Practical guides, cost breakdowns, compliance information, and industry articles — written for builders, owner builders, and designers.
12 min read March 2025
Everything you need to know before sourcing cabinetry, stone, tapware, or flooring from overseas — from customs duties and compliance to quality inspection and delivery logistics. Written for builders, owner builders, and designers.
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We respond to all enquiries within one business day. No sales pitch — just a straight answer.
There is no fixed minimum order value. However, the economics of importing work best at a certain scale — typically a full kitchen or bathroom fitout rather than individual items. We’ll always tell you upfront if a particular order doesn’t make financial sense to import.
From initial enquiry to site delivery, most orders take 10–16 weeks. This includes 2–3 weeks for sourcing and quoting, 4–6 weeks for factory production, 3–5 weeks for sea freight, and 1–2 weeks for customs clearance and last-mile delivery. We provide a detailed programme at the time of quoting.
We conduct quality inspections at the factory before goods are shipped. If a defect is missed and products arrive damaged or non-conforming, we manage the replacement process at no additional cost to you. This is why we only work with verified manufacturers who have agreed to our quality standards.
Yes. Most building materials attract a 5% customs duty and 10% GST on the landed value (FOB price + freight + insurance). We include all duties and taxes in our landed cost quotes so there are no surprises. Some product categories have 0% duty — we’ll identify these where applicable.
Absolutely — and most of our clients do. We typically handle the high-value, high-specification items (stone, cabinetry, tapware) where the savings are most significant, while locally sourced materials are used for structural and commodity items.
We only source products that meet the relevant Australian standards for their category. For plumbing fixtures, this means WaterMark certification. For electrical items, SAA certification. We provide full compliance documentation with every order.
Yes. For most product categories we can arrange samples prior to order. Sample costs are typically credited against your first order. Lead time for samples is usually 2–4 weeks.
From initial enquiry to site delivery, most orders take 10–16 weeks. This includes 2–3 weeks for sourcing and quoting, 4–6 weeks for factory production, 3–5 weeks for sea freight, and 1–2 weeks for customs clearance and last-mile delivery. We provide a detailed programme at the time of quoting.
Tell us about your project and we’ll come back with a clear scope, price, and timeline.
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Your Import Partner acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Gadigal people, on which we work and live, and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
