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Festive Period 2025
Cut-Off Times
China supplied Australia with $130.2 billion in imports in 2025, up 12.5% from 2024. On this route, the freight forwarder from China to Australia you choose can change your landed cost and delivery date.
For importers, the freight rate doesn't reflect the landed cost. Brokerage, transit time and destination charges can change the final amount. This guide shows how to tell a reliable freight forwarder from a risky one before you request quotes. It also covers the shipment details to prepare and how to choose between sea freight and air freight for the same cargo.
Request rates from Couriers & Freight's carrier network for your shipment from China.
Get a Quote NowGet sea and air freight quotes for your China shipment through Couriers & Freight.
Customs brokerage errors and missed biosecurity requirements can create significant delays and additional costs on China-to-Australia shipments.
Under Australian customs rules, an import declaration for home consumption can be lodged by the owner of the goods or by a licensed customs broker acting on their behalf. Ask the provider to identify who will lodge the declaration and which charges apply.
DAFF uses BICON to identify import conditions, including permits and treatment. A freight forwarder from China to Australia should check the commodity's import conditions in BICON before booking.
Couriers & Freight partners with carriers including FedEx for air freight and Consol Alliance for sea and air freight. A good provider should give you an estimated transit-time range. They should also explain which documents your shipment requires.
For customs guidance, see Couriers & Freight's customs clearance guide.
For shipments from China to Australia, sea freight is cheaper for large loads. Air freight is faster and better for smaller or urgent shipments. Full Container Load (FCL) uses an entire container, while Less Than Container Load (LCL) shares container space.
A freight forwarder from China to Australia can use shipment size and deadline to choose the best freight mode.
Couriers & Freight reports the air freight and sea freight transit times below.
Choose FCL when your shipment can use a full container. But if you have a smaller consignment, LCL is the better fit. When delivery speed matters more than freight cost, choose air freight.
Before you book a freight forwarder from China to Australia, check the fees at every stage from the origin port to the Australian delivery address. Don't rely only on the headline rate.
For sea freight options, see Couriers & Freight's China sea freight service. For air freight options, see Couriers & Freight's China-to-Australia air freight service.
Free On Board (FOB) means the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the named port. Ex Works (EXW) places the buyer in charge of collection from the seller's premises. The Incoterm helps determine which costs the quote should include from origin to destination.
Give the total weight in kilograms and volume in cubic metres (CBM). For FCL, provide the container size, such as 20ft or 40ft. These measurements determine the applicable charge basis.
DAFF biosecurity conditions depend on the goods and their origin. They can add an inspection or treatment step. Wooden furniture, for example, can require specific biosecurity controls. Check BICON before choosing a freight forwarder from China to Australia.
A furniture importer in Melbourne weighing cheaper sea freight from Guangzhou against faster air freight needs both quotes side by side before placing the order.
Couriers & Freight provides international shipping for China-to-Australia imports. It covers air freight, FCL sea freight and LCL sea freight. Its network has 60+ carrier partners. This includes Australia Post, FedEx, and DHL Express.
Before requesting a quote, prepare the commercial invoice and packing list. Confirm the supplier location and delivery address. Giving each provider the same information lets a freight forwarder from China to Australia price the shipment on the same basis, so the quoted options are comparable.
Compare sea and air freight options from China, book the shipment and track it with Couriers & Freight.
Request rates from Couriers & Freight's carrier network for your shipment from China.
Get a Quote Now
MHP
No Surcharge*
$16.50
$14
$15.50
$0
$15.50
$14.75
$0
$0
$0
$0
MHP Large Item
No Surcharge*
$16.50
$75
$62
$62
$60.10
$14.75
$0
$0
$0
$0
Residential Pickup
No Surcharge*
$6
$0
$9
--
$9
$10.60
$0
$0
$0
$38.50
Reidential pick up 30-99kgs
No Surcharge*
$63
$0
$9
$0
$9
$74.15
$20
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Residential pick up 100kgs+
No Surcharge*
$198
$0
$9
$0
$9
$158.87
$50
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Residential Delivery up to 29kgs
No Surcharge*
$6
$0
$9
--
$9.00
$10.60
$0
$0
$0
$38.50
Residential Delivery up 30-99kgs
No Surcharge*
$63
$0
$9
$0
$9
$74.15
$20
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Residential Delivery 100kgs+
No Surcharge*
$198
$0
$9
--
$9
$158.57
$50
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Tail Lift Pick up 50-99kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$45
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Pick up 100-299kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$85
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Pick up 300-499kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$120
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Pick up 500kgs + Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$250
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery 50-99kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$45
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery 100-299kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$85
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery300-499kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$120
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery 500kgs + Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$250
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Dead weight over 32KGS carton freight
No Surcharge*
$16.50
$75
$70
$70
$70
$14.75
$0
Won't carry
Won't carry
$0
Oversize Surcharge 1.20 - 1.54
No Surcharge*
--
$0
$0
$0
$0
$5.40
$10
$15
Won't carry
$0
Oversize Surcharge 1.55 - 1.85
No Surcharge*
$17
$20
$0
$0
$0
$11.93
$10
$15
Won't carry
$0
Oversize Surcharge 1.86 - 2.20
No Surcharge*
$37
$40
$0
$0
$0
$11.93
$10
Won't carry
Won't carry
$0
Pallet Surcharge
No Surcharge*
--
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Won't carry
Won't carry
$0
Hand Unload Fee Carton
No Surcharge*
--
$0
$70
$70
$70
$47
$0
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Western Australia Regional Surcharge
No Surcharge*
%10
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
*Surcharges may apply to areas/deimensions not listed
**Prices correct of 16th September 2024
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