Importing fasteners to Australia and New Zealand is not only about comparing unit prices on a spreadsheet. Buyers also need to consider freight, duties, GST, local handling, packaging, and quality-related costs. If you only focus on the price per kilogram, the landed cost can easily surprise you once the goods arrive in port.
This guide breaks down the main cost factors that influence the landed cost of fasteners into AU and NZ. It is written for wholesalers, distributors, and project buyers who source bolts, nuts, screws, washers, and custom metal parts from overseas suppliers.
1. Product Price and Specification Choices
The starting point for import cost is the ex-factory price offered by your supplier. However, this number is strongly affected by your own technical decisions.
Key drivers include:
- Material grade and coating – high-strength steel, stainless steel, or heavy-duty coatings such as hot-dip galvanizing or Class 4 roofing coatings naturally cost more than standard zinc-plated items.
- Tolerance and inspection level – tight tolerances, full traceability, or 100% inspection will increase production time and quality costs.
- Custom versus standard – standard items that match existing norms are usually cheaper than fully tailor-made designs.
Typical standard product families include bolts, nuts and washers, and screws such as those shown here:
https://linkworldfast.com/product-category/bolts-nuts-washers/
https://linkworldfast.com/product-category/screws/
A useful rule is to start with the simplest standard that can meet your project requirement, and then only add extra features where you can clearly see the value.
2. Incoterms and Who Pays Which Costs
The trade term you agree with your supplier (FOB, CIF, CFR, DAP, etc.) decides who pays for which part of the journey.
- FOB (Free On Board) – the supplier covers costs up to loading on the vessel; you arrange ocean freight, insurance, and all destination charges.
- CIF or CFR – the supplier arranges freight to the destination port, but you still pay local port charges, customs, and inland transport.
- DAP or DDP – the supplier arranges delivery to your door, sometimes including duties and GST (DDP), although this is less common for AU and NZ business imports.
There is no single best Incoterm, but you should make sure you understand which items are included in the quoted price and which will arrive later as separate invoices from freight forwarders or brokers.
3. Ocean Freight, LCL vs FCL, and Space Utilisation
3.1 Freight rate and container choice
For heavy but relatively low-value products like fasteners, ocean freight is a major component of import cost. The choice between LCL (less-than-container load) and FCL (full container load) can make a big difference:
- LCL is flexible for small volumes but comes with higher per-tonne rates and more handling.
- FCL spreads fixed charges across more product and reduces damage risk, but requires enough volume to fill a container economically.
Combining multiple product lines such as bolts, screws, rigging, and concrete fasteners in one container can significantly reduce freight cost per item. Linkworld often helps customers consolidate different SKUs and customized parts into single FCL shipments:
https://linkworldfast.com/products/
3.2 Packing density
Well-designed packing also reduces freight cost:
- Using strong but compact cartons
- Optimising pallet and carton sizes for container dimensions
- Avoiding excessive void space or mixed packing that leads to unstable pallets
For AU and NZ, where transport from port to regional warehouses can be expensive, good packing reduces both sea freight and domestic logistics cost.
4. Customs Duty, GST, and Free Trade Agreements
4.1 Australia: duty, GST and the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement
According to the Australian Border Force, most imported goods are liable for customs duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) unless a specific exemption or concession applies. The cost of importing goods is based on the customs value plus duty, GST and other fees and charges. The overview is here:
https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/importing/cost-of-importing-goods
GST is normally 10% of a taxable importation value that includes the customs value, any duty and the cost of transport and insurance to the place of importation:
https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/importing/how-much-duty-you-will-pay
Australia also has the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). Under ChAFTA, Chinese originating goods that meet the rules of origin can receive preferential duty rates, and for most tariff lines the rate is now “Free” (zero duty), except for a small number of items listed separately. Information on certificates of origin and claiming preference is available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/chafta/doing-business-with-china/chafta-certificates-of-origin
Further information on ChAFTA from the Australian Border Force can be found here:
https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/fta/free-trade-agreements/china
For fastener importers, this means that if your goods qualify as Chinese originating under ChAFTA and you provide a valid China–Australia FTA certificate of origin or declaration of origin, customs duty can normally be reduced to zero. You still pay GST and local charges, but the duty saving directly reduces landed cost.
4.2 New Zealand: duty, GST and the New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement
New Zealand Customs explains that duty and GST may apply when importing items into New Zealand, and GST is usually charged at 15% on the customs value plus duty and certain other charges:
https://www.customs.govt.nz/sending-and-receiving/duty-and-gst/
New Zealand also has a New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement (NZCFTA). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade notes that, after phase-in, all tariffs on imports from China into New Zealand have been eliminated for goods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin:
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/new-zealand-china-free-trade-agreement/
New Zealand Customs provides specific guidance on using the NZ–China FTA here:
https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/tariffs/free-trade-agreements/new-zealand-china-free-trade-agreement
A fact sheet describing NZCFTA rules of origin for imports is available at:
https://www.customs.govt.nz/assets/factsheets/Fact-sheet-37-NZ-China-FTA-rules-of-origin-imports.pdf
Preferential certificates of origin for NZCFTA can be issued by authorised bodies such as Chambers of Commerce. Information for exporters and importers is shown here:
https://www.chamberdocs.co.nz/
In practice, if your fasteners are manufactured in China, meet the NZCFTA rules of origin, and you provide the correct China–New Zealand FTA preferential certificate of origin, customs duty on import into New Zealand is usually reduced to zero. You still pay GST and local charges, but the duty saving is important for landed cost.
