Freight Cost from China to Australia
Shipping costs are one of the most important considerations in many international trade and personal shopping processes. Shipping costs from China to Australia vary depending on a variety of factors such as the type of goods, mode of transportation, and destination. In this article, we will discuss in detail the factors that affect the cost of shipping from China to Australia, common modes of transportation, cost estimates, and how to better calculate costs.
Shipping from China to Australia
The main modes of transportation from China to Australia include sea freight, air freight, and express delivery. Each mode has different shipping times, costs, and applicable types of goods.
Sea freight: Sea freight is the most common mode of transportation and is suitable for bulk goods and long-distance transportation. Although sea freight takes a long time to ship, the cost is relatively low. It is usually transported in containers, and the common containers are 20 feet and 40 feet. The goods will be transshipped through ports.
Air freight: Air freight is mainly used for goods that are in urgent need, and is usually suitable for light and small goods or high-value goods. Air freight costs more, but the transportation time is shorter. Air freight is usually priced based on the weight and volume of the goods.
Express delivery: Express delivery is suitable for smaller goods that need to be delivered quickly and door-to-door. Common express delivery companies such as DHL, FedEx, etc. have faster delivery times, but relatively higher costs.
Shipping costs from China to Australia
| Shipping Method | Shipping From China to Australia (Cost) |
|---|---|
| Sea freight (20ft Container) | Approx. USD 1,000 for a 20ft container |
| Sea freight (40ft Container) | Approx. USD 1,550 for a 40ft container |
| Sea freight (LCL) | Approx. USD 50 to 100 per cubic meters (m3) |
| Air Freight | Approx. USD 400 for 100kg (Approx. USD 4 per kilo) |
| Door-to-Door Shipping | Approx. USD 5.5 to 10 per kgs or approx. USD120 per m3 |
| DDP Air Freight | Approx. USD 5.5 to 10 per kgs |
| DDP Sea Freight | Approx. USD 80 to 200 per cbm (m3) |
| Express Shipping | Approx. USD 12 per Kgs |
The final cost of shipping from China to Australia depends on several factors. Before preparing a quote, your freight forwarder may ask for the following details:
- What category is your shipment?
- Your preferred shipping method (FCL, LCL, air freight)
- The weight and dimensions of your shipment
- Origin and destination
- Service type (e.g. port-to-port, door-to-door)
For goods weighing less than 100 kilograms, the cost difference between air freight and LCL sea freight is not large. Above 100 kilograms, the cost difference begins to widen. Although much slower, sea freight can quickly become much more economical than air freight when there is greater weight and size involved.
Sea Freight Costs from China to Australia
Sea Freight costs are usually calculated based on the volume or weight of the goods. Generally speaking, the cost from major ports in China (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen) to Australia is as follows:
- 20-foot container: about $800 – $1,800 (depending on the type of goods and seasonal fluctuations)
- 40-foot container: about $1,200 – $2,500 (also varies depending on the goods and seasons)
- Sea Freight LCL: about $50 to $100 per cubic meter
In addition, port charges, customs clearance fees and additional fees at the destination port must also be taken into account.
20FT and 40FT Container Shipping Cost from China to Australia
| Container shipping service to Australia | Type of container | Ocean freight rates to Australia: |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
| How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou to Australia | 20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL |
average prices from: $850 20FT average prices from: $1550 40FT |
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Air Freight Costs from China to Australia
Air freight costs from China to Australia are usually charged according to the actual weight or volume weight of the goods. Currently, air freight to Australia costs about $3 to $8 per kilogram. In general:
- Small goods: The air freight cost per kilogram is about $4 – $8.
- Bulk goods: If the goods are heavier, more than 500kg, you can save costs by shipping by LCL, which costs about $3 – $5 per kilogram.
| Departure Airport in China | Arrival Airport in Australia | Estimated Cost (USD/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Sydney | $4.0 – $7.5 |
| Guangzhou | Sydney | $3.8 – $7.2 |
| Shenzhen | Sydney | $3.5 – $7.0 |
| Beijing | Melbourne | $4.5 – $7.8 |
| Hong Kong | Brisbane | $4.2 – $7.6 |
It should be noted that air freight costs are usually also affected by seasonal fluctuations and airline pricing strategies.
Express Shipping Costs from China to Australia
Express is usually suitable for goods that are in urgent need, and door-to-door service can be provided during transportation. Common express companies such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc., the express service prices they provide are relatively high, suitable for small and high-value goods.
Standard Express Cost: Usually the price per kilogram is about $10-$20, which will fluctuate according to the shipping time and the type of goods.
| Weight | Express Courier | Cost | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 KG | DHL | $25 – $35 | 2-4 days |
| 1-5 KG | FedEx | $30 – $50 | 2-4 days |
| 5 KG and above | UPS | $50 – $80 | 2-4 days |
Factors Affecting Shipping Costs from China to Australia
The cost of shipping from China to Australia depends not only on the chosen shipping method, but also on a variety of factors. Here are some common influencing factors:
- Cargo weight and volume: This is one of the most direct factors affecting shipping costs. Air and sea freight usually charge according to the weight or volume of the goods. Especially for air freight, the heavier the cargo, the higher the cost.
