Current Freight Rates
| Weight / Volume | Rate (USD / KG) |
|---|---|
| 21-49 | USD 53.74 |
| 50-99 | USD 76.66 |
| 100-299 | USD 84.26 |
| 300-499 | USD 130.34 |
| 500-999 | USD 130.25 |
| 1000+ | USD 314.95 |
How these prices are calculated — chargeable weight
Freight is not billed on the number on your bathroom scale. It is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000. Denser cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies. Whichever is higher is the one you pay — never the lower.
- One cubic metre = 167 kg. That is 1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000, the same divisor used for the volumetric check, so both sides of this page agree with each other.
- Freight only. These are published freight rates. Duty, tax and customs charges at destination are not a fixed number we can print: they follow your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so they are confirmed against your actual goods and quoted separately.
- Indicative only — the real price can be higher or lower. Nothing on this page is a quotation or a commitment. What you finally pay depends on what the product is, how it is packed, the chargeable weight, the declared value, the destination duty position and the exchange rate at the time. Send the product details, weight and dimensions and we will price your specific shipment.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to Australia is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
Service Details
About This Service
China to Australia – Adelaide (SA 5000–6999) freight service via CN Air – General Cargo Duty Paid. All duties and taxes included (DDP). Suitable for general non-hazardous cargo.
- Departure: Guangzhou / Shenzhen / Yiwu
- Destination: Adelaide (SA 5000–6999), Australia
- Currency: USD per KG (air) or per KG (sea)
Every consignment on this service is measured as well as weighed. Volumetric weight is L×W×H in centimetres divided by 6000 — one cubic metre counted as roughly 166.7 kg — and whichever figure is higher is the one charged. Dense cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on its volume, and repacking to raise density is often the cheapest saving available on a Australia shipment.
Typical cargo on this route: semiconductor equipment (HS 84), where clearance turns on cE machinery file, plus food-contact or GMP evidence where the line touches product, wire & cable (HS 85 / 8541) and cross-border e-commerce (HS mixed). If yours is on that list the commodity page is worth two minutes — it covers how the goods should leave the factory, how they should sit in the container, and the failure mode we see most often on this kind of freight.
To see this tariff against a real consignment rather than a rate card, the 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG pages run it at a fixed weight and show the landed total, including the point where stepping up a bracket lowers your cost per kilo. They are the fastest way to check whether consolidating two orders into one is worth the wait.
Australia air cargo on this service routes through SYD (Sydney), MEL (Melbourne) and BNE. Where more than one gateway is listed the booked one depends on space on the day; the rate is the same either way, but the inland delivery leg beyond the airport is not.
The table above prices the lane, but most buyers arrive with a consignment already in mind. If yours has a known weight, the 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG breakdowns run this tariff against a fixed shipment so you see a landed number rather than a rate per kilo, and the China to Australia Air Freight Cost page sets every channel we run on this lane side by side. For the wider picture including documentation and duty, start from shipping from China to Australia.
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Additional Information
Documentation Required
Commercial invoice, packing list, accurate HS codes, and recipient's full address and postcode. DDP service handles customs clearance on your behalf.
Tracking & Customs Resources
Once your shipment is in transit you may want to verify status or look up official duty rates. The following third-party tools and government portals are often useful for shipments to Australia:
External resources are provided for reference and open in a new tab. Always confirm current rules with your customs broker before shipping.
Where these numbers come from
Treat the landed-cost numbers here as a planning baseline. Australian Border Force sets the rate that actually gets charged, assessed against your HS classification at the moment of clearance, so their own guidance is worth reading before a large order.
If you want to sanity-check a duty figure yourself, start from the heading rather than the product name — the WCO Harmonized System is the underlying nomenclature, and the WTO Tariff & Trade Data portal holds the applied rates by country pair.
On the air side, anything with a cell or a battery in it, plus liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols, is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those articles are not refused outright, but they need to be declared at booking so the shipment is built correctly — declaring them late is the single most common cause of an air consignment being offloaded.
