Shipping from China to Australia in late 2026 costs roughly US$2,200 to US$2,700 (about A$3,100 to A$3,900) for a 20ft container and US$4,300 to US$5,300 (about A$6,100 to A$7,600) for a 40ft by sea, port to port. Smaller shipments go as shared container space (LCL) at around US$55 to US$160 (A$80 to A$230) per cubic metre, and air freight runs about US$4 to US$6 (A$5.70 to A$8.60) per kg for most general cargo.
Those are freight costs only. Duty, GST, customs clearance and the truck from the port to your warehouse come on top, and they’re where most budgets go wrong.
China to Australia freight costs at a glance
Indicative rates as of October 2026. Freight on this route is quoted and usually billed in US dollars, so the Australian dollar figures are a guide at about US$0.70 to A$1 (late October 2026). The exchange rate on the day you pay will move your real cost.
| Shipping method | Typical cost | Transit time (port to port) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea, full 20ft container (FCL) | US$2,200 – $2,700 (A$3,100 – $3,900) | 20 – 30 days | 15+ cubic metres of stock |
| Sea, full 40ft container (FCL) | US$4,300 – $5,300 (A$6,100 – $7,600) | 20 – 30 days | Large restocks, around 25 – 65 cubic metres |
| Sea, shared container (LCL) | US$55 – $160 (A$80 – $230) per cubic metre | 21 – 31 days | 1 – 14 cubic metres |
| Air freight | US$4 – $6 (A$5.70 – $8.60) per kg, from about US$3.70 on large shipments | 3 – 5 days | Urgent or high-value stock |
Rates come from forwarder rate updates published in 2026 (see sources at the end). They move with fuel, season and carrier schedules, so treat them as a budgeting guide and get a live quote before you book.
What drives the cost
How much you’re shipping, by volume and weight. Sea freight is priced by the cubic metre for shared space and by the container for full loads. Air freight charges whichever is greater: the actual weight or the “volumetric” weight worked out from the carton size. Bulky, light products cost more by air than their weight suggests.
Full container or shared. A shared container (LCL) is cheaper for small shipments but carries extra handling fees at both ends. Most forwarders find a full 20ft becomes the cheaper option somewhere around 14 to 15 cubic metres.
Which ports. Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen have the most sailings and the sharpest rates. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the main destination ports. For stock coming to our Gold Coast warehouse, Brisbane is the closest.
When you ship. Rates rise ahead of Christmas and Chinese New Year as space fills up. Booking early, or shipping before the rush, usually saves money and stress.
Your shipping terms. Under FOB terms your supplier pays to get the goods onto the ship in China, and you pay from there. Under EXW you pay for everything from the factory door. Be clear which one your supplier has quoted, because it changes what your forwarder will charge.
The costs people forget
The freight quote is only part of the landed cost. These are the ones that catch importers out:
- Destination charges. Terminal handling, port fees and the forwarder’s paperwork at the Australian end. On LCL shipments, unpacking the shared container adds more.
- Customs clearance. A licensed customs broker lodges your import declaration and charges a fee for it.
- Duty. Most goods made in China come into Australia duty-free under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), but only if you can show they qualify. For shipments valued over A$1,000, that means a certificate or declaration of origin from your supplier. Without it, the general duty rate applies: usually 5%, though some goods are duty-free anyway. The DFAT guide to using ChAFTA explains what’s needed.
- GST. Imports valued over A$1,000 pay 10% GST at the border, worked out on the customs value plus duty, freight and insurance. Registered businesses can usually claim it back.
- Import processing and biosecurity. The Australian Border Force charges an import processing fee on formal import declarations, and some goods (timber, food, plant material) need biosecurity checks. The ABF’s importing charges page has the current amounts.
- The truck from the port. Getting a container or pallets from the wharf to your warehouse is a separate cost, plus a fee if the empty container isn’t returned in time.
Sea or air?
For most eCommerce brands, sea freight is the default for restocks and air is the backup.
- Ship by sea when you’re restocking your range and can plan four to six weeks ahead, door to door.
- Ship by air when you’re about to run out, launching something new, or the stock is small and high value.
A common pattern is to send the bulk of a restock by sea and a small top-up by air, so you don’t sell out while the container is on the water. Planning that properly is cheaper than paying for air freight in a panic. Our Black Friday checklist covers the timing for peak season.
How to keep freight costs down
- Fill the container. If you’re close to 15 cubic metres, a full 20ft can cost less than shared space and is handled less on the way.
- Pack for the carton, not the shelf. Smaller, well-packed cartons cut volumetric weight on air freight and fit more on a pallet.
- Get your paperwork right first time. A missing certificate of origin or a wrong product description can mean duty you didn’t need to pay, or stock held at the border.
- Book ahead of peak. Space before Christmas and Chinese New Year fills fast, and late bookings pay more.
- Ask for an all-in quote. Ask your forwarder to include destination charges, customs clearance and delivery to the warehouse, so you can compare like with like.
Once your stock lands
When your shipment clears, it still needs to be received, counted, put away and loaded into your store before you can sell it. If you use a 3PL, send them your shipment details (carton count, packing list and ETA) before it arrives so they can book it in.
Stock coming through Brisbane can be trucked straight to our Gold Coast warehouse, where we receive it, check it against your packing list and get it live for orders. See how our 3PL fulfilment works, or use the pricing calculator for a fulfilment estimate. For other routes, see our guides to freight from India and shipping costs across borders.
FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a 20ft container from China to Australia?
About US$2,200 to US$2,700 (roughly A$3,100 to A$3,900) port to port as of October 2026, for example Shanghai to Sydney. A 40ft is about US$4,300 to US$5,300 (A$6,100 to A$7,600). Destination charges, clearance and delivery are extra.
How long does shipping from China to Australia take?
About 20 to 30 days port to port by sea, plus a few days either side for loading, clearance and delivery. Air freight takes 3 to 5 days.
Do I pay import duty on goods from China?
Most goods from China are duty-free under ChAFTA if you have a valid certificate or declaration of origin for shipments over A$1,000. Without one, many goods pay 5% duty. GST of 10% applies to imports over A$1,000 either way.
Is LCL or FCL cheaper from China?
LCL (shared container) is usually cheaper below about 12 to 15 cubic metres. Above that, a full 20ft container often costs less overall and is handled less on the way.
Sources
Rates are indicative and taken from forwarder rate updates, as of October 2026. Australian dollar figures use about US$0.70 to A$1 (Trading Economics, 28 October 2026).
- Sino Shipping: freight from China to Australia (October 2026), container rates
- Maskura Logistics: FCL vs LCL China to Australia, LCL rates and break-even
- ExFreight: shipping from China to Australia (2026), air freight and transit times
- Good Hope Freight: China to Australia rates log (2026), September 2026 air freight rate to Sydney
- DFAT: guide to using ChAFTA, duty and origin rules
- Australian Border Force: cost of importing goods, duty, GST and charges