As a global manufacturing powerhouse, China has frequent trade with Australia. With the growing demand for shipping goods from China to Australia, both corporate imports and personal purchasing agents are concerned about the cost of shipping from China to Australia. This article will introduce the shipping costs between the two countries in detail.
Basic Cost Overview of Shipping from China to Australia
The cost of shipping goods from China to Australia varies depending on many factors. Common costs mainly include:
- International freight (sea/air)
- Customs declaration and clearance fees
- Insurance costs (optional)
- Miscellaneous charges and tariffs at the port of destination
- Warehousing and distribution costs
- Additional costs (such as peak season surcharges, fuel surcharges, etc.)
- Different modes of transportation and service types (such as DDP, DAP, FOB) will result in large differences in overall costs.
Shipping from China to Australia
Sea freight
Sea freight has the lowest cost and is suitable for bulk cargo. It can transport almost all types of cargo (including dangerous goods, which require special declaration). It has relatively low carbon emissions, is greatly affected by weather and port congestion, and requires complex paperwork. It is suitable for furniture, machinery and equipment, building materials, bulk commodities, and consumer goods that are not urgently needed.
Air freight
Air freight is the fastest and fastest mode of transportation, with high safety, low cargo damage rate, flexible scheduling according to flights, and relatively simple customs clearance process, but it is costly and has strict size and weight restrictions. It is suitable for electronic products, samples, emergency spare parts, medicines, and high-value goods.
Factors Affecting of Shipping Cost from China to Australia
The cost of shipping from China to Australia is determined by the mode of transportation, but is also affected by the following factors:
- Cargo characteristics: special requirements (30%-200% surcharge for refrigerated, dangerous goods, oversized, etc.)
- Transportation distance and route: The difference in distance from different ports in China to different ports in Australia
- Market supply and demand: Freight rates usually increase by 20%-50% during peak seasons (such as before the Chinese New Year and before Christmas)
- Fuel price fluctuations: Fuel surcharges account for about 15%-30% of freight
- Customs clearance complexity: Australia’s strict quarantine requirements for agricultural and forestry products, commodity tariffs and GST (Goods and Services Tax).
- Packing method: Standardized container loading rate affects costs, and special packaging requirements increase costs.
- Insurance costs: Usually 0.3%-1% of the value of the goods, and higher premiums for high-value goods.
Sea Freight Cost from China to Australia
The cost of ocean freight from China to Australia is affected by a variety of factors, and the cost is usually charged separately according to the service mode (FCL and LCL).
LCL Shipping Cost from China to Australia
LCL is suitable for small quantities of goods that are not large enough to fill a full container. The cost is calculated by the volume (CBM) or weight of the goods, and the goods share a container with other customers’ goods.
Although the cost per cubic meter is lower, the overall shipping time is relatively longer and the cost may be more complicated because more loading and unloading and transit processing may be involved.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Sydney | $80–$150/CBM |
| Shenzhen | Sydney | $90–$150/CBM |
| Ningbo | Sydney | $85–$160/CBM |
| Shanghai | Melbourne | $80–$140/CBM |
| Shenzhen | Melbourne | $85–$150/CBM |
| Ningbo | Melbourne | $95–$145/CBM |
| Shanghai | Brisbane | $80–$150/CBM |
| Shenzhen | Brisbane | $90–$145/CBM |
| Ningbo | Brisbane | $85–$150/CBM |
| Shanghai | Fremantle | $80–$155/CBM |
| Shenzhen | Fremantle | $80–$160/CBM |
| Ningbo | Fremantle | $80–$150/CBM |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to Australia
FCL is suitable for large quantities of goods, or when the goods just fill a whole container. The cost usually includes the rental cost of a full container, and the size and weight of the goods will not affect the cost. You can choose 20ft or 40ft containers, and different types of containers have different costs.
| 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 |
Air Freight Cost from China to Australia
The cost of air freight from China to Australia is usually much higher than that of sea freight. The main reason is that the cost of air freight is usually calculated based on the chargeable weight, which is the larger of the volumetric weight and the actual weight, which is calculated as: length cm × width cm × height cm ÷ 6000.
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Australia) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Sydney | $6.0 – $9.6 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Sydney | $6.0 – $9.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Sydney | $6.5 – $10.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Melbourne | $6.5 – $10.0 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Melbourne | $6.0 – $9.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Melbourne | $6.5 – $9.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Brisbane | $6.0 – $9.8 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Brisbane | $6.0 – $9.6 |
| Beijing Capital | Brisbane | $6.5 – $10.0 |
Learn more about shipping rates to other regions below:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to USA
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Canada
DDP Shipping Cost from China to Australia
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is a common delivery method in international trade, which means that the seller is responsible for transporting the goods to the buyer’s designated location and bears all related costs, including transportation fees, tariffs, value-added tax (VAT), customs clearance fees, etc.
| Service Type | From | To | LCL cost | 20ft container (FCL) | 40ft container (FCL) |
| Sea Freight DDP | China | Australia | $150 – $200/CBM | $3,800 – $5,500 | $4,800 – $6,500 |
| Air Freight DDP | China | Australia | $8 – $15/kg |
Tariffs for Shipping from China to Australia
Tariffs from China to Australia are calculated mainly based on the Australian Customs tax regulations on imported goods. Tariffs are usually calculated based on the declared value of the goods.
According to the Australian Customs Tariff classification system, different types of goods are assigned a corresponding HS code (customs code). Each HS code corresponds to a different tariff rate.
Tariff rate
Tariff rates vary depending on the HS code of different goods. Australia’s tariff rate is usually between 0%-10%, with most goods having a tariff rate of 5%, but certain specific goods may enjoy zero tariffs.
GST (Value Added Tax)
In addition to tariffs, Australia also imposes a 10% Value Added Tax (GST) on imported goods. GST is calculated based on the sum of the CIF value of the goods, tariffs and other fees.
How to Reduce Shipping Cost from China to Australia
Controlling freight is the key to increasing profits in international trade. Here are some suggestions to reduce shipping costs from China to Australia:
Plan delivery time in advance
Plan delivery time reasonably to avoid peak seasons (such as Chinese New Year and Christmas season in Australia)
Book in advance
Booking seats in advance can lock in lower prices and avoid price increases caused by last-minute arrangements.
Choose the right mode of transportation
For large quantities, choose full container shipping, and flexibly use LCL or economic air transportation for small quantities.
Choose a professional freight forwarder
A professional freight forwarder can assist in arranging the right mode of transportation and customs clearance procedures to avoid unnecessary delays and additional costs.
Optimize cargo packaging
Package goods reasonably, especially when shipping by air, to reduce volume and weight and avoid unnecessary freight costs.
Tax refund management
Maximize China’s export tax rebate and optimize Australia’s import GST declaration
Through this article, we can fully understand the various costs and influencing factors of China-Australia transportation, so that enterprises can make more informed logistics decisions, optimize transportation costs while ensuring the stability of the supply chain, and adapt to the ever-changing market environment.