Author: GPSM

Over the past week we have seen numerous disruptions to operations at the Port of Brisbane. These include IT outages, equipment breakdowns and weather events that have impacted severely on truck waiting times at the terminal and empty container parks.

With strict enforcement of allocated time slots by the terminal, truckers have no alternative but wait to be loaded/unloaded to avoid fines, this is leading to delays in all areas and unfortunately we have no alternative but to bill these additional waiting times.

GPSM transport Team staff and our sub-contractors are doing everything possible to minimize the delays and costs and will keep clients affected updated with any variations to delivery times and costs.

WA Empty Container Park Charges:

Empty container parks in Fremantle have announced they are increasing their Empty Booking Fees, from 1st September 2025 the new charge will be $ 195.00 per container.

Unfortunately, we will have to pass on these increased outgoing costs to all clients.

Rail Network Closures:

We have received advice that scheduled maintenance and repair works will impact sections of the rail network during the following periods from late August to late September:

The East-West Australia Line from 30th August until 7th September

The Far North Queensland Line from 14th until 20th September 2025.

If you require assistance or support with any bookings, please contact us and we’ll do everything we can to keep your cargo moving and accommodate your needs via alternative services during these rail closures.

Version 3.0 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology is now in force and approved arrangement class conditions have been updated

01 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Import-related biosecurity treatment stakeholders, including all importers, brokerages, onshore approved arrangement holders, overseas government and industry treatment providers, relevant domestic state and territory government agencies, and other shipping, freight, and logistics peak industry bodies.

 

What has changed?

Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology (version 3.0)

Version 3.0 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology is now in effect. Find the new version on the department’s methodologies and documents for biosecurity treatments webpage to ensure you are meeting the new requirements and conducting fumigations correctly.

All methyl bromide fumigations with a start date and time at or after 1 May 2025 00:00 (midnight local time) must adhere to the new requirements. Local time means the place where the fumigation was performed.

Please note: to ensure a smooth transition, Australia will accept treatment certificates issued under version 2.0 requirements until 30 June 2025. After this date, treatment certificates must comply with the requirements of version 3.0 of Australia’s Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology.

New templates are available on our webpage.

Class 4.6 Fumigation Site (version 5.0) and class 12.1 Methyl Bromide Fumigation (version 4.0) conditions

Version 5.0 of the class 4.6 Fumigation Site and version 4.0 of the class 12.1 Methyl Bromide Fumigation condition documents are now in effect.

The class 4.6 Fumigation Site and class 12.1 Methyl Bromide Fumigation conditions are on the department’s webpage at Conditions for operating approved arrangements.

 

Further information

For further details about version 3.0 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology, visit our webpage.

Please click here to view IIAN 137-2025 in its entirety.

Please see below important information regarding new Export Compliance Requirements for China Exporters, we would suggest you check that your suppliers in China are operating within the new regulations to avoid any delays/problems with your supply chain:

In response to member enquiries about recent changes to Chinese export compliance requirements, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has engaged with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

DFAT advises that China requires export licenses for a range of commodities and that exporters must comply with Chinese export control regulations. While DFAT is aware of changes to these requirements since early 2025 for certain commodities, it is not in a position to comment on specific licensing obligations. Businesses are encouraged to seek guidance from a Chinese customs agent or a legal professional with relevant expertise.

Key changes

On 25 March 2025, the State Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued Announcement No. 8 of 2025, outlining new regulations for taxable export goods and the optimization of export services.

• Mandatory Tax Registration – Exporters must register with Chinese tax authorities before customs clearance.
• Prohibition on Third-Party Declarations – The use of an unrelated company’s name to declare exports is now prohibited.
• Dual-Title Requirement – Factories without export licenses must appear on customs documentation as the “production and sales entity” alongside a licensed customs broker. Manufacturer details (name, address, and tax ID) must be disclosed for tax verification.
• Compliance Pathway – Factories can achieve compliance by:
  1. Adding “import & export” to their registered business scope.
  2. Registering via China’s Single Window System.
  3. Completing the process with local tax authorities (e.g. confirming export rebate eligibility).

Enforcement Timeline

• Transition Period – 1 August to 30 September 2025: Expect procedural adjustments and possible shipment delays. From 1 October 2025: Violations may result in significant fines or legal penalties.

Import Traffic from China/Taiwan/Korea/Japan:

Space continues to be tight on services from above Far East Asian countries to Australia through August and in to September as volumes continue to ramp up and some services are remaining on a fortnightly rotation instead of the customary weekly services.

Rates are also continuing to increase as shipping line are not increasing capacity despite vessels apparently being available. This is resulting in a self-made peak season to validate the on-going rate increases as stronger volumes are expected from mid-August through to late November.

 

Singapore Transhipments:

Services to Adelaide and Fremantle that tranship from all origins over Singapore are experiencing delays of up to two (2) weeks at present due to escalating congestion in Singapore. The delays have been building slowly with no advice as yet as to when the backlog of containers will be cleared.

