Shipping 101

The How, What and Why of Shipping

While shipping goods appears to be a simple process, many factors must come together to make it flow smoothly. We work with you to make the whole process as streamlined as possible. Still, understanding how all the moving parts work will help get it right first time with no surprises.

What you need to know

Importing and exporting of goods isn’t as simple as shopping online and having a product delivered to your home. As you can see, there are many parts that contribute to the whole and they are all factored into the cost of shipping. There are also rules and regulations in every country around what can and can’t be shipped and the correct documentation is needed to ensure a smooth delivery with no hold-ups.

We remove the guesswork and ensure you have the correct permits and know all your fees upfront.

To find out more about the costs of importing and exporting and what you need to know, read our Whitepaper. Remember – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

1 – Hidden Costs 

2 – Ship Like a Pro

Tips and tricks

Here are some easy, quick tips to help anyone new to importing and exporting goods:

  • research your product and get samples first;
  • approach a freight forwarder/customs broker before you buy the goods;
  • research Incoterms and negotiate the best Incoterm for you;
  • be patient with your buyer/seller and account for potential supply chain delays;
  • put good margin on your sell price to account for additional charges;
  • consider insurance; and
  • enjoy and embrace the nuances of shipping!
Step One

The supplier packages the goods in the factory.

Step Two

A courier/haulier picks the goods up and takes them to the port

Step Three

For shared containers, in a warehouse at the port, the goods are loaded into a container (by hand or forklift) and then the container is loaded onto a vessel (by crane).

Step Four

An Export Licence must be bought to allow the goods to leave the country of origin.

Step Five

The goods then need to be declared to Customs; someone is paid to do this.

Step Six

To ship the goods; official documents need to be raised. This is done for a fee.

Step Seven

Once on board the vessel, the cost of sea freight is to cover the sea transportation from port to port.

Step Eight

Now in Australia, the goods are unloaded from the ship (by crane) to be transferred into a warehouse (by truck) where the container is unpacked (by hand or forklift). The port and warehouse take care of this for a fee.

Step Nine

The goods then need to be declared to Australian customs by a broker.

Step Ten

Finally, a haulier collects the goods and delivers to your choice location.

Want to learn more about the shipping process?
See our Frequently Asked Questionsicon