Importing Articles of iron or steel from Germany into Australia (2026)

No Australia-Germany FTA exists, so full MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 73 iron and steel articles from Germany, and importers must additionally verify the Anti-Dumping Commission public register before each shipment as countervailing measures on specific steel product lines from Germany can impose significant unexpected duty liabilities.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 73

Compliance requirements

⚠Check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register immediately before shipment for any German Chapter 73 steel lines under active measures.
⚠Obtain mill certificates confirming AS/NZS 3678 or 3679 compliance for any structural steel products prior to Australian border arrival.
⚠Ensure all wooden crating and dunnage protecting steel goods is ISPM 15 heat-treated and marked to avoid DAFF biosecurity intervention at port.
⚠Australia has active anti-dumping and countervailing measures on steel products from multiple countries including China, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before every shipment as duty rates can be substantial and change without notice
⚠Structural steel products (e.g. RHS, SHS, beams) used in buildings must comply with Australian Standard AS/NZS 3678 or 3679; ABF and state building authorities may request mill certificates to confirm compliance, and non-conforming steel has been subject to border intervention
⚠Timber dunnage, packing straw or wooden crating used to protect steel goods must meet DAFF biosecurity requirements and be ISPM 15 heat-treated or fumigated — contaminated packing has caused costly delays and treatment orders at Australian ports
⚠Steel pressure vessels and gas cylinders may require approval under state/territory work health and safety legislation and must comply with AS 1210 or equivalent before use — customs clearance does not satisfy these downstream regulatory requirements
⚠Steel wire and fencing products containing soil or plant residue from overseas agricultural use are a biosecurity risk — DAFF officers regularly inspect and may order treatment or destruction; ensure goods are clean and free of organic matter prior to export
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Germany, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; a commercial invoice or EUR.1 movement certificate may be requested by the ABF to verify origin but confers no preferential duty benefit
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission may apply to certain steel, aluminium, and chemical products from Germany; importers should check the public register prior to shipment to avoid unexpected duty liabilities
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety standards; many products require a Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) before supply into the Australian market
⚠Biosecurity Act 2015 requirements apply to any goods containing or associated with timber packaging, plant material, or animal-derived inputs; wooden pallets and crates must meet ISPM 15 treatment standards and goods may be subject to inspection or treatment on arrival by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Key documents required

commercial invoice with full product description including steel grade, dimensions and country of origin (mill origin, not just country of export)
mill test certificates (MTC) confirming chemical composition and mechanical properties to relevant AS/NZS standards
bill of lading or sea waybill with accurate goods description
certificate of origin (preferential CO for FTA duty claims, e.g. Form E for ChAFTA or back-to-back CO for AANZFTA)
anti-dumping statutory declaration or importer's declaration confirming exporter details where ABF requests verification under active measures

Import tip

Always obtain the overseas mill's test certificate tied to the actual heat or batch number of your shipment — not a generic product certificate — because ABF and state building inspectors increasingly cross-reference MTCs against shipment quantities, and a mismatch can trigger a hold or non-conforming product notice that is far more costly than chasing the paperwork upfront.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 73 goods from Germany — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Germany

Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.30Pharmaceutical products Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products