In this edition, we cover:

• Reminder | Check your overseas fumigation provider’s approval status
• Typhoon Bavi Update
• DAFF Export Assurance Reform
• Brown Marmorated stink Bug (BMSB) Season 2026-2027 is Almost Here
• Increase to Empty Container Park Fees
• Low water surcharge barge and barge/road transports from/to ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam
• Notice: Increase to Document Fees and Terminal Handling Fees for Air Freight
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 31st July 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• DAFF Export Assurance Reform
• Typhoonn Bavi Update
• Brown Marmorated stink Bug (BMSB) Season 2026-2027 is Almost Here
• Increase to Empty Container Park Fees
• Low water surcharge barge and barge/road transports from/to ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam
• Notice: Increase to Document Fees and Terminal Handling Fees for Air Freight
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 24th July 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• China: Typhoon Impact on Shanghai Port Operations
• Low water surcharge barge and barge/road transports from/to ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam
• Notice: Increase to Document Fees and Terminal Handling Fees for Air Freight
• Patrick Terminal Brisbane Shutdown 21st July 2026
• DAFF Notice: Indian Fumigation Providers
• Important Notice – Customs Clearance Charge Update
• DAFF – Increase to Biosecurity Cost Recovery Charge from 1 July 2026
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 17th July 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

A small fee here, a storage charge there, a surprise penalty when paperwork isn’t quite right. None of it feels huge on its own, but can quickly add up.

Cost effective freight management is about planning smarter, using data and working with a partner who looks at your full supply chain, without cutting corners. 

We’ve put together the practical strategies our team at Stockwells uses every day to help clients in Australia and New Zealand move more for less while protecting their goods and cash flow.

Optimise shipment consolidation

Every empty corner in a container is money left on the table. On the other hand, sending small shipments separately can mean higher per unit costs, more handling and more room for error.

Thoughtful consolidation can change that. 

When you group compatible shipments together you can: 

• Reduce your cost per unit
• Lower handling and damage risk
• Simplify paperwork and tracking 

Instead of booking four separate less than container load shipments from different suppliers, you may be better off with one carefully planned full container. That is where buyer consolidation comes in. The right forwarder will coordinate with all suppliers, bring freight together at origin, then move it as a single, optimised load.

With our own fleet, warehousing and long standing relationships with carriers, Stockwells can look at your schedule, volumes and lanes, then suggest consolidation options to streamline your freight management. 

Streamline documentation and compliance 

Few things drain budget faster than preventable penalties and delays. 

Missing certificates, late submissions or documentation errors can all lead to storage charges, inspections and rework. You pay in both time and money.

Working with an experienced customs brokerage team changes the equation. Our in-house licensed customs brokers at Stockwells review documentation before issues appear at the border. Our team stays across current legislation while managing quarantine, fumigation and other specialised requirements 

Clean documentation keeps freight moving. It also protects you from repeat costs and surprise fees that can erode the true landed cost of your products.

If you import or export regularly, it is important to not think of compliance as an afterthought. 

Plan shipments in advance 

Last minute freight tends to be expensive freight.

When bookings are left to the eleventh hour, you have fewer options. Space may be tight, surcharges more common and there is less room to adjust routing when something changes upstream.

Planning ahead helps you secure better rates and capacity, choose the right mix of sea, air, road and rail, and avoid premium charges linked to time pressure

We work with many clients on simple planning rhythms. That might look like a forward schedule each quarter, weekly booking windows with key suppliers or clear cut off dates for urgent orders.

You still keep flexibility. We shift clients from reactive decisions to informed choices that support cost control and service levels.

Improve inventory and warehouse management 

Warehousing is often seen as a fixed cost. When in reality, it’s a powerful lever in cost effective freight management. 

The right warehousing and distribution setup can: 

• Reduce double-handling and damage
• Lower storage costs by matching stock levels to demand 
• Support faster order fulfillment and happier customers 

Since Stockwells runs its own facilities in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, we can align freight movements with storage and dispatch. Just in time serving helps many clients keep inventory lean without putting service at risk. 

Overflow capacity is another simple but effective tool. When demand spikes, you can scale up without locking yourself into long term space you do not need year round.

