Freight forwarding, customs clearance, Incoterms and project cargo FAQs

Logistix AU is a Sydney-based international freight forwarder providing air freight, sea freight, Australian road transport, customs clearance and specialist project cargo services. We can coordinate collection, freight, shipping documentation, customs clearance and final delivery through a single point of contact.

Yes. Although Logistix AU is headquartered in Sydney, we coordinate import and export shipments through Australian ports and airports, together with domestic collection and delivery throughout Australia.

No. Logistix AU can coordinate freight movements from and to locations throughout Australia and internationally. Online quotes may use Sydney as the starting point, but a freight specialist can prepare a tailored quote for other origins and destinations.

Yes. Depending on the shipment and agreed Incoterm, Logistix AU can coordinate supplier collection, export documentation, international freight, Australian customs clearance, domestic transport and final delivery. The included services and responsibilities will be confirmed in your freight quotation.

Yes. Logistix AU arranges both full-container-load freight, known as FCL, and less-than-container-load freight, known as LCL. The most suitable option depends on the cargo volume, route, delivery timeframe and budget.

Yes. International air freight can be arranged for urgent, high-value and time-critical commercial shipments. Provide the cargo dimensions, weight, origin, destination and required delivery date so the team can assess the most appropriate service.

Project cargo includes oversized, heavy, valuable, non-containerised or time-critical equipment requiring more planning than a standard freight shipment. It may involve specialised handling, route planning, permits, lifting equipment, customs coordination and multiple transport modes.

Yes. Project cargo is a specialist Logistix AU service covering complex shipments such as industrial equipment, construction materials, manufacturing machinery and other cargo that cannot be transported using standard container or parcel services.

Provide the cargo description, quantity, individual dimensions and weights, lifting points, photographs or drawings, collection location, delivery location, cargo-ready date and required delivery date. Details about site access, cranes, loading equipment and operating restrictions should also be included where relevant.

Urgent project cargo requests submitted through the urgent option are prioritised for same-business-day contact. Include complete cargo and timing information so the team can assess route availability, equipment requirements and the most suitable transport solution.

Yes. Logistix AU provides Australian customs brokerage services for imports and exports, including customs documentation, tariff classification and shipment-specific clearance requirements. Customs clearance can be coordinated as part of a complete freight service or for an independently arranged shipment.

Requirements depend on the goods, country of origin and method of transport. You should generally provide the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, detailed product description, country of manufacture and any relevant permits or certificates.

For an accurate quote, provide the collection and delivery locations, cargo description, quantity, dimensions, weight, cargo-ready date, required delivery date and preferred transport mode. You should also confirm the applicable Incoterm and whether customs clearance, cargo insurance and final delivery are required.

Use the online freight quote form for air, sea or road freight. Oversized, heavy or time-critical shipments should be submitted through the project cargo request form so the additional handling, routing and delivery requirements can be assessed.

The Logistix AU team brings decades of experience across international freight forwarding, customs brokerage and project transport management. This experience is supported by longstanding relationships with carriers, customs specialists and international logistics partners.

Logistix AU is headquartered at Level 20, Tower 2, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW, Australia. From Sydney, the company coordinates freight movements throughout Australia and internationally.

Incoterms® are 11 internationally recognised trade rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce. They define how transport tasks, costs and risks are divided between the buyer and seller, including who arranges freight and who handles export or import clearance. The current rules are Incoterms® 2020. Each shipment should identify the chosen three-letter rule, the named delivery place or port and the applicable version, such as "FCA Shanghai Terminal, Incoterms® 2020."

Under EXW, the seller makes the goods available at its premises or another named location. The buyer is responsible for collection, loading, export clearance, main transport, import clearance and final delivery. Key difference: EXW places the least transport responsibility on the seller and the most responsibility on the buyer.

Under FCA, the seller delivers the goods to the buyer's nominated carrier at an agreed location and completes export clearance. Risk transfers to the buyer when the goods are delivered to that carrier. Key difference: Unlike EXW, the seller handles export clearance and formally delivers the goods to the carrier. FCA is commonly more suitable than FOB where containerised goods are handed over at a terminal before being loaded onto a vessel.