4.3 What this means for landed cost
For both Australia and New Zealand, using the correct preferential certificate of origin under ChAFTA or NZCFTA can make the difference between paying normal duty and paying no duty on qualifying Chinese-origin fasteners.
When you calculate import cost, it is useful to compare two scenarios:
- Without FTA preference – normal duty plus GST
- With ChAFTA or NZCFTA preference – usually zero duty plus GST
Discuss these options with your customs broker so you understand the documentation and origin requirements before production starts.
5. Port, Biosecurity, and Local Handling Costs
Beyond freight and taxes, importers into AU and NZ also need to budget for:
- Terminal handling charges and port service fees
- Documentation and customs clearance fees
- Biosecurity inspections and treatments, especially where wooden packing or contamination risks are involved
- Storage or demurrage if containers are not cleared and returned within free time
Biosecurity agencies in both countries pay close attention to timber packaging and contamination risks, so using properly treated pallets and clean packing materials is part of cost control as well as compliance.
6. Quality-Related Costs: Cheap vs Reliable
Landed cost is not just about invoices. Poor quality can add hidden costs that quickly exceed any saving on unit price.
6.1 Sorting, rework, and returns
If fasteners arrive with mixed sizes, missing markings, or plating defects, you may have to:
- Pay for urgent local re-plating or sorting
- Replace entire batches at your own expense
- Cover additional freight for urgent replacement shipments
These indirect costs can be much higher than the apparent saving from choosing the cheapest supplier.
6.2 Designing quality control into the purchase
To reduce quality-related import costs, it helps to:
- Agree on clear standards and drawings for critical items
- Specify inspection levels and documentation, such as mechanical test reports and coating thickness measurements
- Use pre-shipment inspections for big orders or new products
Linkworld has its own QC team and inspection room to support cold forming, stamping, and machining parts. For important AU and NZ projects, many buyers share drawings and inspection priorities in advance, then receive measurement reports with the shipment. You can read about the company’s capabilities here:
https://linkworldfast.com/about-us/
7. Currency, Payment Terms, and Financing
Exchange rates also influence import cost. When you buy in USD or CNY but sell in AUD or NZD, currency movements can either help or hurt your margin.
Practical points include:
- Comparing offers in a single base currency when evaluating suppliers
- Considering forward exchange contracts or other hedging tools for very large or long-term orders
- Discussing payment terms, such as deposit plus balance on copy of bill of lading, that balance cash flow and risk for both sides
It is wise to include a margin in your landed cost calculations to cover possible exchange rate fluctuations between order and payment.
8. Optimising Import Cost With Supplier Collaboration
Import cost is easiest to control when you treat your supplier as a partner instead of only a price source.
Ways to collaborate include:
- Combining product categories, for example shipping bolts, screws, rigging components and concrete fasteners together in one container instead of using multiple suppliers.
- Adjusting specifications where possible, such as slightly different sizes, coatings, or packing styles that reduce cost without affecting performance.
- Using flexible packing such as small branded boxes, plastic boxes, or bulk cartons to match different sales channels in one shipment.
Linkworld’s product categories make it possible to create such mixed loads:
https://linkworldfast.com/product-category/concrete-fasteners/
https://linkworldfast.com/product-category/riggings/
By planning a full-year purchasing schedule together with your supplier, you can often optimise container utilisation and reduce both freight and administration costs.
9. Summary and Next Steps
The import cost of fasteners into Australia and New Zealand is influenced by many factors:
- Product specification and quality level
- Incoterms and freight strategy
- Customs duty, GST, and free trade agreement preferences
- Biosecurity, inspection, and storage costs
- Currency movements and payment terms
Focusing only on unit price can lead to unexpected costs later. A better approach is to calculate an estimated landed cost per SKU or per kilogram, using realistic assumptions for freight and taxes, and then refine this with help from your freight forwarder, customs broker, and suppliers. Do not forget to consider the duty savings available when you use China–Australia and China–New Zealand preferential certificates of origin correctly.
If you are planning to import bolts, screws, washers, rigging, concrete fasteners, or customised metal parts to AU or NZ and would like to review the cost structure, you are very welcome to contact the Linkworld team. Visit the homepage at:
https://linkworldfast.com/
See the product overview at:
https://linkworldfast.com/products/
Or send an inquiry via:
https://linkworldfast.com/contact/
or by email at info@linkworldfast.com
With clear specifications, good planning, and smart use of free trade agreements, you can keep your landed import cost under control while still delivering reliable fasteners to your customers.