The goal is a warehouse network that supports your freight plan through and through. 

Gain visibility and avoid costly delays

You cannot control what you cannot see.

Hidden costs often show up when no one has a clear view of where freight is, what has cleared and what is about to arrive. That leads to rushed bookings, missed delivery windows and long phone calls trying to find answers.

Real time tracking removes a lot of that noise.

Through the Stockwells client portal you can see:

• Real-time shipping tracking 
• Estimated and actual arrival times
• Relevant alerts 

This visibility helps you plan warehousing, coordinate transport and keep customers updated.

Knowing that a container will arrive mid afternoon rather than first thing in the morning might be the difference between finishing unloading in regular hours or paying overtime and extra storage. Over a full year those choices have a real impact.

Moving cost-effective together 

Cost effective freight management is  a series of small, smart decisions across consolidation, compliance, planning, warehousing and visibility.

When those parts work together you get fewer surprises, more control over landed cost and a supply chain that supports growth rather than holding it back.

Stockwells has spent more than 55 years helping Australian businesses do exactly that. With our own fleet, warehouses, customs brokerage team and client portal, we can look at your full freight picture and find the simplest path to savings.

If you would like to review your current setup or explore new options, our team is here to help. 

Reach out to speak with a freight forwarding specialist or receive a quote to see where we can move forward together.

The post The Stockwells approach to cost effective freight management first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• Important Notice – Customs Clearance Charge Update
• DAFF – Increase to Biosecurity Cost Recovery Charge from 1 July 2026
• Typhoon Bavi and ongoing typhoon season disruption in China
• Transport for NSW – July 1 Toll Price Increase
• Notice | New Doc Fee
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 10th July 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• DAFF – Increase to Biosecurity Cost Recovery Charge from 1 July 2026
• Transport for NSW – July 1 Toll Price Increase
• Notice | New Doc Fee
• Client Notice: Service Disruptions and Delays – Asia & Europe Trade Lanes
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | July 3rd 2025 first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• NEWS | Fuel prices set to jump 32 cents a litre as government scarps cost-of-living relief
• Client Notice: Service Disruptions and Delays – Asia & Europe Trade Lanes
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 19 June 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• New U.S. Customs Rules to Impact Importers of Record
• Client Notice: Service Disruptions and Delays – Asia & Europe Trade Lanes
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 12 June 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

In this edition, we cover:

• Public Holiday Notices
• Client Notice: Service Disruptions and Delays – Asia & Europe Trade Lanes
• Brisbane Patrick Fisherman Island Terminal Closure 9th June 2026
• Extended ABF Border Holds
• Notice: Deferred GST Scheme for Importers
• Important Notice – Timely Provision of Import Documents for Australian Clearance
• Shipping Charges & Fees

Click here to read the full newsletter.

The post News Alert | 05 June 2026 first appeared on Stockwells.

For more than 55 years, Stockwells has built its reputation on doing exactly that. We sat down with our export team to discuss what’s happening on the ground right now: the disruptions reshaping global trade, the opportunities emerging for Australian exporters and how our team is helping clients stay ahead in a constantly changing landscape.

Q&A with the Stockwells Export Team

What does a typical export cycle look like at Stockwells, and where does your team add the most value for clients navigating global markets?

Like any shipment, a booking request comes through to our team and we assess what is needed to get the goods moving. From there we find the best available slot on a vessel to get the goods from A to B. We leverage our relationships to ensure your goods are exported as smoothly as possible, no matter what is happening in the global market.

What have been the biggest export disruptions or shifts over the past 6–12 months, and how have you adapted your approach in response?

The freight and logistics industry is constantly at risk of disruption. This is a direct result of navigating international borders, geopolitical issues, weather events and more. More recently we have seen the vast impacts of conflicts such as what is happening in the Middle East. Not only are shipments that pass through the Strait of Hormuz directly impacted – causing lengthy delays, congestion and uncertainty of slots – but we’re also seeing increases in fuel availability constraints and cost.

At Stockwells, our teams work tirelessly to mitigate the impacts of these disruptions where possible by rerouting cargo, rebooking cancellations and staying on top of developing information to best inform and react for our clients.

