Trade between China and Australia continues to grow, and the demand for logistics and transportation continues to rise. Timeliness is one of the core indicators in cross-border transportation, which directly affects the company’s inventory management, sales plan and customer satisfaction. This article will introduce the timeliness of transportation from China to Australia in detail.
How to Ship from China to Australia
There are several common modes of transport for transporting goods from China to Australia, depending on the type, volume, weight, urgency and budget of the goods:
Sea Freight
Ocean Freight is suitable for large quantities of goods (such as full container load/less than container load), low timeliness requirements, large and heavy goods, low cost, cheap unit freight, strong carrying capacity, can transport various types of goods, and relatively standardized tax treatment. It is mainly divided into two modes of transportation:
- Full Container Load (FCL): One shipper monopolizes the entire container (20GP, 40GP, 40HQ, etc.), which is more cost-effective and suitable for bulk goods
- Less than Container Load (LCL): Goods from multiple shippers are combined in one container, which requires additional operations and more time.
Air Freight
Air transport is the fastest mode of transport, suitable for high-value, perishable, and urgently needed goods with small weight and volume (such as electronic products, clothing, and medical equipment), high stability. Good safety and low breakage rate, but it is not suitable for bulk cargo transportation due to many restrictions on routes and cargo (such as restrictions on dangerous goods).
The Impact of Shipping Mode on Timeliness
There are two main modes of transporting goods from China to Australia, and their timeliness varies significantly:
- Air freight: the fastest mode of transportation, usually delivered in 3-7 days, suitable for high-value time-sensitive goods
- Ocean freight: the most economical mode of transportation, but it takes the longest time, usually 14-35 days
The essence of the timeliness difference stems from the physical characteristics and operating procedures of different modes of transportation. Air transport wins with speed but is limited by load and volume, while ocean transport is the opposite. When choosing a mode of transportation, companies need to comprehensively consider the characteristics of the goods (value, volume, perishability), supply chain needs (replenishment cycle, market response speed) and cost budget.
Sea Freight Time from China to Australia
Sea transportation is the main mode of transportation for China-Australia trade. It can transport almost all types of goods. Its timeliness is affected by many factors. There are two main shipping routes from China to Australia.
- East Coast Line: From China’s eastern ports to Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane
- West Coast Line: Mainly from Ningbo and Shanghai to Fremantle
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | Shipping days |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Sydney | 15-32 days |
| Shenzhen | Sydney | 16-30 days |
| Ningbo | Sydney | 14-34 days |
| Shanghai | Melbourne | 14-35 days |
| Shenzhen | Melbourne | 18-25 days |
| Ningbo | Melbourne | 14-30 days |
| Shanghai | Brisbane | 17-28 days |
| Shenzhen | Brisbane | 14-35 days |
| Ningbo | Brisbane | 15-32 days |
| Shanghai | Fremantle | 27-29 days |
| Shenzhen | Fremantle | 14-35 days |
| Ningbo | Fremantle | 15-34 days |
Air Freight Time from China to Australia
As a fast logistics channel between China and Australia, although air transport has a higher cost, it occupies an irreplaceable position in the transportation of time-sensitive goods. It usually takes 3-7 days to transport from major airports in China to major airports in Australia.
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Australia) | Shipping days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Sydney | 3-6 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Sydney | 5-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Sydney | 3-6 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Melbourne | 4-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Melbourne | 4-6 days |
| Beijing Capital | Melbourne | 4-7 days |
| Shanghai Pudong | Brisbane | 3-7 days |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Brisbane | 5-7 days |
| Beijing Capital | Brisbane | 3-7 days |
Learn more about shipping times to other countries below:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to USA?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Canada?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to New Zealand
Factors Affecting of Shipping Time from China to Australia
The time of shipping from China to Australia is affected by many factors. Understanding these factors will help customers arrange the delivery time and choose the appropriate mode of transportation.
- Route selection: Choosing a direct route or a route through multiple transit ports will affect the transportation time.
- Weather conditions: Severe weather such as storms and typhoons will cause voyage delays.
