Sea freight services
Sea Freight Australia — FCL & LCL Ocean Freight, Cleared and Delivered
Around ninety nine per cent of Australia’s trade by volume moves on a ship. Sea freight is how you protect margin on anything heavy, bulky or predictable — and we make it behave like a scheduled service rather than a gamble.
In short
Sea freight is the lowest-cost way to move heavy, bulky or high-volume cargo to and from Australia, with typical Asia–Australia transits of 14–35 days port to port. We manage FCL and LCL ocean movements as part of end-to-end international logistics management — carrier and lane selection, documentation, customs clearance coordination, biosecurity and door delivery under one coordinator.
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Ocean freight, done properly
Sea freight into and out of every major Australian port
We book ocean freight on the main east-west and Asia-Oceania trades into the Port of Brisbane, Port Botany, the Port of Melbourne, Fremantle, Adelaide and Darwin, and out of the same ports for Australian exporters. Full container loads, part loads, reefers, flat racks and out-of-gauge cargo are all in scope.
Because we also hold the customs and biosecurity work, the entry is prepared before the vessel berths. That single sequencing decision is the difference between a container that leaves the terminal inside its free storage period and one that starts accruing detention charges while three companies email each other.
Sea freight options
- FCL — full container load: 20ft, 40ft, 40ft high cube, reefer, flat rack and open top. Best value once you are above roughly 12 to 15 cubic metres.
- LCL — less than container load: your cargo consolidated with others. Ideal from one pallet upwards, with weekly consolidations on major lanes.
- Buyer’s consolidation: multiple suppliers in one origin region combined into a single container before departure, which usually beats several LCL shipments.
- Reefer and temperature controlled: for food, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals with defined temperature ranges.
- Breakbulk and RORO: for machinery, vehicles and project cargo that will not fit in a box.
- Out-of-gauge cargo: flat rack and open top for pieces that are over-height, over-width or over-length, priced on the slots they block rather than on volume.
Transit times
Indicative sea freight transit times to Australia
Port-to-port transit is only part of the story. Add cargo-ready time at your supplier, consolidation for LCL, customs clearance and local delivery, and you have a realistic door-to-door window. Below are the port-to-port figures we plan around, followed by the buffers we recommend.
| Origin region | Port to port (east coast) | LCL adds | Realistic door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| China — Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen | 14–22 days | 5–10 days | 4–6 weeks |
| South East Asia — Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia | 12–20 days | 5–10 days | 4–6 weeks |
| India and Sri Lanka | 20–28 days | 7–12 days | 5–8 weeks |
| Europe and the UK | 32–45 days | 7–14 days | 7–10 weeks |
| US west coast | 20–28 days | 7–12 days | 5–8 weeks |
| US east coast and Gulf | 30–42 days | 7–14 days | 7–10 weeks |
| New Zealand | 5–9 days | 3–7 days | 2–4 weeks |
If a delivery date genuinely cannot move, we will tell you whether sea freight can hold it or whether part of the shipment should go by air freight instead. Splitting a shipment — critical stock by air, the balance by sea — is often cheaper than air freighting everything or missing the season.
Cost drivers
What actually drives your sea freight cost
Importers are often quoted a single ocean rate and then surprised by the invoice. These are the components that make up the real number.
| Component | Applies to | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight | All shipments | Lane, carrier, season, container type, and whether the market is long or short on capacity. |
| Origin charges | All shipments | Pickup distance, export clearance, terminal handling, documentation, and whether you buy EXW or FOB. |
| Bunker and currency adjustments | All shipments | Fuel price and exchange movements; usually shown as separate surcharges. |
| Australian terminal handling | All shipments | Port, terminal operator, container size, and infrastructure surcharges that have risen sharply in recent years. |
| LCL cubic rate | LCL only | Charged on the greater of cubic metres or tonnes, so dense cargo can be charged by weight. |
| Customs and biosecurity | All shipments | Entry lodgement, duty, GST, inspection and any directed treatment. |
| Transport in Australia | All shipments | Distance, access, tail-lift or forklift, waiting time and unpack requirements. |
| Demurrage and detention | Late collection | The clock starts on arrival. Preparation, not luck, is what keeps this at zero. |
Getting it right
Five things that cause most sea freight problems
Packaging that is not built for a ship
Cartons that survive a truck often fail after five weeks of vibration and humidity. Pallets should be shrink-wrapped, corner-protected and stackable, and timber must meet Australian treatment requirements.
