Importing goods to Melbourne
What arrives where, how long it takes, and what to expect clearing customs and moving goods across metro Melbourne.
Arrival port
Port of Melbourne
The Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest container port by volume and the natural entry point for goods destined for Victoria and much of the southern interstate market. Its scale generally means good carrier frequency and competitive freight rates from Asia, though it can also mean queueing at peak season.
Sea freight transit
Sea freight from East Asia to the Port of Melbourne is typically 3 to 5 weeks port-to-port, in line with Sydney, with some direct services slightly faster depending on the carrier's rotation.
Air freight transit
Air freight from East Asia to Melbourne Airport generally takes 3 to 7 days door-to-door, similar to Sydney, and is commonly used for time-critical or high-value cargo.
Customs & clearance
What to expect at the border
- Melbourne handles a large share of Australia's imported machinery, automotive parts and general cargo, so classification accuracy for these categories is closely scrutinised, get HS codes checked before booking if your product could be classified more than one way.
- Biosecurity referral rates depend on cargo type rather than port, but timber packaging, plant-based materials and used equipment arriving through Melbourne should expect the possibility of treatment or further inspection.
- As with all Australian ports, duty is calculated on the customs value (broadly cost plus insurance and freight) and GST is applied at the border unless deferred.
Delivery across metro Melbourne
From the Port of Melbourne, metro delivery is generally same-day to next-day, with the western and northern industrial suburbs closest to the port and the M80 ring road providing quick reach across the metro area. Interstate transport to Adelaide is typically overnight by road; to Sydney or Brisbane, 1 to 2 days.
Warehousing & 3PL geography
Warehousing and 3PL capacity clusters in Melbourne's west (Laverton, Truganina, Derrimut) and north (Somerton, Campbellfield), both within easy reach of the port via the West Gate and Western Ring Road corridors.
Common questions
Importing to Melbourne, answered
For the freight booking, documentation and clearance side of an Melbourne shipment, see our freight and customs service. If you're comparing sea and air options, our guide to sea freight vs air freight covers the trade-offs in more depth, and our import duty and GST guide explains what lands on your invoice at the border.
Sourcing or shipping into Melbourne?
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