Custom Packaging from China to Australia: Sampling, Freight, Clearance and Biosecurity

Who this guide is for

This guide covers only the Australia-specific steps: samples, freight mode, Australian Border Force (ABF) and biosecurity clearance, and recycling labels. For the general import process, read How to Import Custom Packaging from China first. Every product BestPackFactory quotes is made in its own factory, the MOQ is 500 PCS, and quotes can be prepared on FOB, CIF, EXW or DDP terms.

Sea or air: decision rules for Australian deliveries

Printed packaging is light for its volume, so freight is usually charged on volume. The decision is mostly about cubic metres and deadline:

• Choose air or express for a few cartons or a launch date that cannot move.
• Choose LCL sea for more than a handful of cartons but less than a container. Goods are unpacked at an Australian depot, which adds handling time.
• Choose FCL sea when volume approaches a full container, or you combine packaging with other goods. Your site must be able to receive a container.
• Split the shipment: a small air consignment plus a sea consignment is a common way to protect a launch.

Transit times vary by port, carrier schedule and season, and Perth or Adelaide routings differ from east-coast services. Treat any transit figure as your forwarder’s estimate for a specific sailing, not a promise; sample approval, depot unpacking and clearance queries often take longer than the voyage.

Australian customs clearance basics (as of October 2026)

Australian clearance turns on the value of the consignment. According to ABF guidance, air and sea cargo valued at AUD 1,000 or less can generally be cleared with a Self-Assessed Clearance declaration, and most such goods attract no duty, taxes or charges. Above AUD 1,000, a full import declaration is needed and all applicable duty, GST and charges, including an import processing charge, are payable before release. Thresholds and charges can change, so check the current ABF position for your shipment.

How the amounts are worked out:

1. Tariff classification. Your broker classifies each item; boxes, pouches, labels and tins usually fall under different headings.
2. Customs value. Australia generally values imports on a free-on-board basis, so your commercial invoice should show the goods value clearly and list freight and insurance separately.
3. Duty and origin. Goods of Chinese origin may qualify for preferential treatment under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) when valid origin evidence is provided. Ask your broker whether your classification benefits and what document is needed, and ask the factory to prepare the origin document before the goods ship, not after arrival.
4. GST. GST on imports is generally calculated on a value that includes the customs value, any duty and the cost of international transport and insurance. GST-registered businesses can usually claim the GST paid on imports as a credit, but only if the GST is paid in the right name, which matters when you choose DDP.

We do not quote duty or GST outcomes, because they depend on the classification, value and documents for your shipment. Your customs broker should confirm them.

Biosecurity: pallets, packing declarations and fillers

Paper and board packaging is not usually a biosecurity concern in itself, but the way it is packed can be. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) publishes the import conditions in its BICON database. Points that commonly affect packaging shipments:

• Packing declaration. Containerised sea cargo, both FCL and LCL, needs a packing declaration from the packer stating what packing materials are in the container and whether timber is present.
• Timber pallets and crates. Solid timber packaging should be treated and marked to ISPM 15, or treated in another way DAFF accepts. Untreated timber may be directed for treatment, export or disposal at the importer’s cost. Ask the factory to state the pallet type in writing, or ask whether plastic pallets, paper pallets or floor-loaded cartons suit your delivery site.
• Natural fillers. Straw, wood wool, bark or raw plant-fibre fillers inside gift packs can trigger extra conditions. Check BICON before you specify them.

Australian recycling labels on your artwork

Many Australian retailers expect packaging to carry the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), which is managed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). Larger brand owners have packaging obligations under Australia’s co-regulatory arrangement, and as of October 2026 the federal government is working toward mandatory national packaging requirements. Practical steps for artwork:

• Get the ARL classification for your actual structure (board, coatings, windows, magnets) through APCO’s tools before you finalise the dieline.
• Reserve panel space for the ARL before proofing.
• Avoid broad “eco” claims that your final material cannot support; the material options are compared in Eco-Friendly Packaging Options.

FOB, CIF, EXW or DDP for Australia?

FOB suits buyers with an Australian forwarder. CIF gives one invoice to an Australian port, but local charges are still yours. DDP is convenient, but ask who acts as importer and whose name the GST is paid in. The terms themselves are explained in the packaging Incoterms guide.

What to put in an RFQ for delivery to Australia

1. Format and dieline, or product dimensions (for mailers see the mailer box dieline)
2. Quantity per design (from 500 PCS) and any split between air and sea
3. Delivery postcode and site access
4. Preferred Incoterm and destination port
5. Pallet preference and a request for ISPM 15 confirmation if timber is used
6. Whether you need an origin document for a ChAFTA claim
7. Any ARL or retailer artwork requirements
8. Target in-warehouse date, so the schedule can be worked backwards

Common mistakes

• Accepting a DDP price without checking who pays GST and in whose name.
• Forgetting the origin document, then trying to obtain it after the goods arrive.
• Untreated timber pallets, or no packing declaration, on a sea shipment.
• Planning around transit time only.

Official sources to check

• Australian Border Force: import declarations
• Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)

Rules and rates change. These pages are starting points; confirm the position that applies to your shipment with your customs broker or compliance adviser.

Related pages

• Custom boxes with MOQ 500 PCS
• Mailer box dieline
• How to import custom packaging from China
• Packaging Incoterms: FOB, EXW, CIF and DDP
• Contact BestPackFactory