On the origin side, export declaration and any commodity inspection requirement fall under China Customs (GACC); we handle that filing as part of the service, but the requirement is theirs, not ours.
For a wider view of how importing into Australia actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Australia customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
China to Australia — Shipping Reference Data
| Main air gateways | SYD (Sydney), MEL (Melbourne), BNE |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | Australian Border Force (ABF) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | AUD 1,000 |
| Import tax & duty regime | GST 10%; duty 0–5% |
| Local currency | AUD |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 3–7 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | RCM mark; biosecurity inspection for timber/packaging |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
Free 3D Loading Tools for This Air Route
This page covers a Air freight service from China to Australia. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Dimensional weight often decides the final air rate to Australia. Simulate your carton fill in 3D, including mixed products in one box, and export the packing plan for your supplier.
Open Packing Tool →Australia Air Freight Checklist
- Label every carton with destination, carton number, and total count (e.g. 3/12).
- Lithium batteries and liquids need pre-approval on most air routes — declare them upfront.
- Keep single cartons under 30 KG for air handling to Australia to avoid overweight surcharges.
- Confirm whether the Australia rate includes fuel and security surcharges or lists them separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does CN Air – General Cargo Duty Paid from China to Australia take?
Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 3–7 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into Australia?
Clearance is handled by Australian Border Force (ABF). The regime is: GST 10%; duty 0–5%, with a de-minimis position of AUD 1,000. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
When does capacity tighten on the China–Australia lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Book 1–2 weeks earlier in these periods.
In what currency is this route priced and paid?
Freight is quoted and invoiced in USD; the destination-side currency is AUD. Payment is typically due before departure, and DDP means you settle the full landed cost once.
What certification is needed to import into Australia?
For regulated goods, plan for: RCM mark; biosecurity inspection for timber/packaging. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with Australian Border Force (ABF), so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.
What does DDP shipping to Australia include on this route?
DDP means we quote the freight, the customs entry with Australian Border Force (ABF) and last-mile delivery in Australia together, so you settle once. The duty and tax portion depends on your product's HS code, declared value and the exchange rate at entry, so it is confirmed against your actual goods — the figures on this page are indicative and can move either way.
Historical Price Records
All price updates are recorded here. Use the weekly tabs to browse older entries.
| Date | 21-49 | 50-99 | 100-299 | 300-499 | 500-999 | 1000+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-04Latest | USD 53.74 | USD 76.66 | USD 84.26 | USD 130.34 | USD 130.25 | USD 314.95 |
| 2026-10-24 | USD 53.74 | USD 76.65 | USD 84.26 | USD 130.34 | USD 130.25 | USD 314.95 |
| 2026-10-16 | USD 53.74 | USD 76.65 | USD 84.26 | USD 130.33 | USD 130.25 | USD 314.95 |
| 2026-10-10 | USD 53.74 | USD 76.65 | USD 84.26 | USD 130.34 | USD 130.25 | USD 314.95 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 53.74 | USD 76.65 | USD 84.26 | USD 130.34 | USD 130.25 | USD 314.95 |
| 2026-09-17 | USD 53.76 | USD 76.67 | USD 84.28 | USD 130.35 | USD 130.27 | USD 314.96 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 53.74 | USD 76.65 | USD 84.26 | USD 130.34 | USD 130.25 | USD 314.95 |
| 2026-09-07 | USD 53.38 | USD 76.30 | USD 83.91 | USD 129.99 | USD 129.91 | USD 314.60 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 53.37 | USD 76.29 | USD 83.91 | USD 129.98 | USD 129.90 | USD 314.60 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 53.42 | USD 76.34 | USD 83.95 | USD 130.03 | USD 129.95 | USD 314.64 |
| 2026-08-06 | USD 53.41 | USD 76.34 | USD 83.95 | USD 130.03 | USD 129.95 | USD 314.64 |