A commercial invoice that does not match the packing list
This is the single most common cause of clearance delays. Descriptions, quantities, values and country of origin must agree across every document.
The wrong tariff classification
A guess at the HS code can mean paying five per cent duty you did not owe, or underpaying and facing a demand plus penalties later. We classify properly.
Ignoring biosecurity until arrival
Timber packaging, plant material, soil residue, used machinery and food-contact goods all attract conditions. Handled early they are routine; handled late they are expensive.
No plan for arrival week
Containers need a delivery slot, an unload plan and somewhere to go. We book transport before berthing so the free days are actually usable.
FAQ
Sea freight questions
How much does sea freight to Australia cost?
Ocean rates move constantly with capacity, fuel and season, so any published figure would be misleading within weeks. What we can promise is a landed-cost breakdown for your specific shipment: freight, origin charges, terminal and port charges, customs entry, duty and GST, and delivery. Send your cargo details for a current figure.
Is LCL or FCL cheaper for my shipment?
Below roughly 12 to 15 cubic metres, LCL is normally cheaper. Above that, a 20ft container often costs less in total and moves faster because it skips consolidation and deconsolidation handling. The crossover point shifts with the lane, so we run both numbers. Compare LCL and FCL.
How long does sea freight take from China to Australia?
Typically 14 to 22 days port to port on the main east coast services. Allowing for cargo-ready time, consolidation, clearance and delivery, a realistic door-to-door window is four to six weeks. See our importing from China guide.
What is demurrage and how do I avoid it?
Demurrage and detention are charges for keeping a container or using terminal space beyond the free period allowed after arrival. They escalate daily. Avoiding them is a planning exercise: entry lodged pre-arrival, transport booked in advance, and somewhere for the container to be unpacked.
Do you handle reefer and temperature-controlled sea freight?
Yes. Reefer containers are available on all major lanes. Temperature-sensitive cargo needs its set point, ventilation and monitoring specified at booking, and food and beverage imports carry additional compliance requirements we will walk you through.
Can you consolidate goods from several Chinese suppliers?
Yes, and it is usually the single biggest saving available to a growing importer. We receive cargo from multiple suppliers at origin, consolidate into one container and ship it as a single FCL, which cuts both freight and clearance costs.
What happens if my container is selected for inspection?
The Australian Border Force or the Department of Agriculture may direct an examination or treatment. We manage the process, book the required facility and keep you informed of cost and timing. Correct documentation and clean packaging materially reduce the likelihood.
Some cargo needs more than a good rate — fragile ceramics and glass have their own packing, handling and compliance requirements.
Related pages
Read next
More on ocean freight and imports
Related guides and services covering the questions importers and exporters usually ask next.
- China freight forwarder — commercial FCL containers from Chinese suppliers to Australian importers
- Container shipping — FCL and LCL compared, container types, realistic payloads and weight limits
- Commercial imports — the full inbound program from purchase order to landed cost
- Commercial exports — export declarations, EDNs and certificates of origin
- Trade route guides — transit times, agreements and seasonality on every major lane
- Freight planning — lead times, buffers and shipment rhythm that survive a bad month
Get a sea freight quote
Tell us the origin, the volume and where it needs to land. We will quote FCL and LCL side by side with duty, GST and delivery included.
Sea freight through the Port of Brisbane
Most of the containers we handle move through the Fisherman Islands terminals. Our Brisbane page covers terminal access, vehicle booking slots, empty container returns and how detention charges are avoided.