- Holidays: Chinese New Year, National Day, and Australian holidays such as Christmas and Easter may cause ships to be queued and ports to be congested.
- Busy ports: If Australia’s major ports are busy, it may cause delays in unloading and customs clearance.
- Type of goods: Some goods require additional loading and unloading steps during transportation, which will extend the transportation time.
Steps of Shipping from China to Australia
The transportation time actually consists of multiple links: picking up goods, export customs declaration, trunk transportation, customs clearance at the destination port and terminal delivery. Each link may become a time bottleneck. The following are the detailed steps of transportation:
Preparation stage
Determine the cargo information, including the name, quantity, weight, volume, whether it is dangerous goods, etc.
Choose a suitable freight forwarder
Communicate the service scope, quotation, transportation cycle, etc.
Booking and arranging pickup
The freight forwarder books a space with the shipping company or airline to obtain the ship date/flight information.
Domestic pickup/delivery
The factory delivers the goods to the designated warehouse (FOB terms), and the freight forwarder arranges a truck to pick up the goods at the door (EXW terms).
During transportation
During transportation, we provide real-time tracking and monitoring services, so that you can understand the transportation status of goods throughout the whole process.
Customs clearance in Australia
Prepare customs clearance documents
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Contract
- Customs declaration letter, etc.
Australian Customs examines whether the goods are compliant (such as biosafety, import tax), and pays customs duties and GST
End delivery or self-pickup
The consignee picks up the goods by himself or entrusts the customs clearance agent to arrange delivery.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to Australia
Container transport is the most commonly used transport. Understanding the cost of shipping containers from China to Australia will help you better plan your transport. Sea freight from China to Australia is mainly charged by the size of the container (20ft and 40ft). The following are the costs of shipping from major ports in China to different ports in Australia:
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Sydney | $2050-$3350 | $3500-$5000 |
| Shenzhen | Sydney | $1900-$3500 | $3450-$4950 |
| Ningbo | Sydney | $2000-$3400 | $3650-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Melbourne | $1950-$2450 | $3350-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Melbourne | $1900-$3300 | $3500-$5000 |
| Ningbo | Melbourne | $2050-$3650 | $3450-$5050 |
| Shanghai | Brisbane | $1800-$3500 | $3650-$4850 |
| Shenzhen | Brisbane | $1900-$3400 | $3500-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Brisbane | $1850-$3350 | $3750-$4950 |
| Shanghai | Fremantle | $1950-$2450 | $3350-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Fremantle | $1900-$3400 | $3650-$4850 |
| Ningbo | Fremantle | $2000-$3400 | $3500-$4800 |
Customs Shipping from China to Australia
Customs clearance formalities can add days to delivery times due to customs inspections, document reviews, and potential duties or taxes. Efficient customs clearance is essential to minimizing these delays.
Key Factors Affecting Customs Delays
- Document Accuracy: Incorrect or incomplete documentation can cause significant delays. Ensure all shipping documents, including invoices, bills of lading, and certificates of origin, are accurate and complete.
- Product Classification: Misclassification of products can result in incorrect duties or taxes being charged, which can delay customs clearance while corrections are made.
- Random Inspections: Some shipments are randomly selected for full inspections. This can result in longer delivery times.
- Duties and Taxes: Delays can occur if there is a dispute over the amount of duties or taxes owed.
Strategies to Mitigate Customs Delays
- Booking space in advance: Booking space in advance can help avoid peak season delays.
- Pre-clearance programs: Joining programs such as Trusted Trader 13 can reduce the frequency of inspections, resulting in faster customs processing.
- Leverage professional services: Working with an experienced customs broker can help you navigate complex customs procedures and reduce processing time.
- Stay up to date on regulations: Regulatory changes can affect processing time. Staying up to date on customs regulations can help you prepare accordingly.
The shipping time from China to Australia is affected by many factors, including transportation mode, port selection, customs clearance efficiency and holiday arrangements. Through this article, rationally planning logistics strategies, choosing reliable logistics partners and preparing in advance are the keys to ensuring efficient transportation.