Under CPT, the seller delivers the goods to a carrier and pays the transport cost to the named destination. However, risk transfers to the buyer when the goods are handed to the first carrier, not when they reach the destination. Key difference: The seller pays the main freight, but the buyer carries the transport risk after the initial handover. The seller is not required to arrange cargo insurance.

Under CIP, the seller delivers the goods to a carrier, pays transport to the named destination and arranges cargo insurance. Risk still transfers to the buyer when the goods are handed to the first carrier. Key difference: CIP works like CPT but includes seller-arranged insurance, generally at a higher required level of cover than CIF. It can be used for air, road, rail, sea or multimodal shipments.

Under DAP, the seller arranges transport and carries the risk until the goods reach the named destination, ready for unloading. The buyer is responsible for unloading, import customs clearance and applicable import duties and taxes. Key difference: DAP gives the seller responsibility for delivery to the destination but leaves import clearance and unloading with the buyer.

Under DPU, the seller transports the goods to the named destination and unloads them from the arriving vehicle. The buyer generally completes import clearance and pays applicable import duties and taxes. Key difference: DPU is the only Incoterms® 2020 rule that requires the seller to unload the goods at the destination.

Under DDP, the seller arranges transport to the named destination and completes both export and import customs formalities, including applicable import duties. The buyer generally only receives and unloads the goods. Key difference: DDP places the greatest responsibility on the seller and the least on the buyer. The seller must be legally and practically able to complete import clearance in the destination country.

Under FAS, the seller delivers the goods alongside the buyer's nominated vessel at the named port of shipment and completes export clearance. The buyer is responsible for loading the goods onto the vessel, ocean freight, insurance and the remaining journey. Key difference: Risk transfers while the goods are alongside the vessel, before they are loaded onboard. FAS is only used for sea or inland waterway transport.

Under FOB, the seller completes export clearance and loads the goods onto the buyer's nominated vessel at the named port of shipment. Risk transfers to the buyer once the goods are onboard the vessel. Key difference: Unlike FAS, the seller is responsible for loading the goods onto the vessel. Unlike CFR and CIF, the buyer arranges and pays for the main ocean freight.

Under CFR, the seller loads the goods onto the vessel and pays the ocean freight to the named destination port. Risk transfers to the buyer when the goods are onboard the vessel at the origin port. Key difference: The seller pays the freight to the destination port, but the buyer carries the shipping risk from the origin port. The seller is not required to arrange insurance.

Under CIF, the seller loads the goods onto the vessel and pays for ocean freight and cargo insurance to the named destination port. Risk still transfers to the buyer when the goods are onboard the vessel at the origin port. Key difference: CIF works like CFR but includes seller-arranged insurance. It is limited to sea and inland waterway transport and requires a lower default level of insurance than CIP.

EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU and DDP can be used for road, rail, air, sea or multimodal transport. FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF are specifically intended for sea and inland waterway shipments where delivery occurs alongside or onboard a vessel.

Under the C terms — CPT, CIP, CFR and CIF — the seller pays for transport to a named destination, but risk transfers to the buyer earlier in the shipment. Under the D terms — DAP, DPU and DDP — the seller retains the transport risk until the goods reach the named destination.

No. Incoterms allocate transport responsibilities, costs and risk, but they do not determine when legal ownership transfers, the sale price, payment terms or remedies for breach of contract. Those matters should be addressed separately in the sale agreement.

No. Only CIP and CIF require the seller to arrange insurance for the buyer's transport risk. Under the other Incoterms, the buyer and seller should separately determine whether cargo insurance is required and who will arrange it.

Yes. Logistix AU can explain how a proposed Incoterm affects freight arrangements, customs clearance, insurance and delivery costs. The final Incoterm should be agreed between the buyer and seller and recorded in the commercial contract and invoice.