Freight Shipping between the US and Australia | Rates – Transit Times – Duties & Taxes

Sea freight from the US and Australia

Australia's greatest trading partner, and imports from the United States have increased by 91% since 2005.

A Free Trade Agreement has been made by Australia, as the US Customs and Border Protection mentions that “Most goods imported into the U.S. under the Australia Free Trade Agreement (AUFTA) are free of duty and merchandise processing fee (MPF). All AUFTA goods will be duty free on January 1, 2022. “

The partnership between the United States and Australia in sea freight is primarily driven by commercial relationships between shipping companies, logistics providers, and businesses involved in international trade.

The trading volume between the United States and Australia has experienced consistent growth over the years. Maritime transportation plays a crucial role in facilitating the movement of goods between the two countries.

The sea freight relationship between the United States and Australia has evolved to meet the changing demands of international trade and advancements in logistics.

Overall, sea freight is an excellent option for companies involved in international trade, especially for long-distance shipments or bulky cargo, because of its affordability, capacity for large shipments, variety, global coverage, and reliability which both countries are focused on

Advantages of sea freight

Extensive port network: Along its coastline, the United States boasts a wide network of ports, including important ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York, and Savannah. These ports are well-equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern handling facilities, and efficient logistics operations. Businesses have a variety of choices for shipping and gaining access to international markets because to the broad port network.

Trade connectivity: Because of its strategic location, the US acts as a vital trade gateway between significant regions. Its geographical location makes it possible to reach many continents, such as Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with ease. This linkage improves the effectiveness of the supply chain and gives companies access to a variety of markets via marine freight.

The US's wide port network, trade connections, reliable transportation infrastructure, variety of cargo handling capabilities, economies of scale, accessibility to inland markets, flexibility in shipping options, and regulatory requirements all assist sea freight from the country. Due to these benefits, sea freight from the US is a desirable and dependable option for companies looking for effective and affordable options for international shipping.

Disadvantages of sea freight

Compared to air or land transportation, sea freight often has a longer transit time. It takes longer to ship goods over great distances via maritime routes, which can have an influence on supply chain management, inventory control, and customer satisfaction. Transit times can also be further extended by delays brought on by bad weather, port congestion, or customs processes.

Moreover, it is more difficult to alter a shipment once the products are loaded onto a container ship. Sea freight gives less flexibility to change shipment details or reroute items during transit than air or land transportation. In order to account for any potential changes or contingencies, businesses should thoroughly plan and arrange their shipments in advance.

The main shipping seaports in the U.S.

The seaport infrastructure in the US is highly developed due to significant year-round commercial activity. Each year, the country’s numerous ports manage a large volume of both international and domestic waterway vessels transporting a wide range of goods. The overall enterprise receives substantial investments amounting to billions of euros.

Port of New York and New Jersey

With 72 percent of all first port of calls going to the New York and New Jersey Port, it is the largest port on the East Coast. It consists of the Port Authority Marine Terminal, the Brooklyn Port Authority Maritime Facility, and the Newark Bay Extension, three main facilities that together handle approximately 7.4 million containers yearly. The port, which includes waterways in the New York-New Jersey Estuary, contains two foreign trade zones.

Virginia Port

Virginia Port, situated in the state of Virginia, United States East coast, is a thriving maritime facility handling an impressive volume of cargo. With its strategic location on the Atlantic Ocean, the port facilitates the movement of over 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, making it a significant gateway for international trade.

The main shipping seaports in Australia

Australia has grown to be an important nation for global shipping. A huge number of nations can access it thanks to its South Pacific location, and $1.2 billion worth of trade passes through its shipping ports every day. Oceania is a continent that is abundant in natural resources and exports a variety of agricultural products to nations like Japan, China, the United States, South Korea, and New Zealand, including wool, iron ore, gold, LNG, and coal.

Port of Sydney 

Sydney's port is a natural harbor that offers both commercial shipping and leisure activities. It covers 103 acres and has 11 berths as well as some more private berths in Gore Cove. Additionally, there is a bulk terminal with three specific berths for salt, sugar, and cement. 250,000 people use it annually, and 29 million tonnes of freight are handled there.

Port of Melbourne

The Port of Melbourne is the nation's main port for containerized cargo, and manages 3.28 million TEU and 79 million tons of cargo annually. Along with 5 river docks, 2 container terminals, and 3 multipurpose berths at the “Swanson dock”, the port offers 34 cargo handling facilities.

Port of Adelaide

The main maritime port in Southern Australia is the Port of Adelaide, it’s located several kilometers inland from the St. Vincent Gulf. It is a well-known port for exporting wine, ores, concentrates, cereals, cars, and other vehicles. Over 1000 ships and over 110 million tons of cargo are handled by the port annually.

Advantages of sea freight

Speed and efficiency: When compared to other forms of transportation, air freight is faster. Long distance shipments can be made in a matter of hours or days, ensuring prompt delivery and cutting down on transit periods. For time-sensitive items or situations where rapid delivery is essential, this speed is very beneficial.

