A commercial checklist for Australian businesses importing from China, covering supplier documents, freight mode, Incoterms, customs readiness, and delivery planning.
Confirm the shipment details before booking
Importers should confirm product descriptions, packing method, dimensions, weight, readiness date, and supplier address before the booking stage.
It is also the right moment to confirm Incoterms so responsibilities at origin and destination are not left vague.
Choose the freight mode based on business impact
Sea freight, air freight, FCL, and LCL each suit different order sizes and urgency levels. The best answer depends on stock cover, customer commitments, and landed-cost targets.
For growing businesses, the better comparison is usually not freight cost alone but what late inventory would mean for sales or operations.
Prepare for customs and delivery at the same time
Customs planning should happen before departure, not after arrival. The same is true for unpack, warehouse intake, and local delivery if the cargo cannot go straight to its final destination.
When these steps are planned together, the whole China-to-Australia import pathway becomes easier to manage.