- Choice of shipping method: As mentioned earlier, air freight, sea freight and express delivery have great differences in costs. Express delivery is suitable for lighter and smaller goods, but the cost is higher, while sea freight is suitable for bulk goods and the price is more economical.
- Distance and port of destination: The distance of transportation, the specific port of destination (such as Sydney, Melbourne, etc.) and the transportation route will affect the cost. In Australia, some areas may have slightly higher transportation costs due to remoteness or special requirements.
- Additional costs: including fuel surcharges, tariffs, insurance costs, destination port fees, etc. In sea transportation, port handling fees and customs clearance fees at the port of destination will also affect the overall cost.
- Time requirements: If the customer requires fast transportation, such as Air Freight or express delivery, there may be time costs. If the transportation is not urgent, choosing sea transportation may save more costs.
Cheapest Shipping from China to Australia
To find the cheapest shipping method from China to Australia, you need to have a clear understanding of which goods are best suited to which freight method. For small packages under 100 kg, air freight is the cheapest.
For heavier or bulkier goods, you can choose sea freight, which can transport a variety of items at the most affordable and cheapest freight rates. You can also choose between FCL and LCL, so you can decide the shipping cost.
Shipping Time from China to Australia
Shipping time depends on the selected shipping method and the specific requirements of the goods. Here are the approximate shipping times for different shipping methods:
Sea Freight time: Usually takes 15-30 days, depending on the departure and destination ports, shipping routes and other factors.
| POL | POD | Transit time |
| Shanghai | Sydney | 18 days |
| Shanghai | Melbourne | 20 days |
| Shanghai | Brisbane | 18 days |
| Shenzhen | Sydney | 15 days |
| Shenzhen | Melbourne | 15 days |
| Shenzhen | Brisbane | 15 days |
| Qingdao | Sydney | 20 days |
| Qingdao | Melbourne | 22 days |
| Qingdao | Brisbane | 25 days |
Air Freight time: Generally takes 2-6 days, suitable for urgent goods.
Express Delivery time: Usually takes 2-4 days, suitable for light goods that need to be delivered quickly.
Door to Door Shipping from China to Australia
Door to Door Shipping is a fully managed logistics service, that is, the goods are shipped directly from the shipping place (factory, warehouse, supplier) in China to the receiving address (company warehouse, retail store, residence, etc.) in Australia.
Compared with traditional port to port or airport to airport transportation, door to door service covers the entire logistics process, including pickup, international transportation, customs clearance, local delivery and other links, and the shipper does not need to arrange complicated transportation or customs clearance procedures by himself. This method is particularly suitable for cross-border e-commerce, bulk exporters and private importers.
Door to Door Shipping mainly has two modes: DDU and DDP. Most door to door shipments will choose DDP.
DDP Shipping from China to Australia
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is a shipping method in which the seller bears all costs, including shipping costs, insurance costs, tariffs, and charges at the destination port. With DDP shipping, the buyer does not have to bear customs clearance and other costs, and the seller has already borne all related costs before shipping.
DDP costs from China to Australia will usually be higher than standard sea or air shipping because it includes additional costs such as tariffs, taxes, and customs clearance fees. However, for most e-commerce businesses and individual sellers, it is a convenient and fast shipping method.
DDP shipping cost from China to Australia by air
| Destination zip code | 50 (USD/KG) | 100kg (USD/KG) | 300kg (USD/KG) | 500kg (USD/KG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 3 at the beginning | $6.13 | $5.99 | $5.72 | $5.58 |
| 4, 5 at the beginning | $6.83 | $6.69 | $6.41 | $6.27 |
| 6, 7 at the beginning | $7.53 | $7.39 | $7.11 | $6.97 |
DDP shipping cost from China to Australia by sea
| Destination zip code | 100kg (USD/KG) | 300kg (USD/KG) | 500kg (USD/KG) | 1000kg (USD/KG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 3 at the beginning | $1.81 | $1.60 | $1.53 | $1.46 |
| 4 at the beginning | $2.16 | $2.09 | $1.81 | $1.74 |
| 5 at the beginning | $2.30 | $2.23 | $2.09 | $2.02 |
| 0, 6, 7 at the beginning | $2.79 | $2.65 | $2.44 | $2.37 |
The specific amount of shipping costs from China to Australia will be affected by a number of factors, including the type of goods, shipping method, and shipping time. Generally speaking, sea freight is the most economical option and is suitable for bulk goods; air freight is suitable for small goods that are in urgent need and has higher costs; express delivery is suitable for fast and high-value goods.
If you are an e-commerce seller or business, choosing the right shipping method and understanding the details of various costs will help you reduce shipping costs and improve logistics efficiency. If you are not sure about the specific costs, you can contact the logistics company or freight forwarder to get a more accurate quote and plan.