International Shipping From Australia: What You Need to Know

When people buy products from Australia, they’re often choosing more than just a brand — they’re choosing quality, safety and transparency. Around the world, Australian-made goods are viewed as clean, trustworthy and manufactured to high standards, especially in categories linked to health, wellbeing and personal care.

It’s a reputation backed by data. Research from Roy Morgan shows that 73% of Australians are willing to buy more Australian-made products to reduce reliance on imports. When confidence among locals is this strong, it’s no surprise that the same trust extends internationally.

Research highlighted by Dynamic Business shows that international shoppers actively prefer Australian brands across key categories — from skincare and vitamins to food, drinks, fashion and accessories. In fact, 60% of consumers choose Australian products over comparable imports. This strong global preference reinforces what many already believe: Australian-made products are dependable, clean, and created with high manufacturing standards.

This growing global confidence has encouraged more people to shop directly from Australian retailers. And as international demand grows, so does the need to understand how shipping, duties and import rules work when ordering from Australia — especially with recent changes affecting countries like the United States.

At Aussie Pharma Direct, we proudly ship our range of Australian-made health and wellbeing products to customers around the world, but there are a few important things to keep in mind when it comes to shipping, customs, and how your country may calculate import duties based on where a product was manufactured.

In the next sections, we break down everything you need to know to shop with confidence: how international shipping works from Australia, how Australian-made products can reduce duty costs, and what the new U.S. import changes mean for you.

How international shipping works at Aussie Pharma Direct

When you shop with Aussie Pharma Direct, your order is packed and dispatched from our Sydney warehouse. Once it’s on the way, you’ll receive a tracking link so you can follow your parcel from Australia right through to your doorstep. 

It’s also important to remember that customs duties, taxes or handling fees aren’t included in our shipping charges. These costs are set by your local customs authority, not by us, and they can depend on things like the product type, the value of your parcel, and the country of origin of the item you’re purchasing.

If you want to check what your country may charge before placing an order, here are some helpful official resources:

• United States: U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Customs Duty Information

• New Zealand: New Zealand Customs - Duty and GST Information

• Canada: Canada Border Services Agency – Duties and Taxes

• United Kingdom: UK Government – Tax and Customs for Goods Sent From Abroad

• European Union: Taxation and Customs Union - Buying goods online coming from a non-European Union country

• Singapore: Singapore Customs – Duties & Dutiable Goods

• China: General Administration of Customs - Import Guidelines

• Hong Kong: Hong Kong Customs & Excise - Dutiable Commodities

While the information in this article reflects how international shipping works when ordering from Aussie Pharma Direct, similar rules may apply when purchasing from other Australian retailers. Every business operates differently, so it’s always a good idea to check the shipping and customs information provided by the store you’re buying from.

Country of origin matters: The advantage of buying Australian-Made

When you’re shopping internationally, one of the biggest things that can affect the duties or taxes you pay isn’t where the product is shipped from — it’s where the product was originally made. This catches a lot of people by surprise, because even if your parcel is coming from Australia, customs will still look at the true country of origin to decide what fees apply.

This is where Australian-made products really shine.

Many countries recognise Australia as a trusted trading partner, which often means lower import tariffs compared with goods manufactured in other regions. In fact, Australian-made items in categories like skincare, vitamins, food, and health products often attract far less scrutiny and fewer additional fees than similar products produced elsewhere.

For example, when shipping to the United States, Australian-made products generally attract a tariff of around 10%, which is noticeably lower than the rates applied to goods made in countries with higher-risk or higher-tariff profiles.

Spotlight on USA shipping: What’s changing?

If you’re shopping from the United States, there are some important changes you should be aware of. These updates affect all commercial shipments coming into the U.S., no matter where you’re ordering from — and they’ve made the import process quite different from what customers were used to in the past.

Previously, most parcels valued under USD $800 could enter the U.S. without any duties or taxes. At the time of writing, that exemption has now been removed. According to the latest guidance from U.S. Customs, every commercial shipment entering the U.S. may now attract import duties, taxes or tariffs, regardless of its value.

What does this mean for you?

In simple terms, you may now see extra charges when your parcel arrives in the U.S., even if your order was small. These charges aren’t set by Aussie Pharma Direct — they’re determined by U.S. Customs based on factors like:

• the type of product you ordered

• its declared value

• the country of origin (where it was made)

• any current U.S. trade policies

There’s also been an increase in customs inspections, which means delivery times to the U.S. may occasionally take longer than before.

However there is still one exception to note: Genuine gifts valued at USD $100 or less can enter duty-free. This only applies to items sent as personal gifts, not commercial purchases.

We understand these changes can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’ve been used to the old duty-free threshold. The good news is that Australian-made products still attract comparatively lower duty rates than many other countries of origin — and we’ll explain more about that in the next section.

