Importing Ores, slag and ash from South Africa into Australia (2026)

South African mineral ores and concentrates under HS Chapter 26 attract MFN duty rates with no FTA concession available, and DAFF biosecurity inspection is a high-probability requirement given South Africa's unprocessed and partially processed ore export profile, which frequently presents soil contamination risk at the Australian border.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 26

Compliance requirements

⚠Arrange pre-shipment cleaning of ore consignments to minimise soil contamination and reduce DAFF mandatory treatment risk.
⚠Check ARPANSA and state radiation authority requirements before importing South African ilmenite, zircon or monazite concentrates containing NORM.
⚠Verify the Anti-Dumping Commission public register for any measures on South African-origin mineral-derived products prior to entry lodgement.
⚠DAFF biosecurity: all mineral ores and concentrates must be assessed for soil and organic contamination — unprocessed or partially processed ores frequently trigger mandatory biosecurity inspection and may require treatment or re-export if soil is present
⚠Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act permits may be required if the ore or concentrate contains or is associated with listed hazardous substances or is derived from environmentally sensitive operations
⚠Radioactive mineral ores (e.g., monazite, some ilmenite and zircon concentrates) may contain naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and require ARPANSA notification or state radiation authority approvals before import and handling
⚠Anti-dumping measures: while rare under Ch 26, importers should check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register — certain processed mineral products can attract dumping duties if classification boundaries with Ch 28 are disputed
⚠State-level dangerous goods and explosives regulations may apply to sulphide-bearing concentrates (e.g., copper, zinc sulphide concentrates) which can self-heat in transit — Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and IMDG compliance documentation must accompany the shipment
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and South Africa, so MFN (general) duty rates apply to all imports; a commercial invoice with accurate country of origin declaration is required for tariff classification purposes but no preferential origin certificate is needed
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission may apply to certain steel and aluminium products from South Africa; importers should check the public register prior to lodging entries to avoid unexpected duty liabilities
⚠Biosecurity requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are strictly enforced for South African goods including fresh fruit, timber, plant material, animal products and soil-contaminated machinery; import permits, phytosanitary certificates and mandatory treatment or inspection on arrival are commonly required given South Africas pest and disease risk profile
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian mandatory safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards under the Electrical Equipment Safety System and ACMA frameworks; products such as appliances, cables and switchgear require supplier declarations of conformity and may need registration on the EESS database before being offered for sale in Australia

Key documents required

commercial invoice with precise ore type, grade, moisture content and weight basis (wet/dry metric tonnes)
certificate of analysis (assay certificate) from an accredited laboratory confirming mineral composition and grade
bill of lading or charter party bill noting commodity classification and gross/net weight
DAFF biosecurity import permit or pre-arrival biosecurity declaration where soil presence is possible
ARPANSA or state radiation authority notification or clearance letter for NORM-bearing mineral concentrates

Import tip

Request the assay certificate and weight survey report from the load port before vessel arrival — ABF and DAFF use these to pre-assess classification and biosecurity risk, which can significantly reduce port hold times and demurrage costs on bulk shipments.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 26 goods from South Africa — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from South Africa

Ch.71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin Ch.72Iron and steel Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.22Beverages, spirits and vinegar Ch.8Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof