With international shipping logistics expanding more than ever, even the most remote locations around the world are now accessible to businesses, provided you choose the right shipping or carrier service.
Since many of the most popular global brands are from the USA, numerous companies and customers ship goods out of the country to Australia. As the route between the two countries is getting more popular, there are many freight forwarding options, delivery speeds, and delivery service providers to choose from.
3 Options to Consider When You Want to Ship from America to Australia
When dealing with bulk shipments between America and Australia, it is always a good idea to opt for freight shipping rather than the standard shipping options. International freight shipping offers multiple shipping modes that you can choose from based on your cost-budget fit and desired shipping speed.
That said, here are the three primary freight shipping options you may consider when you ship from America to Australia:
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Ocean Freight
When sending a bulk of your goods via ocean freight, i.e. in a container transported on a shipping vessel through an ocean route, you must consider the effects of doing so on your bottom line. With higher shipping volumes, you can opt for a full container load (FCL) ocean freight to save on time and costs, as it involves a flat rate.
On the flip side, if you don’t have much shipping volume and are going with a less-than-load container (LCL), you will need to spend extra time and effort consolidating shipments at ports, thus lengthening the shipping process.
Depending on the nature of your shipment and the time taken for regulations and consolidation, your shipment from America may take up to 4-6 weeks to reach its destination in Australia. Ocean freight is the preferred option when sending livestock, agricultural products, and raw materials in large quantities.
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Air Freight
If the cost or duration associated with ocean freight shipping is not feasible, you can opt for air freight shipping, which entails sending shipments through airplanes. In some cases, air freight shipping can even be more expensive than ocean freight, but it will take a comparatively shorter time to arrive at the destination, making it ideal for express shipments.
Depending on the nature and volume of your shipment, it can cover the distance between America and Australia to reach the destination within 5-10 days by regular post and less than 3-4 days if you opt for express air freight shipping. Air freight is the preferred transport mode for goods like pharmaceuticals, electronic items, perishable items and luxury goods.
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Multi-Modal Freight
In most cases, your shipment will likely utilise a combination of transport modes, including air, sea, rail or even road freight throughout its journey from the origin to the destination. Aside from the primary transport mode to travel between continents, such as ocean freight or air freight, your shipment will also utilise road freight or rail freight to travel to and from the port.
You may also utilise a multi-modal freight option when your destination or origin is far from any of the ports you are utilising for the overseas transit, and may warrant another mode of transport in between.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from America to Australia?: 4 Influencing Factors
Let us now learn about the primary factors that would influence your shipping cost and international postage calculation:
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Dimensional Weight
Dimensional weight combines the package's dimensions or size and shape with its actual weight.
The carrier charge for sending the package is based on the calculated dimensional weight or actual weight, whichever is higher.
For instance, if you are shipping a lightweight product like a pillow, wherein the actual weight might not be high, but the dimensional weight might be high and contribute to higher shipping costs because of its size.
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Shipping Distance
The distance between the origin and the destination location contributes to your shipping cost. The higher the distance, the higher your shipping cost.
When shipping from the USA to Australia, which involves crossing the Pacific Ocean, you will incur significantly high fuel and logistics costs.
For example, shipping goods from Los Angeles to Sydney is likely to involve lower shipping costs than from New York to Perth.
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Delivery Speed
Generally, when you want to send a parcel overseas, you have multiple shipping options and delivery speeds to choose from.
When shipping from America to Australia, you can choose whether to ship your goods using air or sea freight, which will determine your delivery speed.
If you go for one of the express, faster or overnight delivery options, you might be working with higher shipping costs, but this choice should be based on your urgency and budget.
For example, faster delivery options such as express air freight can charge up to $100 for a small package, while opting for a slow and cheap parcel delivery speed and using sea freight could be more economical.
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Special Requirements
Depending on the nature of your goods, you might need to mark them as fragile, opt for insurance or warranty, or even arrange for climate or temperature-controlled transportation.
These special requirements add to your international courier service or shipping costs, as they usually require additional resources to ensure the safety and integrity of your shipment.
For example, if you are shipping perishable goods such as food items or fresh produce, you will need refrigerated containers and climate-controlled transportation to boost your shipping costs.
Calculating Your Shipping Cost
Considering the right combination of the aforementioned factors will help you estimate your shipping cost effectively. However, you can also use other methods to get a clearer picture of the shipping cost associated with a specific shipment.
