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What does it cost to bring furniture from China into Australia?
With a ChAFTA certificate of origin, most furniture and building materials from China pay 0% duty; you pay 10% GST on the goods, freight, insurance and duty, plus port, customs and biosecurity charges of roughly A$2,000 per container.
Landed in Sydney for about A$77,140: A$60,000 of goods, A$7,904 of freight and A$8,897 of duty, GST and charges.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Duty (ChAFTA rate) 0% with a ChAFTA certificate of origin from the factory | A$0 |
| GST (10%) On the value of the goods + freight + insurance + duty | A$6,824 |
| Import processing charge | A$152 |
| Biosecurity charge | A$71 |
| Customs broker (typical) | A$350 |
| Destination port and terminal charges (typical) | A$1,500 |
| Border costs | A$8,897 |
What Australia expects for sofas and upholstered chairs
- Ask for the ChAFTA certificate of origin (duty 0% instead of 5%)
- Treated or certified timber packing (ISPM 15)
- Fabric content label (Australian Consumer Law expects accurate descriptions)
Get real factory prices, ChAFTA-ready. Send us your list and we'll come back with factory prices from Foshan, a container plan and every Australian cost on its own line.
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How we work it out
Customs value is the price paid to the factory (FOB), converted to Australian dollars. Duty is 0% under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement when the factory supplies a certificate of origin, otherwise usually 5%. GST is 10% of the value of the taxable importation: customs value + international freight and insurance + duty.
The import processing charge (A$152 for an electronic sea declaration over A$10,000) and the biosecurity charge are added per shipment, plus a customs broker and destination port and terminal charges (typical figures; your forwarder quotes the exact amounts). Freight is a range from public index rates for the port you choose. Estimates only: your customs broker confirms the final figures.
Sources
- DFAT FTA Portal: China–Australia Free Trade Agreement tariffs
- Australian Border Force: GST and other taxes on imports
- Australian Border Force: import processing charge
- Australian Customs Notice 2026/23
- DAFF: brown marmorated stink bug seasonal measures 2026–27
- Australian Border Force: engineered stone import ban
- Australian Customs Notice 2024/32: asbestos testing by a NATA-recognised laboratory
- WaterMark and WELS: tapware and toilets
- EESS: electrical equipment safety (RCM)
- ACCC: toppling furniture safety standard
- Freightos Baltic Index FBX01, China to North America West Coast
- Xeneta weekly ocean container market update (8 Oct 2026)
- Drewry World Container Index (weekly)
- Daily Cargo News: Australian rates (16 Oct 2026)
Rates and rules last checked 15 October 2026.
Questions
How do I get 0% duty on furniture from China?
Ask the factory (or us) for a ChAFTA certificate of origin with the shipment. Your customs broker claims the preferential rate with it. Without it, most furniture pays 5%.
Can I claim the GST back?
Businesses registered for GST, such as builders and developers importing for a project, usually claim the import GST as a credit. Homeowners importing for their own home pay it.
What is the stink-bug season?
From 1 September to 30 April, goods from certain countries and on the target list (such as stone, tiles, timber and metal goods) face extra biosecurity measures. China is an emerging-risk country: target goods may be inspected on arrival.
Can I import engineered stone benchtops?
No. Australia banned engineered stone containing 1% or more crystalline silica from 1 January 2025. Natural stone, porcelain and sintered stone without resin are not covered by the ban.