Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement – provisional text released
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has released the provisional text of the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA).
Negotiations for the agreement concluded in March 2026 with the agreement now subject to legal review and ratification processes in each member country. Entry into force of the agreement is expected to be 12-18 months away due to the scope of such processes through the European Union’s 27 member states, however the release of the provisional text allows stakeholders an opportunity to understand key provisions including rules of origin and market access commitments and to prepare for implementation.
More information will be released in future newsletters as it becomes available. If you would like to learn more about the future benefits for your business, please contact Harders Advisory.
Mandatory Food Allergen Labelling Requirements transition period
The transition period for the mandatory food allergen labelling requirements has now ended.
Importers are reminded that all foods must bear a label that includes declares allergens both within the ingredients list as well as a separate “Contains” statement displayed beside the ingredients list.
Allergens should be clearly identifiable using a bold font so that they stand out amongst the other listed ingredients and must be at least equal in font size to the rest of text.
Further information is available here (foodstandards.gov.au).
Biosecurity and Imported Food charges to increase from 1 July 2026
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has announced an increase to their standard cost recovery charges to take effect from 1 July 2026.
This will include the standard documentary assessment and inspection charges as well as import permit assessments, all of which will be raised in line with indexation.
In addition, the Department will also implement fixed diagnostic fees for imported cargo from 1 November 2026 with a view to better aligning government charges with the actual cost of delivering biosecurity services.
More information will be made available in future newsletters as it becomes available.
List of Target-risk Khapra Beetle countries updated from 30 April 2026
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has updated the list of target-risk Khapra Beetle countries to include the following:
- Angola
- Chad
- Guinea
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
Note: Turkmenistan remains a non-target risk country for Khapra Beetle.
From 30 April 2026, consignments exported from the newly listed countries will be subject to Khapra Beetle target risk country requirements whereby high-risk plant products exported from these countries must meet mandatory pre-export treatment requirements and post-treatment National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPO) inspections where required.
Also from 30 April 2026, the Department has removed Trogoderma serraticorne from the ‘List of Trogoderma Species of Biosecurity Concern’. NPPO inspection and phytosanitary certification requirements will no longer apply to this species.
Sea Freight Update
Global container markets continue to operate in a tightly managed environment as we progress through Quarter 2. While underlying cargo demand remains relatively modest across most corridors, effective capacity is being actively constrained through blank sailings and service adjustments. This dynamic, combined with persistent fuel cost volatility, is allowing carriers to regain some pricing traction despite the broader backdrop of structural fleet overcapacity. Service reliability remains variable, and shippers continue to navigate an environment where availability rather than demand is setting the tone.
Northeast Asia to Oceania (China, Korea, Japan)
- Volumes remain steady, supported by core retail, FMCG and industrial cargo, though demand growth is limited.
- Vessel availability is tightening materially in May, with widespread blank sailings reducing berth windows across Australian ports.
- Shipping lines have announced a further round of Rate Restoration / General Rate Increases (RR/GRI) effective 15 May, at a quantum of USD 300 per TEU.
- Given the reduced number of vessels on the berth and disciplined capacity management, this increase is expected to largely hold in the near term.
- Schedule reliability is mixed, with ongoing origin port congestion and knock‑on delays from network rescheduling.
Southeast Asia to Oceania
- Demand remains stable, with project, agricultural and manufacturing cargo underpinning volumes out of key Southeast Asian hubs.
- Equipment imbalances persist in select locations, impacting booking flexibility and preferred sailings.
- May capacity is notably constrained, with blank sailings dominating carrier programs and limiting alternative service options.
- The USD 300 per TEU RR/GRI effective 15 May has also been announced on this lane and is expected to gain traction under current capacity conditions.
- Transit times remain extended on some services due to port omissions and revised rotations.
Europe to Oceania
- Europe, origin demand remains subdued, particularly ex‑North Europe, keeping overall volumes below historical averages.
- Extended routings and longer transit times continue to disrupt equipment cycles and service consistency.
- Pricing remains competitive, with limited success in sustaining earlier rate increases, though cost pressures persist.
- Shippers continue to experience variability in sailing schedules and cut‑off reliability at origin.
United States to Oceania
- US, origin volumes remain uneven, with agricultural exports and specialised cargo providing baseline support.
- Network adjustments on transpacific trades continue to influence equipment positioning and service reliability into Oceania.
- Capacity remains broadly available, though space can tighten on faster or direct services during peak shipping windows.
- Cost pressure is increasingly visible via surcharge activity rather than base rate movements.
Trans‑Tasman
- The Trans‑Tasman market remains relatively balanced, supported by stable bilateral trade flows.
- Capacity is generally sufficient, though fuel‑driven cost escalation is starting to influence carrier pricing behaviour.
- Schedule integrity has improved compared to earlier periods, despite isolated disruption from weather and port operations.
- Shippers remain focused on managing cost‑to‑service trade‑offs in a still competitive market.
Outlook
Looking ahead, the ocean freight market into Oceania is expected to remain finely balanced. Although global oversupply continues to cap long‑term rate escalation, near‑term pricing is being supported by disciplined capacity withdrawal and limited vessels on the berth, particularly through May. The recently announced USD 300 per TEU RR/GRI effective 15 May is likely to hold in the short term under prevailing conditions. Volatility will remain a feature of the market, reinforcing the importance of early planning, booking discipline and close engagement with carrier partners. Lead times continue to remain important, and we remind our valued clients these should be 3 weeks of cargo ready dates.
We appreciate your continued trust and partnership. Our team will continue to monitor developments closely and keep you informed as conditions evolve.
Should you need tailored advice or wish to review upcoming shipping requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact our Key Account Managers.