GPSM staff are monitoring all transhipment consignments on a daily basis and will keep clients advised of further developments.

 

Airline Handling Charges:

Airline CTO’s (Cargo Terminal Operators) Australia wide have announced that they will increase their Australian import/export documentation and handling charges with effect from 1st September, 2025.

The airline documentation fee increase averages around 2.5% and the terminal handling/ITF fees will be a total of $ 0.04/kg. The new out of pocket costs will be reflected in GPSM invoices from the above date.

 

LCL Port/Terminal Handling Fees:

Shipping Lines have announced some increases in local port and terminal charges over the last 3-4 weeks and now LCL unpack depots have also advised that their costs will be increased from 1st September 2025.

The new rates applied by GPSM will be increased by $ 3.50 per cubic metre for port and THC charges as we need to recoup the increased out of pocket costs. Our charges still remain well below the level of rates being billed by most forwarders in the market.

Vessel delays from Asia:

Severe weather events, including typhoons, the recent earthquake off the Russian east coast and general port congestion is leading to vessel scheduling being severely disrupted from China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan at present, with most sailings being delayed at load ports in these countries.

The irregular scheduling to Australia implemented by some shipping lines over the past 6-8 weeks following deployment of some vessels from the Australian trade to the US trade has also added to delays in shipments from these areas, it is hoped we will see the return of some vessels to the trade in coming weeks and that the traditional weekly services will again be available from main load ports.

GPSM Customer Service staff are closely monitoring all shipment movements at present, that job being more difficult when local shipping lines in Australia are often unable to give reasons for vessel delays or to have the latest scheduling on hand.

Trucking Charges:

As a trucking operator, we have been seeing all operating costs increasing almost every month including vehicle registration, vehicle insurance, spare parts and tyres. Wages have also increased and the cost of replacement vehicles and trailers has seen some dramatic cost increases.

Our trucking rates have remained stagnant for the past 3-4 years despite all the above increases and we have seen annual rate rises applied by other Sydney and interstate based truckers during this period. For us to continue to provide a premium daily delivery service for air and FCL/LCL sea shipments for all clients, we find it necessary to increase our trucking costs from 15th August, 2025.

An average increase of around 3.33% will be implemented on airfreight and LCL services from the above date. A flat fee of $ 15.00 per 20ft container and $ 25.00 per 40ft container (approximately 3.33%) will be implemented for all FCL movements effective from 1st September, 2025.

We trust you understand this action is necessary for us to remain both competitive and viable and to provide all clients with a regular and above average service level.

Tollway Charges:

Tollway charges are increased by operators in line with indexation every 6 months in NSW, VIC and QLD. GPSM have not increased our toll charges in some 4-5 years (up to 7 years in some cases) as we have tried to support our clients whenever and wherever it is possible.

A recent toll audit revealed that we need to increase these out of pocket expenses on air and LCL shipments with effect from 15th August 2025. The overall increase to clients is minimal ($ 2.00) but will allow us to continue to operate efficiently and effectively moving forward.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Seasonal Measures – 2025–2026

As we approach the upcoming Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk season for 2025-2026, we would like to provide a courtesy update for your awareness.

BMSB seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive), and to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period.

Note: The shipped on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped. “Gate in” dates and times will not be accepted to determine when goods are shipped.

• All target high risk goods shipped as break bulk must be treated offshore prior to arrival into Australia
• Untreated break bulk will be directed for export
• Onshore treatment is not permitted
• Break bulk includes those goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers

TARGET RISK COUNTRIES

• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Croatia
• Czechia
• France
• Japan (heightened vessel surveillance only).
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Montenegro
• Moldova
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of North Macedonia
• Romania
• Russia
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Türkiye
• Ukraine
• United States of America
• Uzbekistan (new)

The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries for the -BMSB risk season and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: United Kingdom and China.

We will circulate a detailed update once DAFF officially releases the 2025–2026 BMSB Seasonal Measures.

Rates & Services from Asia to Australia/New Zealand:

Even though the market is generally quiet, we’re seeing significant rate increases across most trade lanes for August. This is a continuation of increases we have seen in July with the biggest changes to the Australia East Coast and New Zealand routes, while rates on the Australia West Coast have stayed fairly stable.

Some lines are still cancelling weekly services and only offering only one (1) sailing per fortnight from Chia/Taiwan/Korea/Japan to East Coast Australia ports, this is creating a false space demand as we enter the traditional Peak Season period. Space for sailings in the first week of August has been snapped up quickly, we suggest booking as early as possible to ensure a slot can be allocated for your shipment. Some of the vessels that were on the Asia-Australia were transferred to the Asia-USA trade to cater for the huge volume of traffic that was shipped in July to avoid the new USA tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration from 1st August, 2025.

We are regularly receiving notices of increased rates and more recently of Peak Season Surcharges notices that lines are planning to introduce from mid-August, the increments of the surcharges vary between lines but it is still yet to be seen if the surcharges will be implemented and accepted by the market.

