OneSource Customs & Logistics

Free Trade Agreement = duty free… right? Not always.

Australia has Free Trade Agreements with many countries, but simply purchasing goods from an FTA partner does not automatically make them duty free.

To claim an FTA benefit, your goods must:

✅ Be covered by the relevant agreement
✅ Meet the required rules of origin
✅ Have compliant supporting documentation
✅ Be correctly declared at the time of import

Where goods are manufactured, the materials used and the processes completed in each country can all affect eligibility.

Your shipping route can matter too. Indirect routings, transhipments or certain activities undertaken in a third country may affect whether your goods remain eligible for preferential duty treatment.

If the requirements aren’t met, full customs duty may still apply, even when the goods are shipped from an FTA country.

FTA benefits are earned, not assumed.

Unsure whether your goods qualify? Talk to Bianca for a preference assessment.

Why do we ask so many questions? 🤔

Because when it comes to customs and biosecurity, even the smallest product detail can make a big difference.

What the goods are, what they’re made from, where they originated, how they were manufactured and who supplied them can all affect:

- Tariff classification
- Duty rates and available concessions
- Free Trade Agreement eligibility
- Biosecurity requirements
- Anti-dumping and other trade measures

We’re not being nosy, we’re making sure your goods are assessed correctly before they reach the Australian border.

The more accurate the information is upfront, the better prepared we can be, helping you avoid unexpected costs, unnecessary delays and compliance issues.

Talk to us before you ship.

Caitlin has officially swapped freight for freedom and is off enjoying two weeks of well-earned leave! 🧳☀️

While she’s busy pretending emails, containers and urgent bookings don’t exist, all enquiries can be directed to Bianca. Jo and I will be holding down the fort.

A little preparation before shipment can prevent costly delays, unexpected charges and a whole lot of scrambling once the goods arrive in Australia.

Before your cargo departs, confirm:

1️⃣ What are you actually importing?
Clear and accurate product descriptions make everything downstream easier.

2️⃣ How are the goods classified?
Tariff classification can affect duty, permits and other import requirements.

3️⃣ Where were they made?
Country of origin can affect duty rates, Free Trade Agreement eligibility and trade measures.

4️⃣ Are there any import conditions?
Biosecurity requirements, permits, treatments or approvals may need to be arranged before shipment.

5️⃣ Is your paperwork ready?
Commercial invoices, packing lists and supporting documents should be checked early—not after the vessel arrives.

A quick review before departure can save days of delays, storage costs and unnecessary stress at the border.

Don’t wait until your cargo arrives. Talk to OneSource before you ship.

📞 1300 135 964
🌐 www.oscl.com.au

ANTI-DUMPING UPDATE: IMPORTING HOLLOW STRUCTURAL SECTIONS?

Recent anti-circumvention findings have expanded the scope of Australia’s anti-dumping measures applying to certain hollow structural section (HSS) products.

The expanded measures may now include:

🔹 Certain HSS classified under tariff subheading 7308.90.00
🔹 HSS with holes at the ends, along their length, or both
🔹 HSS with modified or other-than-plain ends

These alterations are subject to the anti-dumping measures when imported on or after 4 September 2025.

Importantly, tariff classification alone does not determine whether your goods are affected. The product’s dimensions, specifications, end finishes, holes and other physical characteristics must also be carefully reviewed.

Unexpected dumping and countervailing duties can significantly increase your landed costs—so it is essential to check before placing an order or shipping your goods.

Not sure whether your products are affected?

Talk to OneSource before you import.

📞 1300 135 964
🌐 www.oscl.com.au

AUSTRALIA’S TRANSPORT WORKFORCE IS AT A TURNING POINT

New research has found that 44% of Australian transport and logistics professionals are considering leaving the industry within the next five years.

The Australian Fleet Safety & Compliance Benchmark 2026 surveyed 200 senior transport and logistics professionals and found:

• 42% said working in the industry had affected their mental health
• 29% identified long working hours as a reason for considering leaving
• 25% pointed to the difficulty of keeping up with compliance
• 68% said their drivers felt undervalued by the public
• More than one-third still rely on manual processes for critical compliance tasks

The findings, reported by Fully Loaded, reflect an industry under sustained pressure from increasing costs, labour shortages, changing regulations and demanding working conditions.

Technology can help reduce the administrative burden, improve safety and simplify compliance—but systems alone will not solve the workforce-retention challenge.

Businesses also need to consider:

• Whether workloads and working hours are sustainable
• Whether compliance responsibilities are adequately resourced
• Whether staff have access to effective systems, training and support
• Whether drivers and operational teams feel genuinely recognised
• Whether mental health and wellbeing are treated as operational priorities

Transport and logistics workers keep Australia’s economy and supply chains moving. If nearly half are questioning whether they have a future in the industry, that is not simply a staffing issue—it is a warning that the industry needs to listen and respond.

