Shipping from Australia to Papua New Guinea: A Complete Guide for Exporters and Importers

Key takeaways

• Brisbane is the main Australian load port for PNG, with direct services of about four days to Port Moresby and four to eight days to Lae.
• An Australian export declaration is needed for goods worth more than AUD 2,000, or goods needing a permit.
• Exports of goods are generally GST-free if shipped within 60 days of payment or invoice.
• Food and agricultural products need both Australian certification and a PNG import permit.
• Choose the PNG port that serves the final destination, and compare quotes on a door-to-door basis.

Why the Australia–PNG trade lane matters

Australia is one of PNG’s closest and most important trading partners. Mining and energy projects, retailers, construction companies, government programs and families relocating for work all rely on freight moving north from Australian ports, and the short sea voyage makes it one of the quicker international lanes into PNG.

Short doesn’t mean simple. Shippers on this lane deal with Australian export rules, a choice of origin ports, PNG customs and biosecurity, and an inland leg that can be harder than the voyage. This part of our complete guide to shipping freight to PNG brings it together for Australian exporters and PNG importers alike.

Choosing your Australian port

Brisbane is the main load port for PNG, with the most regular direct services to Port Moresby and Lae and the widest choice of equipment and LCL consolidations. Townsville can suit North Queensland shippers where a service calls there. Cairns is best known as an air freight gateway, with direct flights to Port Moresby. Sydney and Melbourne have services too, but transit is longer, so compare shipping direct with moving goods north to Brisbane first.

Brisbane services and transit times

Rotations vary, so always check the transit time to your actual PNG port. Weekly or fortnightly sailings mean a missed cut-off can cost a week or more, and the door-to-door timeline also includes clearance and any inland leg.

What it costs

A door-to-door cost has four layers: Australian origin charges, the freight and its surcharges, PNG destination charges, and clearance and delivery, including PNG import duty and 10% GST. On a short route like Brisbane to PNG, the fixed charges at each end can add up to more than the ocean freight, so compare quotes on a landed basis rather than the freight line alone.

Australian export requirements

An export declaration must be lodged with the Australian Border Force for goods worth more than AUD 2,000, or for goods needing a permit regardless of value, before they’re delivered to the port or airport. Some goods, including many food and agricultural products and defence or dual-use items, need permits or certificates.

Exports of goods are generally GST-free if they leave Australia within 60 days of the earlier of payment or invoice. Keep export records for five years.

Food and agricultural exports

Food and agricultural products face two sets of rules: Australian export certification from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and a PNG import permit from the biosecurity authority. Check PNG’s conditions for your product in the department’s Micor database first, secure the PNG permit before shipping, then arrange certification to match it.

Air freight from Australia

Direct flights connect Brisbane, Cairns and Sydney with Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby. Air freight suits urgent spares, medical supplies, perishables and high-value goods, and is charged on chargeable weight. Much of the capacity is in passenger aircraft holds, so check piece sizes, and plan a domestic connection for cargo going beyond Port Moresby.

At the PNG end

However smoothly the Australian leg goes, the shipment isn’t finished until it’s cleared and delivered in PNG. Choose the PNG port that serves the final destination: Lae for the Highlands and inland projects, Port Moresby for the capital. Make sure the PNG importer is registered, has a licensed customs broker and holds any permits before the goods leave Australia.

Getting paid and managing currency

Australian exporters selling to PNG customers should agree payment terms before goods are shipped. PNG businesses have faced long-running difficulty accessing foreign currency, which has delayed payments to overseas suppliers. Availability improved markedly in 2025, but it’s still sensible to discuss timing and options such as deposits or letters of credit, and to align payment terms with your Incoterm.

Choosing a freight forwarder

A good Australia–PNG forwarder has genuine capability at both ends: export documentation and bookings in Australia, and licensed customs brokerage, port handling and inland delivery in PNG. Ask who handles your cargo in PNG, which charges are included, and what happens if the shipment is held. Be wary of quotes that look cheap because they stop at the port.

Who ships on this lane

• Australian exporters selling to PNG customers, from mining and construction suppliers to food producers and distributors.
• PNG importers buying from Australian suppliers, who often control the freight under FOB or FCA terms.
• Project and resource companies moving equipment, spares and consumables to sites across PNG.
• Families and workers relocating to PNG, shipping household goods and personal effects.

Each has different priorities, but they share the same decisions: which ports to use, who pays for each stage, and how the cargo will reach its final destination.

Common mistakes on the Australia–PNG lane

• Choosing the cheapest freight to Port Moresby when the cargo is needed in Lae or the Highlands.
• Missing a cut-off and losing a week or more waiting for the next sailing.
• Shipping food or agricultural goods before the PNG import permit is issued.
• Using untreated pallets or crates that don’t meet ISPM-15.
• Forgetting the export declaration for goods over AUD 2,000.
• Comparing freight rates instead of door-to-door landed costs.
• Leaving payment terms vague with a PNG buyer.

A checklist for Australia–PNG shipments

• Confirm the final delivery address in PNG and choose the port that serves it.
• Choose the Australian load port and check sailings, cut-offs and transit times.
• Agree the Incoterm and payment terms with your buyer or seller.
• Check Australian export requirements and any PNG import permits.
• Use ISPM-15 compliant wood packaging and clean any used equipment.
• Get itemised door-to-door quotes and confirm container free time.
• Have the PNG customs broker lodge the import entry before the vessel arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Australian Border Force: export declarations
• Australian Taxation Office: exports and GST
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: NEXDOC export documentation
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Micor conditions for PNG
• Flexport Atlas: Australia–PNG service rotation
• Shipping Australia: Swire Shipping NAX service
• Business Advantage PNG: Australia–Port Moresby flight services

Written by

Philip Thomas

Philip is the lead author and editor at Phantom8. He writes practical guides to shipping freight into Papua New Guinea, with a focus on choosing the right port, clearing customs and planning the inland leg.

Read Philip’s profile