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

Importing Chapter 27 mineral fuels from the United States allows preferential tariff rates under AUSFTA using a self-certified origin declaration or importer knowledge of origin, but excise-equivalent customs duty and a mandatory Fuel Import Licence from DCCEEW must be secured before any shipment arrives regardless of FTA status.

✓ FTA Active: AUSFTAHS Chapter 27

Free Trade Agreement

Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 27 goods originating in United States may qualify for preferential duty rates under AUSFTA. Goods must meet the rules of origin and be accompanied by a valid certificate of origin.

View AUSFTA rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain your Fuel Import Licence from DCCEEW before shipment — operating without one attracts significant civil penalties
⚠Retain AUSFTA origin evidence (self-certification or importer knowledge records) for five years and ensure US origin is verifiable on ABF request
⚠Verify imported fuel meets Australian specifications (e.g. 10ppm sulphur limit for diesel) under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 before lodging the entry
⚠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
⚠A self-certified origin declaration or importers knowledge of origin is accepted under AUSFTA to claim preferential tariff rates - no formal certificate of origin is mandated but evidence must be retained for 5 years and available on ABF request
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission apply to certain US-origin goods including some steel pipe and hollow sections - importers must check the current measures register before lodging entries
⚠Biosecurity Act 2015 imposes strict requirements on US agricultural goods, timber, machinery with soil or organic material, and animal products - BICON conditions must be checked and permits obtained prior to import, with on-arrival inspection likely for risk goods
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) and ACMA RCM marking requirements - US products designed to 110V/60Hz standards may require voltage conversion compliance evidence before sale in Australia

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 United States — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from United States

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.88Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof 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