How To Export From Vietnam To Australia // Regulations, Taxes, And Tariffs When Importing To Australia
Economic ties between Vietnam and Australia are stronger than ever, with bilateral trade reaching a record $18.3 billion in 2024. Both nations are committed to further expanding their partnership. Vietnam’s dynamic manufacturing sector and growing export capacity make it a leading supplier of textiles, electronics, footwear, furniture, and agricultural goods to Australia’s robust, quality-focused market. For Vietnamese exporters and Australian importers alike, tapping into this trade corridor presents major opportunities—but also requires careful navigation of evolving regulations, logistics, and cross-cultural considerations.
This blog post serves as a comprehensive guide for businesses aiming to export from Vietnam to Australia in 2025. Whether you’re a Vietnamese manufacturer looking to expand in Australia or an Australian company seeking reliable suppliers in Vietnam, understanding the legal frameworks, customs requirements, and market trends on both sides is crucial.
We’ll break down the most crucial steps for success, including identifying in-demand products, adhering to Vietnamese and Australian standards, optimizing logistics and customs clearance, and fostering strong business relationships. You’ll also gain insights on leveraging the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), understanding the latest tariffs and certifications, and crafting effective marketing strategies for the Australian market.
Join us as we explore the essential knowledge and tools you need to confidently export from Vietnam to Australia, unlocking growth and new opportunities in this dynamic trade relationship.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of importing items from Vietnam into Australia.
How To Export From Vietnam To Australia
To export goods from Vietnam to Australia, you must comply with all applicable export and import rules and regulations. Most importantly, a well-thought-out strategy and a thorough awareness of market trends and associated risks will help.
We’re here to guide you through the process of importing goods from Vietnam to Australia. This article can guide you through every step of the procedure, from picking up your consignment to delivery, and everything in between.
If you want to import products from Vietnam, there are four procedures you need to take:
Gather information by investigating what you want to import to see if a market exists for it.
Locate suppliers using the following steps: Investigate the Vietnamese manufacturers of the products you wish to import into Australia, make offers, and strike a contract. You can do this alone or work with a partner, such as Cosmo Sourcing.
Promote your products: Locate outlets for the goods or items you want to sell around Australia.
Arrange for shipping: Utilize TSL’s exceptional freight forwarding service to streamline your import process. From pick-up to delivery and related services such as packing, storage, and distribution, we will provide all services in the chain.
Australia and Vietnam are Strong trading partners.
In the 2016-2017 financial year, Australia imported AU$ 4.8 billion worth of goods from Vietnam. Telecommunications equipment, footwear, monitors, projectors, TVs, and furniture, including mattresses and cushions, are among our top imports from Vietnam. In this study from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, you can learn more about Australia’s trading relationship with Vietnam. You can also contact the Australian Trade and Investment Commission for further information on Vietnam’s market profile (Austrade).
What is the most suitable mode of transport for shipping goods from Vietnam to Australia?
If you want to import goods from Vietnam into Australia, you’ll need to figure out which mode of transportation is best for you. TSL can assist with Vietnam’s marine and air freight services and answer any queries.
Sea Freight from Vietnam
Are you seeking the most cost-effective method to import your goods into Australia? Sea freight from Vietnam is the most cost-effective means to transport products the 5,200 kilometers or so between Australia and this Southeast Asian country. Sea cargo takes 20 to 30 days to arrive in Australia from Vietnam and is the best option if the products you’re shipping are big or bulky.
Air Freight from Vietnam
Of course, shipping products by plane is far faster than shipping them by sea freight from Vietnam, taking one to six days. However, it is more expensive than shipping things over the ocean. The overall time required will be determined by various criteria, including the locations of your pick-up and delivery points and the amount of inland transit required in each country.
So, how much of an export tariff will I have to pay on my goods?
You can utilize the Australian Government’s Free Trade Agreement Portal to determine what to expect in export customs from Vietnam to Australia. First, type your item’s name into a search engine along with the intended import and export countries. Next, we’ll present you with a list from which you may choose a category for your item. You’ll then find out your item’s HS code, the import tariff you’ll have to pay when your products arrive in Australia, and information on any free trade agreements that may apply. As you can see, the AANZFTA has eliminated duties on most commodities.
What is the price of shipping a container from Vietnam to Australia?
In any case, sea freight is the most common mode of transport for Australian importers. Shipping by sea is, without a doubt, the most cost-effective solution for large and frequent shipments.