Better systems. Stronger support. Genuine recognition.

Protecting our workforce protects Australia’s supply chain.

OSCL spent Saturday on a charter vessel and we where blessed to watch the Fremantle port operations in action. It was a cracker of a day ☀️⛴️📦

WORLD CONTAINER INDEX UPDATE – 20 AUGUST 2026

The latest Drewry World Container Index has increased 4% to USD $4,526 per 40-foot container, driven primarily by higher Transpacific freight rates.

According to the World Container Index update published by Daily Cargo News, the latest route movements include:

🇨🇳 Shanghai to New York
Up 9% to USD $9,507 per 40-foot container

🇨🇳 Shanghai to Los Angeles
Up 9% to USD $6,802 per 40-foot container

Meanwhile, Asia-Europe rates moved slightly lower:

🇨🇳 Shanghai to Genoa
Down 2% to USD $4,955 per 40-foot container

🇨🇳 Shanghai to Rotterdam
Down 1% to USD $4,401 per 40-foot container

Demand on the Transpacific trade remains resilient, while carriers continue managing available supply through blank sailings and capacity reductions.

Seven blank sailings have reportedly been announced for the coming week. August capacity also declined by 9% month-on-month between Asia and the US East Coast, further tightening available space.

Several carriers have also announced Panama Canal surcharges on Asia-US East Coast and Asia-US Gulf Coast services from September, which may place additional pressure on freight costs.

Although Shanghai and Rotterdam congestion has eased, average vessel waiting times remain elevated at approximately 32.3 hours and 25 hours respectively.

The index does not represent every individual shipping lane or contracted rate. However, it is a useful indicator of broader market direction, carrier capacity management and emerging pricing pressure.

For importers, the message remains:

• Book early
• Allow additional lead time
• Be prepared for schedule changes and rolled cargo
• Avoid relying solely on the originally advised ETD or ETA

We will continue monitoring market movements, carrier capacity and sailing schedules across our key trade lanes.

CUSTOMS DUTY UPDATE: EXCISE-EQUIVALENT GOODS

The Australian Border Force has issued Australian Customs Notice No. 2026/30, confirming new customs duty rates for certain excise-equivalent goods, effective from 3 August 2026.

These rates are indexed twice yearly against the Consumer Price Index. For the August 2026 adjustment, an indexation factor of 1.020 has been applied.

The changes affect specified imported alcohol and fuel products, including:

• Spirits and certain alcohol products
• B**r and other alcoholic beverages
• Petroleum fuels, including diesel, ethanol and biodiesel
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG)
• Compressed natural gas (CNG)
• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Examples of the updated rates include:

• Spirits and selected alcohol products – $110.15 per litre of alcohol
• Petroleum fuels – $0.537 per litre
• LNG and CNG – $0.368 per kilogram
• LPG – $0.175 per litre

The applicable rate for alcohol products will depend on the tariff classification, alcohol content and packaging.

It is also important to note that the biannual indexation of eligible draught b**r duty rates remains paused for two years from 1 August 2025. Indexation for those rates is scheduled to recommence from 1 August 2027.

The updated rates also extend to goods subject to indexation under several preferential tariff schedules and free trade agreements.

Importers of alcohol, fuel and petroleum products should review their landed-cost calculations, customs duty forecasts and pricing arrangements to ensure the new rates have been incorporated.

A relatively small rate adjustment can have a significant financial impact across regular or high-volume imports.

IMPORT ALERT: NI****NE POUCH REGULATIONS HAVE CHANGED

The Australian Border Force has issued Australian Customs Notice No. 2026/29, confirming significant changes to the importation of ni****ne pouches.

From 24 July 2026, consumers can no longer lawfully purchase or import ni****ne pouches into Australia under the Personal Importation Scheme—even when supported by a prescription.

The changes also mean:

• Travellers cannot bring ni****ne pouches into Australia
• The traveller exemption no longer applies
• Medical practitioners and pharmacies cannot supply ni****ne pouches through the previous pathways
• Ni****ne pouches cannot be imported or supplied unless included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) or covered by another statutory exemption under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989
• Retailers, including online sellers, cannot legally advertise or sell ni****ne pouches in Australia

As at 24 July 2026, no ni****ne pouch products were included on the ARTG.

The ABF has advised that unlawful imports will be seized. Import offences may also attract significant civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines.

If you are purchasing these products from an overseas website, receiving them by courier or carrying them in your luggage, having a prescription does not provide a lawful import pathway.

Always confirm the Australian import requirements before purchasing regulated goods from overseas.

****nePouches