Are there any emerging trade lanes, markets or commodities where you’re seeing notable growth or new opportunities for Australian exporters?

Key growth opportunities for Asian market sectors currently are Food & Beverage – covering dairy, beef, wine and infant nutrition; agribusiness – covering fertilisers and ag-tech; and resources – covering metals and equipment. We are also seeing opportunities in India in metallurgical coal and agricultural commodities, with most of these moving in bulk. We may also see an increased market trend as the UK free trade agreement is put in place.

How are current regulatory or compliance changes – such as updates to Incoterms, customs requirements or DAFF rules – influencing the way exporters need to plan their shipments?

Incoterm updates occur on a ten-year cycle, making them relatively straightforward to manage through proactive client education. Our focus is on ensuring customers understand any changes as they arise and are aware of alternative Incoterms that may better suit their commercial or risk profile.

All other export regulatory requirements are verified through the relevant government portals to ensure compliance with destination-specific rules for both the commodity and the receiving country. This process also captures any biosecurity, quarantine or import permit requirements applicable to the destination market.

With ongoing volatility in global freight (capacity, schedules, pricing), what strategies does your export team use to maintain reliability and minimise risk for clients?

We educate clients on early booking in volatile times. This includes the factors around pricing and where it is better to take a spot rate over a standard contract rate, which assists in limiting rollovers and securing prebooking opportunities. All forwarders are limited to what a shipping line allows, what equipment they have available and what schedules they adopt. As long as we are in front of the changes and reduced cycles in these areas for each shipping line, and we are educating our clients accordingly, then clients themselves must also take accountability for the timeframes they give us for booking. In volatile times these will always be extended due to limited capacity and equipment. Due to the extensive contracts we hold with most shipping lines, we are able to get across booking limitations on most occasions.

How does Stockwells differentiate its export management from other freight forwarders?

The process of exporting goods does not differ greatly from forwarder to forwarder, but what does differ is the level of service you will receive. For over 55 years, Stockwells has prided itself on providing our clients with the highest level of customer service possible. Through this, our mindset is, and will always be, how we can best support our clients and their supply chain.

Can you share a recent example where your team had to problem-solve a complex export challenge?

A recent example involved a client’s shipment that needed to navigate challenges in the UAE. Their cargo was re-routed and had to come back to Australia due to UAE closures. To mitigate the effects of this unforeseen issue, our team worked closely with the shipping line and shipper to determine the best options for the cargo, including storage solutions and alternative routing. It’s exactly the kind of situation where having strong shipping line relationships and an experienced team makes all the difference.

What role does technology now play in export operations at Stockwells, and what improvements are you excited about next?

Technology is advancing quicker than we can keep up with, and Stockwells is committed to staying across the options available to us. AI will no doubt deliver some exciting advancements and we’re looking forward to what’s next – even if we don’t yet know exactly what that will look like for exports.

What do people most commonly underestimate or misunderstand about the export process?

We don’t expect our clients to understand straight away what exporting goods entails and that’s exactly why we pride ourselves on educating and supporting them through the process. As our clients’ chosen freight forwarder, Stockwells aims to make the process as smooth and seamless as possible.

Looking ahead, what trends do you expect to shape Australian exports? How is Stockwells preparing to support clients through these changes?

AI will be a trend that crosses both import and export, and we will ensure we understand any advancement that will benefit either Stockwells internally or our clients externally. Unfortunately, many of the trends at the moment are around geopolitical unrest, and we are simply navigating a very volatile time in shipping. We prepare our clients through constant updates and by working on alternative transport tradelane solutions as they become available.

The global export landscape isn’t getting any simpler, but with the right partner, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. 

No matter if you’re navigating geopolitical disruption, capitalising on emerging trade lanes, or staying ahead of regulatory change, success in exporting comes down to expertise, relationships and a team that’s genuinely invested in your business.

That’s what Stockwells has been delivering for over 55 years.

Ready to take your exports further? Get in touch with Stockwells today to see how we can support your operations.

The post Inside Stockwells export operations: A Q&A with our export team first appeared on Stockwells.