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

Korean steel articles may qualify for KAFTA preferential tariff rates, but active anti-dumping and countervailing measures on specific Korean hollow sections, hot-rolled coil and plate can apply simultaneously, meaning a KAFTA certificate of origin does not exempt the shipment from anti-dumping duties — both obligations must be assessed independently before lodging entry.

✓ FTA Active: KAFTAHS Chapter 73

Free Trade Agreement

Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 73 goods originating in South Korea may qualify for preferential duty rates under KAFTA. Goods must meet the rules of origin and be accompanied by a valid certificate of origin.

View KAFTA rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before every shipment to identify any Korean-specific measures on your exact HS line.
⚠Obtain a valid KAFTA Certificate of Origin or Origin Declaration from the Korean exporter prior to lodging the import entry.
⚠Ensure all wooden packaging and dunnage is ISPM 15 certified to avoid costly biosecurity intervention at Australian ports.
⚠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
⚠A KAFTA Certificate of Origin or Origin Declaration must be provided at time of entry to claim preferential tariff rates under KAFTA, with the exporter or producer attesting to Rules of Origin compliance
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures are actively in force on certain Korean steel products including hot-rolled coil, plate and hollow sections - importers must check the ABF anti-dumping register prior to lodging entry
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must meet ACMA regulatory compliance requirements including RCM marking under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), and relevant AS/NZS standards must be demonstrated before goods are cleared
⚠Motor vehicles and automotive parts from Korea must comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) administered by the Department of Infrastructure, and used or second-hand vehicles are subject to strict biosecurity and asbestos-containing material (ACM) inspection requirements

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 South Korea — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from South Korea

Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories 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.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.72Iron and steel Ch.39Plastics and articles thereof Ch.40Rubber and articles thereof