Stage 6 of 6 — 2–6 weeks in transit

Shipping and importing

China to your door, in Australia or New Zealand

Finished goods are consolidated, booked and shipped, with the commercial documentation prepared for the border. Sea or air, full container or part, delivered to a port or to your warehouse — the arrangement is chosen against your volume and your timeline rather than against whatever is easiest to book.

The Incoterm decides who pays for what and where your risk begins, and it is where a cheap-looking quote most often stops being cheap. EXW puts every origin charge on you. FOB is the term most China quotes are built on and the easiest to compare between suppliers. DDP is the simplest to buy and the hardest to audit. We will tell you what a quoted term actually costs you once the charges behind it are added up.

Documentation is prepared before the goods move, not chased afterwards: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and a Certificate of Origin where a preference is available under ChAFTA or the New Zealand–China FTA. An origin preference you are entitled to but cannot document is duty you pay for no reason.

Tariff classification drives the duty rate and it is the importer's responsibility. We provide the working and the reasoning; your customs broker confirms it before lodgement.

We are not a licensed customs broker and we do not lodge declarations. Acting as an importer's agent in customs business for reward is licensed activity under the Customs Act 1901. Clearance on projects we run is lodged by a licensed broker — engaged by you directly, or nominated by us with your agreement.

What this stage covers

Sea freight
Full container or part container.
Air freight
Freight forwarding
Cargo consolidation
Several suppliers into one container, so you pay for one shipment rather than four.
Incoterm selection
EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP — and what each one actually costs once the charges behind it are added up.
Commercial documentation
Invoice, packing list, bill of lading.
Certificates of Origin
Where a preference is available under ChAFTA or the New Zealand–China FTA.
HS code classification working
The reasoning written down, for your customs broker to confirm before lodgement.
Customs clearance coordination
Lodged by a licensed customs broker. We are not one, and we do not lodge declarations.
AU and NZ import compliance assistance
Labelling, standards, biosecurity and the approvals your product category attracts.
Delivery coordination