Australia – your partner for imports & exports by air and sea freight
Down Under is a common name for Australia and New Zealand and several neighbouring Pacific island nations. Despite its relatively small population, Australia has considerable economic strength, supported in no small part by its wealth of natural resources, and is an important trading partner for Germany.
Exports and imports, for example by air freight, and other transport services involving Australia are straightforward with Sea, Air, Transport & Service. Whatever you need to move to or from Australia, we make it possible. Naturally, this also applies to destinations beyond the Australian mainland.
Transport to and from Australia: imports and exports
The coastal cities of
- Brisbane,
- Sydney,
- Adelaide and
- Perth
with their seaports and international airports are the main logistics hubs serving Australia’s vast distances. As in other parts of the world, we work with established local partners in Australia to develop and deliver transport solutions for you. This partner network also allows us to accommodate specific customer requirements while keeping our prices competitive.
Wherever your goods are located in Australia, or wherever they need to go, we arrange local collection or delivery. We combine different modes of transport to meet your requirements and optimise costs. The long overland distances that may be involved make it particularly important to choose the right mode of transport for each shipment.
For relocations to or from Australia, we also offer a door-to-door service covering not only transport itself, but complete handling, customs clearance and a range of additional services.
Special requirements: Australia’s vast distances
Contact us for information or advice. You can reach us easily by phone, through our contact form or by email. We look forward to hearing from you. If you already have a clear idea of your requirements, we will also be happy to prepare a competitive quotation promptly.
Economic background: figures from 2014
- Australia has a highly developed economy. The following figures describe the historical position in 2014 rather than current growth;
- Australia’s gross domestic product stood at US$1,483 billion at the end of 2014. Despite its relatively small population, this put the country among the world’s top twenty economies. Australia’s GDP per capita was among the highest worldwide.
- In 2014, Australia’s exports were equivalent to US$237 billion and its imports to US$242 billion.
- German exports to Australia amounted to €7.8 billion in 2014, while imports from Australia were approximately €2 billion.
Major airports and seaports in Australia:
| Airport / seaport | IATA code / UN/LOCODE | City served |
| Adelaide Airport | ADL | Adelaide |
| Gold Coast Airport | OOL | Coolangatta |
| Melbourne Airport | MEL | Melbourne |
| Perth Airport | PER | Perth |
| Kingsford Smith International Airport | SYD | Sydney |
| Darwin International Airport | DRW | Darwin |
| Port of Adelaide | AU ADL | Adelaide |
| Port of Brisbane | AU BNE | Brisbane |
| Port of Darwin | AU DRW | Darwin |
| Port of Fremantle | AU FRE | Fremantle |
| Port of Hobart | AU HBA | Hobart |
| Port of Melbourne | AU MEL | Melbourne |
| Port of Sydney | AU SYD | Sydney |
Regional reference: Auckland Airport (AKL) serves Auckland in New Zealand.
01. The right partner!
Benefit from our experience in transport to and from Australia.
Our extensive network in Australia and competitive terms make us a strong partner.
02. What do you need?
Australia: your freight forwarder for imports & exports
There is a well-established trading relationship between Germany/Europe and Australia. German companies primarily supply machinery, mining equipment, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals and chemical products to Australia. In the opposite direction, raw materials and agricultural goods predominate, including coal, iron ore, gold and precious metals, as well as an increasing share of critical minerals such as lithium. As an international freight forwarder based in Munich, SATS Group provides reliable, coordinated import and export services on this route from a single source.
Transport routes to Australia
- Sea freight: Major container ports include Melbourne, Port Botany (Sydney), Brisbane and Fremantle (Perth). Depending on the route and destination port, the sea passage from Northern Europe typically takes several weeks. Allow additional time for inland collection and delivery and clearance by the relevant authorities. Suitable for full container loads (FCL), less-than-container loads (LCL) and project cargo.
- Air freight: Air transport is an option for urgent and high-value shipments. Major cargo airports include Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with transit times of a few days.
- Multimodal: On request, we combine sea and air freight with inland collection and onward transport to the delivery address anywhere in Australia.
Customs and documents
Australia applies strict biosecurity controls. Packaging, timber and goods may be inspected, which can affect the overall transit time. Accurate commercial documents, such as the commercial invoice, packing list and, where required, proof of origin, are essential for smooth customs clearance. Check changes to tariffs and preferential arrangements between the EU and Australia in good time, as these may affect import duties. We advise you on the applicable rules of origin and manage the complete customs clearance process.
Whether you are shipping a full container, consolidated cargo or express air freight, SATS Group is your experienced partner for the demanding Australia route, supporting your shipments reliably from door to door.