Global connectivity: With airports and airlines serving a wide range of locations worldwide, air freight offers extensive global connectivity. Businesses can more simply and effectively access rural or distant markets because to this connectivity. Airports serve as nodes that link various areas, supporting smooth networks of trade and transit.

Reliable schedules: Airlines follow set flight schedules, providing consistent and predictable arrival and departure times. This enables companies to more precisely manage their supply chains, satisfy client requests, and steer clear of delays brought on by unsure transit times or outside variables like bad weather or backed-up traffic.

Reduced inventory costs: The speed of air freight helps minimize inventory holding costs. Businesses can maintain lower inventory levels as they can replenish stock quickly, thereby reducing storage costs and the risk of inventory obsolescence.

Disadvantages of sea freight

Cost is one of the main issues with air freight. In general, air freight is more expensive than other forms of transportation like rail or the sea. Charges for air freight frequently include items like fuel costs, handling fees at airports, security precautions, and specialist machinery. Certain types of cargo, notably big or heavy products, may find air transportation to be less economically viable due to the high expenditures involved.

Moreover, the US and Australia are far from each other, which would cost far too much.

Air freight has volume and capacity restrictions. Cargo space on airplanes is constrained, especially when compared to railroads or oceangoing boats. Due to the restricted capacity, larger shipments may need to be split into smaller ones or sent via alternate ways. Additionally, there may not be enough cargo space available at busy times or times of high demand, which could result in delays or increased expenses.

Due to its substantial carbon emissions, air freight has a negative influence on the environment. Large fuel burns by aircraft result in the release of greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. Comparing airfreight to other modes of transportation like the sea or rail, the carbon footprint of airfreight is significantly larger. Due to this negative environmental impact, the logistics sector is under more scrutiny and pressure to be more sustainable. To lessen the environmental impact of airfreight, several businesses are looking at alternative solutions and investing in carbon offset programs

How much does air freight cost between the US and Australia

Shipping costs between the US and Australia depends on many factors including Weight and Volume of the shipment, Freight class or even the Airline chosen.

For example, to air freight to Australia, for boxes more than 45 kg it’s $1.41 per kg; for more than 300 kg, it’s $1.10 per kg and for more than 1000 kg, $0.95 per kg. 

How to calculate the volumetric weight of your shipment

There are few steps to calculate the volumetric weight.

• For Classic airfreight: 1 CBM = 167 kg
• For Express airfreight = 1 CBM = 200 kg

Where to look up for your HS code for your products

Asking your supplier for the HTS code of your products is the simplest approach to learn it. In fact, if someone is accustomed to selling his goods for export, he is likely to be familiar with the HTS code.

By simply typing a term, like “pineapple” in our example, you may also use the “Harmonized System” to search any nation's tariff database.

Let’s see this together, go to the official website and take for example the key word “Pineapple”.

You know now the HTS code for the pineapple, which is 0804.30, and it can be used internationally.

Customs contacts

Required documents

In addition to an HTS code, you’ll need a few other documents to clear customs with your imports.

• Bill of Lading 

Document issued by the carrier. It attests that the exporter provided the items that were specified. It is a contract that details the specifics of an agreement between a shipper and a transportation firm and confirms receipt of the goods. Furthermore, it designates the type of cargo that will be transported between certain locations at a certain cost. The most fundamental document used in the transportation of goods serves as the goods' title, contract of carriage, and receipt. On forms provided by the carrier, the shipper prepares it. This could be an airway bill (AWB) for airborne cargo

• Packing list

An export packing list is a form that the shipper fills out to list the items included in the shipment. It must include the weight (gross and net), dimensions, and contents of the shipment as well as the numbers assigned to each package and any other distinguishing characteristics (such as serial numbers). The buyer only pays duty on what they really received; it can also be used to spot things that are damaged or missing.

• Commercial Invoice

This is the invoice that your supplier gave you when you made a purchase. This document must include the names of the buyer and seller, the type of goods, and the price you paid for them. For your items to be cleared by customs, you will require the original invoice. Verify that the packing list and the original invoice are identical.

• Certificate of origin

The term “origin” in a Certificate of Origin (CO) does not refer to the country from which the goods are transported, but rather to the place where the items were actually made. This document is used in international trade to typically identify the country of origin of the commodities shipped. The CO's function is to verify the country of origin of the products sent. This certificate certifies that the products being exported were truly produced in one of the nations listed on the certificate. If you want to take advantage of preferential rates of duty on particular products, this is crucial.

• Restricted and prohibited products

The importing of some goods into the US is restricted. Without prior approval from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) or the USDA (US Department of Agriculture), other food products, whether made of animal or vegetable sources, are not permitted to enter the United States.

Similar restrictions on the importation of drugs, alcohol, firearms, and other items apply.

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