As a result, most cargo is transported via maritime freight from Vietnam to Australia. Is your shipment larger than 1 CBM or 100 kg? Airfreight will be prohibitively expensive. As you may expect, rail freight is impossible due to the sea.
As a result, sea freight is the most cost-effective method of transporting goods between the two countries (and in general).
How to Look Up Regulations For Importing To Australia From Vietnam
Once an investor establishes a trading company in Vietnam, its employees must be familiar with the country’s import and export legislation.
The essential restrictions that corporations should be aware of before trading in Vietnam are outlined below.
Resources For Looking Up Regulations Importing to Australia from Vietnam
You can use the websites and tools listed below to check Australian regulations in your field. In addition, the websites listed below will assist you in learning the fundamentals of importing things into Australia:
Regulations On Importing Textiles & Footwear from Vietnam to Australia
The obligatory standards for labeling various prescription items are outlined in Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010. Certain portions of the voluntary Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles - Care Labelling have been incorporated into this required standard. SAI Global sells the AS/NZS 1957:1998 standard.
Care labeling offers adequate information to the general public to
Understand how to care for garments and textiles
Having a prior understanding of expenditures associated with the continuous care of garments and textile products, such as dry cleaning
Grasp how to clean garments and textiles properly (e.g., cold hand wash only)
Clothing and textile items should have a long usable life.
To avoid dyes running and other types of damage (e.g., wash separately).
Textile products, including apparel, textiles, furniture, suede, leathers, and furs, must have appropriate care labeling instructions in English, as per the relevant standard.
The obligatory standard for clothes and textile care labeling applies to:
Textiles, plastic-coated fabrics, suede skins, leathers, and furs are used in apparel, materials, and furniture.
Regulations on Importing Electronics From Vietnam to Australia
You must prove electrical safety for any electrical equipment imported and sold in Australia. All electrical products must follow the general electrical safety standard AS/NZS 3820, regardless of their intended purpose.
The EESS and the AMCA rules require that electrical and electronic consumer products include the RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark), certifying that the products comply with the relevant regulations when imported and sold in Australia.
The AS/NZS 4417 standard specifies the criteria for electrical equipment labeling, which include the following:
The label should be written in English and be readable. It should also be securely attached to the product and its packaging.
The Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) must have a height of at least 3 millimeters.
Regulations on Wooden Articles
Importers are responsible for ensuring that their items fit the import requirements. Failure to meet import standards can result in delays, additional expenditures, and, in some situations, the items being re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense.
You can find product definitions and links to the applicable import conditions in BIOCON for various types of timber, wooden articles, bamboo, and similar items on the Types of Wood, Wooden Articles, Bamboo, and Associated Products page.
The BICON import standards require you to demonstrate that pest hazards are reduced during manufacturing or through the use of approved treatments. The department ensures that biosecurity hazards have been effectively managed by examining proof of compliance in documents and inspecting items upon arrival in Australia.
Regulations on Importing Furniture from Vietnam to Australia
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed obligatory and voluntary standards for furniture sold to adults and children in Australia, requiring furniture makers and importers to ensure product safety.
The form and construction of furniture, the materials used, and labeling are all critical considerations for ensuring product safety.
Requirements for General Safety
According to the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), certain statutory consumer product safety standards protect users from risks posed by non-compliant products. The ACCC has proposed AS/NZS standards as optional safety requirements for some items. Importers should thoroughly research the applicable standards for their items before bringing them to Australia to ensure their safety.
Even if your product does not require precise requirements, you must confirm its safety before importing it.
How To Find Taxes And Duties For Importing To Australia from Vietnam
Duty, GST, and other taxes may apply to goods entering Australia. Customs tax rates vary depending on several factors, including the type of product and its place of origin. Because of the AUSFTA’s favorable tariff structure, 99 percent of goods from the United States enter Australia duty-free. However, the importer is still responsible for paying any applicable GST.
Since July 2018, a ten percent GST has been applied to consumer sales of low-value imported items. If a recipient is a GST-registered business purchasing products for use in its business in Australia, it is not considered a consumer.
Suppose the value of their sales of low-value items imported into Australia by consumers (plus any other sales made in connection with Australia) is AU$ $75,000 or more in 12 months. In that case, a US exporter merely needs to register for GST. If the US exporter solely sells items to GST-registered enterprises in Australia, they will not be required to register for GST.
Top Resources For Looking Up Taxes & Import Duties for Australia
What Taxes Do You Need To Pay On Imported Goods Into Australia?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and customs duty are Australia’s two central import taxes. Other taxes, such as the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) for wine imports and the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) for certain car imports, may apply to imports under specific circumstances.
