Australian Importers | 16 April 2026

Hello everyone,

The past fortnight has been a busy and challenging period across global supply chains. Ongoing issues in the Middle East, fluctuating fuel costs and congestion at major hubs are beginning to affect Australian imports, particularly around timing, space and overall landed costs. As always, our focus is on supporting you and working through these challenges together.

For those reviewing their local distribution set-up, VoxGroup supports warehousing (3PL) and full linehaul capability out of Melbourne, alongside our customs and international forwarding services, simplifying handovers and maintining continuity between wharf, warehouse and final delivery.

Key developments impacting imports

• Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz continues to influence global vessel deployment and fuel pricing
• Heightened risk around Bab al‑Mandeb is shaping carrier routing and schedule planning
• Singapore remains pressured as a transhipment hub, impacting reliability into Australia
• Australian ports remain operational, with intermittent terminal delays of one to three days when vessels arrive off schedule

Why Bab al‑Mandeb matters

Bab al‑Mandeb connects the Red Sea and Indian Ocean and is increasingly influencing carrier decisions across East-West trades. Even without a closure, elevated risk has led to more conservative routing, wider buffers and tighter cut‑offs.

For Australian importers this is resulting in:

• Longer and less predictable transit times, particularly from Europe and India
• Increased rollover risk on transhipment cargo
• Reduced effective capacity across downstream Australia‑bound services

Current impact for Australian importers

Freight outcomes remain driven by network disruption rather than demand. While base freight rates may appear stable, landed costs are increasing through fuel‑linked surcharges, disruption levies and additional charges applied at both origin and destination.

Fuel continues to amplify costs as longer routings and operational inefficiencies drive more frequent pricing adjustments across ocean and domestic transport.

Ocean freight into Australia

Ocean freight reliability into Australia remains uneven:

• Singapore transhipment reliability remains inconsistent, with missed feeder connections common
• Capacity remains constrained in certain weeks due to blank sailings and schedule changes
• Late booking amendments carry a heightened risk of rollovers
• India‑origin shipments are facing longer routings, greater reliance on transhipment hubs and higher exposure to fuel‑ and disruption‑related surcharges, resulting in increased transit variability and less predictable landed costs

Buffer time remains essential, particularly for LCL and transhipment‑dependent cargo.

Air freight into Australia

Airspace restrictions and rerouting around the Middle East continue to reduce effective uplift capacity, resulting in:

• Fewer routing options
• More frequent re‑accommodation
• Ongoing pressure on priority and time‑critical uplift

Rising wharf, terminal and transport‑related costs

For import‑heavy supply chains, port‑side costs have reset to a materially higher fixed base.

• Headline terminal access charges have risen in the high single‑ to low double‑digit range
• The greater impact is from ancillary, penalty and operational charges, many up 20-40%+ year‑on‑year
• Empty container park fees, slot‑related costs and fuel‑linked transport surcharges now form a much larger cost component

Taken together, the true all‑in landside cost increase for many importers is typically 25-35% year‑on‑year, and higher in some ports and delivery profiles. This increase is well ahead of CPI and should be treated as a structural uplift to landed cost, not a temporary spike. With costs increasingly spread across multiple line items, full visibility is critical for budgeting and forecasting.

Biosecurity & border – cost recovery 

Notice 54‑2026 (13 April 2026) outlines proposed indexation‑based increases to biosecurity and imported food cost‑recovery charges for FY 2026-27, with selected new charges from 1 July 2026, subject to consultation.

Rate direction – indicative only

• China & Hong Kong → Australia: Increasing, capacity‑sensitive
• India → Australia: Increasing, with added routing and variability pressure
• Europe & UK → Australia: Persistently elevated
• USA West Coast → Australia: Higher than earlier in the year
• USA East Coast → Australia: Continuing upward pressure

Rates are expected to remain elevated, with further adjustments likely if disruption persists.

Dates to note

• ANZAC Day – 25 April: potential impacts to local receivals and transport
• Labour Day / May Day – 1 May (many origins): reduced overseas production and port activity may affect early‑May sailings

A final note

Small disruptions are currently compounding quickly across supply chains. Early booking, realistic lead‑time planning and clear landed‑cost visibility remain essential.

If you’d like to talk through how any of this may affect your upcoming shipments or cost planning, our team is always happy to help. Please feel free to reach out to Rob, Mike or Rosalie at any time.

VoxGroup is a market‑leading international trade consultancy, customs and logistics company.
Contact us on (02) 8036‑8450 or via www.voxgroup.com.au.

Warm regards,
The VoxGroup Team