OCEAN FREIGHT

General Rate Increase (GRI)

Ocean Carriers operating from North East Asia to Australia have announced a possible GRI of USD300/20’ and USD600/40’ effective 01 September 2014.

Ocean Carriers operating from South East Asia to Australia have announced a possible GRI of USD300/20’ and USD600/40’ effective 15 September 2014.

Even though a number of Ocean Carriers have made these announcements, we will be closely monitoring the situation and ONLY on-charge whatever increases are implemented by them.

South East Asia Congestion

We are noticing a high increase in volume moving on vessels ex South East Asia regions to Australia causing congestion.

AIR FREIGHT

USA to Australia

If you are looking to expand your reach into the USA and are considering fast and reliable Air Freight services, please feel free to contact our Business Development Team to discuss numerous options and services to suit your needs.

GENERAL

Illegal Logging

The illegal logging laws affect businesses who import certain timber products into Australia.

Under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012, it is a criminal offence to import illegally logged timber and timber products into Australia.

A new element of the laws, as outlined in the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment Regulation 2013 (the Regulation), will come into effect on 30 November 2014.

From this date, importers of regulated timber or timber products (as defined in Schedule 1 of the Regulation) will need to assess and manage the risk that the timber has been illegally logged before importing that product. This is known as carrying out 'due diligence’.

The regulated timber products are identified using Customs tariff codes and fit within Chapters 44, 47, 48 and 94 of the tariff codes. This includes most timber and wood-based products such as sawn timber, veneer, mouldings, wood panels, plywood, pulp, paper and wooden furniture.

Importers will also need to answer a simple declaration question about their compliance with their due diligence obligations. This will be via a community protection question as part of their full import declaration to Customs. Regardless of whether an importer answers yes or no to the declaration question, their goods will not be held up at the border.

Importers should be aware that the new due diligence requirements apply to all imports of timber arriving in Australia from 30 November 2014. This is irrespective of whether the order was placed before or after that date.

Further information?

The department's website contains a range of information to help importers understand and comply with the illegal logging laws. To stay up to date on the illegal logging laws, the department has also established a mailing list, which is available by visiting the website.

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