When goods with a customs value exceeding $1,000 are imported into Australia, the party (either the buyer or seller) typically submits an import declaration through their customs broker. Before the items are cleared, The Importer must pay any applicable GST and customs duty to Customs (currently handled by the Department of Home Affairs).
When a person comes to Australia, goods can be brought in by a freight forwarder or courier, via mail, or as accompanied baggage. The rules and import procedures may vary depending on the method used.
Imported cargo is subject to various rules and sometimes complicated duty rates. First, you must submit the electronic customs declaration through the department’s Integrated Cargo System (ICS). ** Your freight forwarder or customs broker can assist you with this.
Items with a worth of less than a thousand dollars
By completing a SAC declaration, Customs and Border Protection clears all cargo (excluding products arriving by mail). Most of the time, your freight forwarder or customs broker will charge you a fee for an SAC declaration on your behalf.
Customs clearance for items worth more than $1000
The importer must clear all items imported into Australia by sea, air, or mail with a customs value exceeding $1000.00 by completing an import declaration and paying duty, GST, and other applicable taxes and charges before the goods are cleared and released by Australian Customs.
What method is used to determine the worth of the goods in Australia?
Customs and Border Protection values most items at their transaction value in Australian Dollars. This is because customs use the exchange rate on the day the goods are exported (not the day they arrive in Australia) as the exchange rate.
What factors do you look for when determining the amount of customs duty?
The amount due for duty is determined by the classification of the goods and other considerations, such as exemptions, concessions, and preference schemes (e.g., a Free Trade Agreement between the origin country and Australia). When importing items, the ICS will automatically compute any duty, GST, Wine Equalisation Tax, or Luxury Car Tax due.
Subsequently, the owner is given a payment recommendation. Customs will clear and release the goods once the dispute has been resolved. The customs charge on most imported items into Australia is 5% of the value of the goods, converted to Australian dollars, but this varies depending on the type of goods being imported.
When importing items, do I have to pay GST in Australia?
Yes. Most imported goods will be subject to GST except for essential consumables, specific medical equipment and appliances, precious metals, and other items.
When items are imported, GST is levied at a rate of 10% of the Australian dollar value of the commodities. Thus, the value of imported items equals the commodities’ value (as described above) plus any tariff, transportation, and insurance expenses.
To determine how much GST you’ll have to pay on imported products, multiply the cost of the goods in Australian dollars by the freight, insurance, and import duty. On this sum, the 10% GST is determined. For example, if you purchase calculators for AUD 500, you’ll need to factor in a 5% customs charge of $25, as well as the costs of freight and insurance, which may be $42. This brings the total to $567, plus a 10% GST of $56.70. Thus, the total cost of goods is estimated to be $623.70.
To sum up, importing and exporting to another country may seem easy. Still, it can be challenging when you are unaware of the regulations and taxes that must be paid throughout the process. I hope the article proved helpful for you when you start your export from Vietnam to Australia. So, before starting imports and exports in Australia, remember the following points.
Learn about the import tax and duty you’ll need to pay on your shipments to Australia.
Remember that you don’t have to be an expert in all aspects of importing before placing an order with your overseas provider.
Your Customs Broker or Forwarding Agent can provide you with expert advice.
Attending the College of International Business’s International Trade (Import/Export) Course, which is held regularly, is an excellent approach to learning about the processes involved in importing.
Cosmo Sourcing // Your Trusted Partner In Vietnam
If you want to source from Vietnam, contact the Cosmo Sourcing team; we have been helping clients source from Vietnam since 2014. Cosmo Sourcing has the skills and the team to find you the best supplier possible. We are also established in China and are among the few companies that can find suppliers in China and Vietnam, and select the one you think is best.
Our Vietnam Sourcing services enable you to access new manufacturers that are not available in China, allowing you to avoid Tariffs. Our services are designed to take your idea, turn it into a product, and ship it to its final destination. Cosmo can handle everything from creating a product spec sheet to validating, sourcing, ordering, evaluating samples, arranging inspections, finding freight forwarders, ensuring quality assurance, negotiating, and shipping. We aim to handle every single step of your business in Vietnam for you.
If you start a new business, finding products and suppliers for your products is one of many things you need to handle. Our services are designed to handle every aspect of your business in China and Vietnam, allowing you to focus on growing your own business.
We have helped clients from Fortune 500 companies, brick-and-mortar stores, FBA sellers, and brand-new businesses. So don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help you.