Machinery & Equipment Customs Brokers

Machinery and equipment imports encompass industrial manufacturing equipment, construction machinery, agricultural equipment, processing plant, and specialist tooling. Australia imports substantial volumes of machinery, primarily from Germany, Japan, China, the United States, and Italy, to support its manufacturing, construction, mining, and agricultural sectors.

Customs classification of machinery under Chapter 84 and Chapter 85 of the Harmonised System requires careful analysis of the machine's function, as the tariff rate can vary significantly between headings. Many capital goods attract a 5% general duty rate, but concessional rates or duty-free entry may be available through free trade agreements, the Tariff Concession System (TCS), or the Enhanced Project By-law Scheme for qualifying industrial projects.

Customs brokers handling machinery imports manage the logistics of large-scale equipment — including break-bulk and project cargo shipments, out-of-gauge transport permits, and phased importations where a machine arrives across multiple consignments. They also coordinate compliance requirements for electrical machinery (AS/NZS wiring standards), pressure equipment (AS/NZS 1200 series), and machinery safety (AS/NZS 4024 series). For second-hand machinery, additional asbestos inspection requirements apply under DAFF's pre-shipment inspection scheme.