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International Shipping Brisbane
Shipping goods internationally to or from Brisbane by sea or air, for businesses importing stock and exporting product, and for households moving overseas.
One gateway, several very different jobs
International shipping from Brisbane covers a wide spread of work: a pallet of samples from Shenzhen, a machine from Germany that will not fit in a container, forty pallets of Queensland product heading to Auckland, and a family relocating to London with a house full of furniture. They share a port and an airport, and very little else.
We handle all of it, and the first thing we do is work out which category you are actually in, because the right answer for a repeat commercial importer is rarely the right answer for a one-off personal shipment.
Importing to Brisbane
Bringing stock, materials or equipment into Australia, with customs clearance, duty and GST and delivery to your premises.
Exporting from Brisbane
Moving Queensland product to overseas customers, with export declarations, documentation and destination coordination.
Personal effects and relocations
Household goods and personal belongings shipped overseas or brought back to Australia, including concession rules and packing options.
Choosing a mode
Sea or air from Brisbane?
| Consideration | Sea freight | Air freight |
|---|---|---|
| Typical transit from Asia | 13–21 days port to port | 3–6 days airport to airport |
| Cost basis | Per container or per cubic metre | Per chargeable kilo, volume or weight |
| Best suited to | Volume, weight, planned replenishment | Urgency, high value, compact cargo |
| Practical minimum | A pallet or two by LCL | A single carton |
| Main risk to manage | Rollovers, congestion, detention | Capacity, cut-offs, cost escalation |
Trade lanes we move most often
China to Brisbane
The largest inbound lane, with weekly sailings from the major Chinese ports and ChAFTA duty relief on eligible goods.
USA to Brisbane
Machinery, equipment and consumer goods from both coasts, with AUSFTA origin claims where the goods qualify.
Australia to the world
Export shipments from Queensland manufacturers, food producers and equipment suppliers.
Before you commit
Five things worth settling before the first shipment
Agree the Incoterm deliberately
EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP allocate cost and risk very differently. Accepting whatever your supplier proposes is the most common and most expensive default in Australian importing.
Confirm classification and duty
Know the tariff classification and duty rate before you price the product, not after the entry is lodged.
Check free trade agreement eligibility
If an agreement covers your origin country, find out what origin evidence the supplier must supply while you still have commercial leverage.
Understand biosecurity exposure
Timber packaging, plant material and certain commodities attract inspection. Knowing this early avoids a surprise at the wharf.
Plan the delivery, not just the freight
Access, forklifts, dock height and unpack time decide whether a container costs you two hours or two days.
International shipping Brisbane FAQs
How much does international shipping to Brisbane cost?
There is no single answer, because cost depends on origin, mode, volume, commodity and timing. What we can do is give you a full landed cost — freight, origin and destination charges, customs, duty, GST and delivery — so you can budget against a real number instead of a headline rate.
What is the smallest shipment you handle?
A single carton by air, or a pallet by LCL sea freight. Very small shipments sometimes cost less through a courier, and we will say so if that is the case.
Do you arrange insurance?
Marine cargo insurance can be arranged for your shipment. Carrier liability is limited and is not a substitute for insurance, which is worth understanding before something goes wrong rather than after.
Can you collect from my overseas supplier?
Yes. On EXW or FOB terms we can arrange collection from the supplier factory or warehouse, handle export formalities at origin and manage the shipment through to your Brisbane door.
Do you ship personal belongings overseas from Brisbane?
Yes. We arrange sea and air shipment of personal effects and household goods, including shared container options for smaller volumes.
How do I track my shipment?
We provide milestone updates through the shipment rather than leaving you to interpret a carrier website, and you can also check status on our tracking page.
Read next
More on international shipping
Related guides and services covering the questions importers and exporters usually ask next.
- Commercial imports — the full inbound program
- Commercial exports — the full outbound program
- Container shipping — FCL and LCL compared
- International relocations — household moves in and out of Australia
- Trade routes — lane guides for every major market
Shipping to or from Brisbane?
Tell us what you are moving and where it needs to be. We will give you honest options and a full landed cost.
Request an international shipping quote
Business or personal — give us the origin, destination and what you are moving.