Importing Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal from South Africa into Australia (2026)

No FTA exists between Australia and South Africa, so MFN duty rates apply to all Chapter 44 timber imports; the single most critical compliance obligation is satisfying the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 due diligence requirements by obtaining and retaining documented legal harvest evidence from South African suppliers before the goods arrive.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 44

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain legal harvest documentation from South African suppliers confirming timber complies with Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012.
⚠Ensure all wood packaging and pallets carry valid ISPM 15 heat treatment certificates to satisfy DAFF biosecurity requirements on arrival.
⚠Verify whether timber species require CITES export permits from South Africa and a DAFF import permit before shipment departs.
⚠All unprocessed or semi-processed timber and wood products are subject to strict DAFF biosecurity inspection on arrival — heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation certificates to ISPM 15 standard are mandatory for wood packaging and pallets
⚠Australia's Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 requires importers to conduct due diligence confirming timber was legally harvested in the country of origin — failure to maintain documented supply chain records is a criminal offence with significant penalties
⚠Certain timber species (e.g. rosewood, merbau, ebony) may be subject to CITES permits under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act — both export permits from origin country and DAFF import permits are required before shipment
⚠Anti-dumping measures are currently in force on particular wood products from specific countries including certain plywood and engineered wood panels from China — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging an import declaration
⚠Engineered wood products such as MDF and particleboard must comply with Australian formaldehyde emission standards (AS/NZS 2098) and may be subject to ACCC scrutiny if used in domestic furniture or cabinetry
⚠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 species name (common and scientific), country of harvest, and volume in cubic metres
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organisation of the exporting country
ISPM 15 compliant heat treatment or fumigation certificate for all wood packaging material
due diligence documentation under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (supplier declarations, chain of custody certificates such as FSC or PEFC)
CITES export and import permit (required for Appendix I and II listed timber species)

Import tip

Declare the timber species by scientific name on the commercial invoice before shipment — DAFF biosecurity officers may place a hold on consignments where species cannot be confirmed, and reclassification disputes at the border over hardwood versus softwood tariff subheadings are far easier to resolve with pre-arrival documentation than after goods are detained in a biosecurity facility.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 44 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.26Ores, slag and ash 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