Start by using the dimensional weight formula:
Length x Width x Height/DIM Factor
To come up with an accurate weight that will be considered for express shipping in Australia.
So, if the dimensions of your package are:
25 x 15 x 8, and the dimensional factor is 3000, your dimensional weight will be (30x21x8)/3000 = 5040/3000 = 1.68 kg.
Next, consider the zone in which your origin and destination locations fall, as most carriers will offer rates based on these assigned zones.
Say you want to transport this package from Los Angeles to Sydney via express air freight. You can input these parameters and calculate the total shipping cost using online postage calculators offered by shipping and freight forwarders.
Aside from these parameters, you must also consider the taxes and surcharges you may need to pay as part of the cheapest shipping from the USA to Australia.
Firstly, you will need to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) on imported goods unless they qualify for customs duty concessions or any of the special considerations. You should also know about the Remote Area Surcharge you may be required to pay if your destination is hard to reach.
Navigating the Customs Process for Shipping from the US to Australia
Like every country, Australia has strict regulations and limitations on goods shipped into and out of the country. These strict rules are specifically for goods that could risk public safety or products that can cause pests or serious issues.
4 Tips to Follow When Navigating the Customs Process
Let us now look at some of the tips you can follow while navigating the customs clearance process smoothly:
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Fill Out Customs Forms Accurately
When shipping items like business documents or merchandise samples, you might encounter highly specific customs forms and documents such as the Pro Forma Invoice, Packing List and Certificate of Origin. It is crucial to complete all customs forms accurately based on the nature of your item, origin and destination to avoid delays and prevent shipment rejections or process bottlenecks.
Be sure to declare the correct value and description of the items in your shipment while filing the customs forms. If you opt for a professional freight forwarder, you likely won’t need to know much about these forms.
However, it bodes well to understand the paperwork, even if just to ensure you aren’t paying additional surcharges and fees. Remember to check whether you are eligible for a refund of the customs duties paid while importing your goods.
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Invest in Proper Packaging
Packaging your shipment right is essential in ensuring your international courier process is successful.
If you are likely to ship similar goods often, you might want to contact your supplier to gauge the right packaging to use for your shipments for a long time. Improper packaging of your shipment can lead to excessive movement or spillage during transit and handling.
That said, choosing the right packaging material is as important as using an adequate amount while packing. The ideal packaging will not only help safeguard your goods but also manage your costs effectively.
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Pay Attention to Documentation
Along with filling customs forms correctly, it is also important to get the accompanying documents right, as you can avoid several penalties, costs and delays by ensuring that your shipping documentation is in order. Depending on the specifics of your shipment, the necessary documents may include a Bill of Lading, packing list, commercial invoice, customs declaration, insurance certificate and even a certificate of origin.
For example, in the absence of a Bill of Lading, your goods can get held up at the port and cause a significant delay in the shipping process if there is ambiguity surrounding the accountability of the parties involved in the process.
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Use a Reliable Shipping Service Provider
Most of the processes and steps we have discussed so far can be delegated and managed efficiently when you choose a reliable shipping service provider for international shipping to Australia.
When you are just starting to ship from America to Australia, it is better to outsource the entire operation to a seasoned freight forwarder in Australia or a shipping service that has the necessary resources and skills.
Import Regulations in Australia
Shipments heavily regulated by the Australian Border Force when entering the country include agricultural products, machinery, livestock, and certain packaged food items such as raw nuts, spices, seeds, and dairy products.
Some of these goods may need to adhere to strict quarantine requirements or require special import permits to enter the Australian borders seamlessly. You may also need to procure special paperwork for Australian customs if you deal with goods such as drugs & steroids, weapons, or protected wildlife.
It is also necessary for you to be wary of the duty-free limits and declare goods such as tobacco, alcohol or firearms if they are part of your shipment.
Remember that not adhering to these rules and regulations may incur a range of heavy penalties for your business, which can be found on the .
Concluding Remarks
Shipping goods from America to Australia is not a straightforward process and may often include steps that take more time and resources than usual shipments, thanks to customs.
However, due to the popularity of the route, several shipping service providers offer packages that can help you navigate the process smoothly, especially if you deal with bulk shipments.
Even then, it is a good idea to be aware of the shipping process and regulations so that you can plan your strategy and costs better.
Get a quote from the PACK & SEND website and get a seasoned team to help you navigate the process of shipping goods from America to Australia.