL or Air booking.
Common questions
-
How do I qualify for reduced duty under ChAFTA?
You need a valid Certificate of Origin confirming your goods originate in China, issued by an authorised body. We can guide you through getting this from your supplier.
-
Do small commercial shipments avoid GST and duty?
The AUD $1,000 low-value threshold applies to private individual imports, not commercial shipments or goods intended for resale — those are subject to GST and duty regardless of value.
-
Which port should my cargo use?
We'll route through Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Fremantle based on your final delivery state and required transit time.
Ready to ship to Australia?
Tell us your cargo, volume and destination and we'll put together an accurate quote — GST and duty included.