If you’re ever unsure about potential charges or what to expect, you can always check the latest updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection or reach out to our team for help.

U.S. Transition Period (Aug 2025 – Feb 2026): What this means for you

If you’re ordering from the United States during this time, there’s a temporary rule you should know about. Between 29 August 2025 and 28 February 2026, the U.S. has introduced a six-month transition period that applies specifically to parcels sent through the international postal system (for example, Australia Post).

During this period, instead of calculating duty based on the product’s value, U.S. Customs may charge a flat-rate duty on incoming postal parcels. The amount you’re charged depends on both the type of product and the country where it was manufactured, and the rates fall into one of three set amounts:

• USD $80
• USD $160
• USD $200

So even if you’ve placed a small order, your parcel may still be assigned one of these flat fees. This is different from courier shipments (such as DHL/UPS/FedEx), which may continue to follow standard value-based duties during the same period.

What happens after February 2026?

From 1 March 2026, the temporary system ends and postal shipments return to the usual value-based duty calculations, where the rate depends on things like the product category, declared value, and country of origin. Tariffs may also apply depending on U.S. trade policies at the time.

This transition period can feel a bit confusing, especially if you’ve never been charged duty on smaller orders before. But the key takeaway is simple: if you’re ordering from Australia during these months, be prepared for a flat fee — especially for postal shipments — and always consider the country of origin of each product you’re buying.

Practical tips for international customers when buying from Aussie Pharma Direct or other Australian retailers

Shopping internationally shouldn’t feel complicated, so here are some simple tips to help you understand duties, taxes and the paperwork behind the scenes — especially if you like knowing exactly what to expect before your parcel arrives.

1. Check the HS Code if you want to understand duties before ordering

Every product shipped internationally is assigned a Harmonised System (HS) Code. This code is used by customs authorities around the world to decide:

• what duty or tariff rate applies
  

• whether your product falls under a restricted or high-tariff category
  

• if the item needs extra inspection or documentation

Because HS Codes help determine your final import cost, checking them before ordering can give you a clearer idea of potential duties.

What is an HS Code?

An HS Code is a globally recognised product classification number. It works like a universal language for customs, making it easier for countries to identify what’s inside a parcel. For example, there are HS codes for skincare, PPE, vitamins, food items, electronic devices and more.

As mentioned above, the HS Code assigned to a product influences:

• the import duty rate your country may charge
  

• whether additional taxes apply
  

• if special rules, documentation or restrictions are required for that product category

If you'd like to look up estimated duties for your order, you can use a helpful online tool provided by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade):

➡️ Tariff Finder Tool – Check duties, tariffs and taxes by HS Code

Simply enter:

1. The country you’re importing into
   

2. The HS Code of the product

This will show you the indicative duty and tax rates for that specific market.

And if you ever need help identifying the HS Code for a product you’re buying from Aussie Pharma Direct, just reach out — we’re always happy to help.

2. Remember that duties are based on where a product is made

Even though your parcel ships from Australia, duties are applied based on the country of origin of each item.

This is why choosing Australian-made can often result in lower import fees. If you want the lowest and most predictable duty rates, look for the Australian-made logo whenever possible.

3. Check your country’s official customs website

To avoid surprises, it’s always worth reviewing your country’s import rules. They are the best places to get up-to-date duty and tax rules.

4. Double-check your contact details

Incorrect phone numbers or addresses can lead to customs delays. Make sure everything is accurate before placing your order.

5. Consider postal vs courier shipping

During the U.S. transition period, postal shipments may attract flat-rate duties.

Courier services like DHL or FedEx may offer more consistent, value-based duty calculations. If you prefer fewer surprises, a courier might be the better option.

6. Reach out if you need help

If you’re unsure about HS Codes, duties, shipping options or anything else, we’re here to support you. A quick message to our team can save you time and help you feel more confident about your international order. For more information, check out our International Shipping Information on our website.

Summary

When you’re ordering from Australia, it’s important to remember that international shipping isn’t just about postage — it’s also about how your country handles customs, duties and taxes. These charges aren’t set by us (or retailers per se); they’re determined by your local customs authority and often depend on the country of origin of each product.

Australian-made products generally attract lower duty rates in many markets, including the United States, which makes them a smart and reliable choice when shopping internationally. And with the recent changes to U.S. import rules — including flat-rate duties during the transition period — knowing what to expect before your parcel arrives can help avoid surprises.

Shop Australian-made with confidence!

At Aussie Pharma Direct, you’ll find a wide range of locally made health, wellbeing and household essentials — all backed by Australia’s high manufacturing standards and, in many cases, lower duty rates for international customers.

👉 Shop our Australian-made collection here.