| 2026-08-03 | USD 53.42 | USD 76.34 | USD 83.96 | USD 130.03 | USD 129.95 | USD 314.65 |
| 2026-07-30 | USD 53.41 | USD 76.33 | USD 83.95 | USD 130.02 | USD 129.95 | USD 314.64 |
| 2026-07-20 | USD 53.44 | USD 76.36 | USD 83.98 | USD 130.06 | USD 129.98 | USD 314.67 |
| 2026-07-17 | USD 53.37 | USD 76.29 | USD 83.91 | USD 129.99 | USD 129.91 | USD 314.60 |
| 2026-07-14 | USD 53.36 | USD 76.28 | USD 83.89 | USD 129.97 | USD 129.89 | USD 314.59 |
| 2026-07-07 | USD 53.33 | USD 76.26 | USD 83.87 | USD 129.95 | USD 129.87 | USD 314.56 |
| 2026-07-03 | USD 53.34 | USD 76.27 | USD 83.88 | USD 129.96 | USD 129.88 | USD 314.58 |
| 2026-07-02 | USD 53.33 | USD 76.26 | USD 83.87 | USD 129.95 | USD 129.87 | USD 314.56 |
| 2026-06-30 | USD 53.34 | USD 76.26 | USD 83.87 | USD 129.95 | USD 129.87 | USD 314.57 |
| 2026-06-23 | USD 53.33 | USD 76.25 | USD 83.87 | USD 129.94 | USD 129.87 | USD 314.56 |
| 2026-06-15 | USD 53.36 | USD 76.28 | USD 83.90 | USD 129.98 | USD 129.90 | USD 314.59 |
| 2026-06-08 | USD 53.36 | USD 76.28 | USD 83.90 | USD 129.97 | USD 129.90 | USD 314.59 |
| 2026-05-14 | USD 53.31 | USD 76.23 | USD 83.85 | USD 129.93 | USD 129.85 | USD 314.54 |
| 2025-12-29 | USD 53.31 | USD 76.23 | USD 83.85 | USD 129.92 | USD 129.85 | USD 314.54 |
Price Trend
Customer Reviews
What customers say about shipping to Australia with us.
🇦🇺 Australia
This was a DDP shipment to Australia for mixed cartons. Updates were clear and practical. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Australia through this team. Updates were clear and practical. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost. Everything landed as promised.
We tested this lane to Australia with a mid-volume order. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Australia. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before. Everything landed as promised.
This was a DDP shipment to Australia for mixed cartons. Updates were clear and practical. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost. Good landed-cost visibility from the start.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Australia. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
We tested this lane to Australia with a mid-volume order. Updates were clear and practical. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
This was a DDP shipment to Australia for mixed cartons. Updates were clear and practical. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We tested this lane to Australia with a mid-volume order. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
This was a DDP shipment to Australia for mixed cartons. Very smooth process from booking to delivery. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We tested this lane to Australia with a mid-volume order. Updates were clear and practical. Tracking updates were not excessive, but they came when something important changed. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
Used this service twice now for air freight. Both times the delivery was smooth and the pricing was transparent.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Australia through this team. Updates were clear and practical. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
Efficient service for consolidation shipments. Would have appreciated more proactive updates during transit.
The DDP service is excellent — everything included in the quoted price. No additional fees upon arrival.
Mostly a smooth experience. There was a small delay at the origin port but the team communicated clearly and resolved it quickly.
Communication was a bit slow at times. The actual shipment was fine but I had to follow up several times for updates.
Quick turnaround and great packaging. My goods arrived in perfect condition and ahead of the estimated delivery date.
Good service overall. The freight cost was competitive and the clearance process was handled well.
Shipping Australia cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Automotive Glass Automotive & Vehicles
- Doors & Windows Building Materials & Construction Products
- Paper Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Packaging Materials Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Connectors Electronic Components & Semiconductors
- Consumer Electronics Consumer Electronics & Smart Devices
- Air Conditioning Equipment Home Appliances, HVAC & Commercial
- Kitchenware Furniture & Home Products
- Home Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Medical Device Medical, Laboratory & Precision Instruments
- Personal Protective Equipment Fire, Safety & Traffic Products