Recent typhoons in several areas have resulted in delayed departures of many vessels, some sailings delayed by 5-7 days and this is now a common event. The recent earthquake off the Russia coast in the Pacific Ocean is also likely to impact vessel scheduling and transit times.

Port congestion in Singapore has been continuing to build up and is expected to continue for at least a month, an average of 10-14 days delay in transshipment is being encountered at present.

Overall, biweekly freight rate announcements should now be viewed as reference only. Shipping lines are adjusting rates in real-time based on cargo flow, with daily changes increasingly common.

New Direct Service announced to USA East Coast

MSC Line have announced they will introduce a new stand-alone direct service from Australia to East Coast ports in USA commencing early 2026. MSC and Maersk Line previously has a joint slot chartering arrangement on all trade lanes but MSC earlier in 2025 decided to end that alliance and to operate as an individual service globally, MSC Line are now the largest container line in the world.

It is hoped this new service will free up space for Australian/New Zealand exporters on an already busy trade lane.

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) wish to inform members of the release of Imported Food Notice (IFN) 05-25, outlining changes to regulatory charges for biosecurity and imported food activities, effective from 1 July 2025.

These updates include the application of a 2.4% indexation across all legislated regulatory charges, the introduction of a new one-off charge for Approved Arrangement and Compliance Agreement holders, and a deferral of changes to diagnostic cost recovery until 2026–27.

Refer to the following key details extracted from IFN 05-25:

 

Changes to regulatory charging in 2025-26

In 2025, the department will apply indexation to biosecurity and imported food regulatory charges.

All legislated regulatory charges that are subject to an indexation provision will increase by 2.4% on 1 July 2025.

Indexation does not require changes to legislation, new rates for 2025-26 are the calculated replacement amounts described in the 2025-26 Biosecurity Cost Recovery Implementation statement (CRIS) and pricing tables.

An updated schedule of prices and current cost to deliver regulatory activities are provided in the 2025-26 Biosecurity CRIS and pricing tables.

The 2025-26 Biosecurity CRIS and pricing tables can be accessed on the department’s website.

New fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities will commence on 1 July 2025.

New charge

On 1 July 2025 a new one off charge that applies to approved arrangement and food import compliance agreement holders will commence.

Further information on the new charge is provided in the 2025-26 Biosecurity CRIS.

Delay in changes to cost recovery for diagnostics

The proposed improvements to cost recovery for diagnostic activity have been delayed until 2026-27. Details of the proposed changes are described in 305-2024: Improving cost recovery for diagnostic activities.

We will provide further information as the work progresses.

2025-26 Biosecurity CRIS

The 2025-26 Biosecurity CRIS contains the new prices for regulatory charges, relevant information on the department’s authority to cost recover, its estimated costs, forecast volumes and cost recovery revenue for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activity and information about the new charge for approved arrangement and compliance agreement holders.

Pricing tables

Pricing tables set out the 2025-26 prices for regulatory charges and describe the indexation methodology prescribed in legislation and applied to calculate new prices.

Billing after 1 July 2025

As we transition to new fees and charges you will notice changes to your invoice. There will be new prices, new codes and in some cases new descriptions.

You may also see an old and a new price listed for the same service depending on when the regulatory activities were carried out.

Instructions

Visit our website and review the changes to regulatory fees and charges.

Enquiries can be directed to the [email protected].

Full details of Imported Food Notice IFN 05-25 is available HERE.

Attachment: ACN-2025-16.pdf

Rates from Asia to Australia:

As per our previous Newsflashes, shipping lines operating from Far East Asia (China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan) to Australia have diverted some of the vessels normally on the Australian East Coast trade to the Asia-USA trade as US importers continue to ship large cargo volumes in an effort to beat the Trump Administration tariffs increases. The deadline for the tariffs was listed as 9th July however this week that deadline was moved to 1st August.

The result is that less space is now available on the Australian trade and in addition, some lines have continued to offer only a fortnightly sailing to Australia, thereby creating a false peak market. The lines have increased rates since mid-June and we expect those increases will continue in July and August as the lines try to gain extra income.

We are fast approaching the usual Peak Season so do not be surprised if the lines implement a Peak Season Surcharge as part of their money grab, we have not seen one in recent years so it will be interesting to see how they try to manipulate the market moving forward.

 

Operations in Northern European Ports:

The main hub ports of Hamburg, Antwerp and Rotterdam are continuing to face vessel delays as a result of strikes, large volumes moving and operational issues resulting in large backlogs of containers at the ports. The situation has been further exasperated by a recent four (4) day rail shutdown due to fires, and the low water level in the inland rivers and canals is also affecting container movements. The low water levels are expected to worsen in coming weeks with very hot weather prevailing at the present time and little rain.

 

Suez Canal Disruptions continue:

All sailings are still avoiding the Suez Canal and the situation is expected to continue for some time.

Just this week the Houti rebels attached a Liberian flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea as it was enroute to a port in Israel, their action reported as in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.

The vessel has subsequently sunk and a number of crew are still unaccounted for, presumed drowned.