Importing Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes from Saudi Arabia into Australia (2026)

Importing mineral fuels and petroleum products from Saudi Arabia attracts MFN excise-equivalent customs duty rates with no FTA concession available, meaning the most critical obligation is securing a Fuel Import Licence from DCCEEW before shipment and confirming Australian fuel quality specifications such as the 10ppm sulphur limit for diesel are met at point of production.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 27

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a valid Fuel Import Licence from DCCEEW before any petroleum shipment departs Saudi Arabia.
⚠Verify Saudi-origin fuel meets Australian Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 specifications, particularly sulphur content limits.
⚠Check the Anti-Dumping Commission register for any active measures on Saudi petrochemical products before lodging the import declaration.
⚠Excise-equivalent customs duty applies to most fuel imports under the Customs Tariff Act 1995 — rates are indexed biannually and Motor Vehicle Emissions Standards (MVES) from 2025 may affect fuel spec compliance for petrol and diesel
⚠Fuel quality standards are mandated under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 administered by DCCEEW — importers must ensure product meets Australian specifications (e.g. sulphur limits 10ppm for diesel) or face rejection and penalties
⚠A Fuel Import Licence issued by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is mandatory before importing liquid petroleum products — operating without one carries significant civil penalties
⚠Excise duty credits under the Fuel Tax Act 2006 (fuel tax credits scheme) are available for off-road and eligible business use, but claims require meticulous usage records — ATO audits in this space are active
⚠Anti-dumping measures have historically been applied to certain petroleum products and coke from specific origins — importers should check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before finalising supply contracts
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Saudi Arabia, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all imported goods and no preferential certificate of origin is required for duty reduction purposes
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures may apply to certain petrochemical and aluminium products from Saudi Arabia - importers should check the Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging an import declaration
⚠Goods subject to Australian Border Force biosecurity controls, particularly any organic chemical compounds, fertilisers or packaging materials with organic content, may require DAFF biosecurity inspection and clearance on arrival
⚠Petroleum products and chemicals must comply with relevant Australian standards including NGER reporting obligations for fuel imports, and dangerous goods declarations under ADG Code requirements for shipment of hazardous materials

Key documents required

commercial invoice with product specification, country of origin and HS code
certificate of quality or product analysis (confirming compliance with Fuel Quality Standards Act specifications)
bill of lading or sea waybill (bulk liquid or LPG shipments typically arrive by tanker)
Fuel Import Licence (issued by DCCEEW, must be held prior to importation)
certificate of origin (required to claim preferential FTA duty or excise-equivalent rates where applicable)

Import tip

Secure your Fuel Import Licence well before the vessel sails — DCCEEW processing times can exceed several weeks, and ABF will not release a fuel cargo without sight of a valid licence, meaning demurrage costs on a tanker can rapidly dwarf any savings on the cargo itself.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 27 goods from Saudi Arabia — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Saudi Arabia

Ch.39Plastics and articles thereof Ch.29Organic chemicals Ch.28Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes Ch.31Fertilisers 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