China-Based Team · Direct-from-Factory Sourcing · the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) Done Right · Door-to-Door across Australia · Furniture Specialists

Direct-from-factory sourcing in China, sea and air freight to Port Botany (Sydney), and customs clearance filed correctly through the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) — run end to end by a China-based sourcing and freight team. Australia’s general tariff is 5%, but the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) reduces most Chinese-origin goods — furniture included — to 0% (Free). The saving is real but conditional: you need a valid Certificate of Origin or Declaration of Origin proving the goods qualify, or you pay the full 5%. With ChAFTA duty at 0%, your only import tax is 10% GST on the VoTI (customs value + freight + insurance). Miss the Certificate of Origin and 5% duty is added back before GST is calculated. We give you that number before you order, not after the container arrives.

Why Australia importers use a China-side partner

Anyone can be an importer in Australia. Almost nobody has twenty years of Foshan factory relationships, on-ground quality control and consolidation. The problems importers actually hit are on the China side: the wrong factory, the wrong HS code, an invoice that doesn’t match the packing list, and a landed cost that turns out higher than the quote. We own the origin; you choose the destination.

What you pay in duty and tax

Australia’s general tariff is 5%, but the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) reduces most Chinese-origin goods — furniture included — to 0% (Free). The saving is real but conditional: you need a valid Certificate of Origin or Declaration of Origin proving the goods qualify, or you pay the full 5%.

Then 10% GST applies to the Value of the Taxable Importation — customs value + duty + freight + insurance. With ChAFTA duty at 0%, your only import tax is 10% GST on the VoTI (customs value + freight + insurance). Miss the Certificate of Origin and 5% duty is added back before GST is calculated. GST-registered importers generally claim the import GST back as a credit on their BAS.

The one gate that catches importers

Australia is the strict one: biosecurity. Timber, bamboo, rattan and wooden furniture are inspected by the Department of Agriculture, packaging must meet ISPM-15, and untreated timber can be held for fumigation or re-export. This is the single most common reason a China–Australia furniture shipment is delayed — and it is entirely avoidable with correct treatment and declaration before loading.

Getting set up as an importer

To import commercially into Australia you need no import licence for most goods, but you need an ABN, and commercial imports over AUD 1,000 require a formal Import Declaration (N10). Goods valued at or under AUD 1,000 fall under the low-value threshold, where GST is collected at point of sale rather than by formal entry.

Reviewed by verified import specialists

The duty, tax and clearance guidance on this page reflects the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry practice and the applicable tariff schedule as of August 2026. Rates and procedures can change — we re-verify this page each quarter and confirm the rate for your specific HS code before you commit to an order. This is practical guidance, not a customs ruling on your particular goods.

How importing from China to Australia works — step by step

1. Register as an importer

Get no import licence for most goods, but you need an ABN, and commercial imports over AUD 1,000 require a formal Import Declaration (N10) in place before you ship — it is the paperwork most first-timers are missing at the border.

2. Find and vet the factory

Alibaba and 1688 listings are trading companies as often as factories. We verify the business licence and production capability — for furniture that usually means Foshan, where a factory visit is a drive, not a flight.

3. Classify the goods and confirm the HS code

Do this before you order. The code sets the duty rate and whether any compliance regime applies, and it is what clears the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) first time.

4. Inspect before the container seals

An inspection at the factory, before loading, is the last point at which a problem is cheap. After the seal, a defect is a claim, not a correction.

5. Choose freight — sea or air, and which port

Sea to Port Botany (Sydney) runs 14–25 days; LCL adds 5–9 days; air is 3–8 days.

6. Clear the border and take delivery

We file through the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) with the correct code and value; accurate paperwork clears in 1–3 days, then we deliver to your door.

What it really costs — a worked example

On a US$20,000 factory order with US$2,200 freight and insurance:

Line	Basis	Amount
Goods (FOB China)	Factory invoice	US$20,000
Freight + insurance	To Port Botany (Sydney)	US$2,200
Customs value	Duty is charged on this	US$22,200
Customs duty	0% duty on most goods under ChAFTA — with a valid Certificate of Origin	US$0 (ChAFTA)
GST	the Value of the Taxable Importation — customs value + duty + freight + insurance	US$2,220
Duty + tax	≈10% of landed value (GST only, when ChAFTA zeroes the duty)	US$2,220
Port, clearance, delivery	Varies by port and location	Quoted per shipment

Illustrative figures. Your actual duty depends on the HS classification of your specific goods — we confirm it against your product list before you order (about AUD 1.52 = US$1 (floating)).

Sea freight and transit at a glance

Route	Mode	Typical transit
Shenzhen / Guangzhou → Port Botany (Sydney)	Sea FCL	16–22 days port to port
Shenzhen → Fremantle (Perth)	Sea FCL	14–18 days — the shortest lane
Ningbo / Shanghai → Melbourne	Sea FCL	18–25 days port to port
Any main port → Australia	Sea LCL	add 5–9 days for consolidation
China → Australia	Air	3–8 days

Transit times are typical ranges, not guarantees — we confirm the lane and rate at booking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty from China to Australia?

Australia’s general tariff is 5%, but the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) reduces most Chinese-origin goods — furniture included — to 0% (Free). The saving is real but conditional: you need a valid Certificate of Origin or Declaration of Origin proving the goods qualify, or you pay the full 5%.

How long does shipping from China to Australia take?

Sea freight runs 14–25 days port to port, with LCL adding 5–9 days for consolidation. Air freight is 3–8 days. Clearance is typically 1–3 days when documentation is accurate.

Do I need a licence to import from China to Australia?

You need no import licence for most goods, but you need an ABN, and commercial imports over AUD 1,000 require a formal Import Declaration (N10). Goods valued at or under AUD 1,000 fall under the low-value threshold, where GST is collected at point of sale rather than by formal entry.

What tax applies on top of duty?

10% GST applies to the Value of the Taxable Importation — customs value + duty + freight + insurance. GST-registered importers generally claim the import GST back as a credit on their BAS.

Can one partner handle the China side for me?

That is what we do: factory sourcing and verification in Foshan, quality inspection before loading, consolidation of multiple suppliers into one shipment, freight to Port Botany (Sydney), and clearance filed correctly — with one landed-cost figure quoted up front and one point of contact throughout.

Get your landed cost before you commit to an order

Send us your product list or a supplier link. We classify the goods, confirm the rate against the HS code, and come back with one landed-cost figure delivered to your door in Australia — goods, freight, duty, tax and local charges in a single number.

Related guides

• Import duty from China to Australia — rates by product
• Sea freight China to Australia — cost per CBM
• Most profitable products to import from China to Australia
• Australia import duty calculator
• Import from China — how the end-to-end process works