Clearance times for sea and air cargo faster than ever before

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) delivered significant improvements in clearance times for sea and air cargo in 2013. The most recent ACBPS Time Release Study (TRS) measured clearance performance for air and sea cargo entering Australia in the week of 24-30 September 2013. It is the seventh annual study of its kind conducted by the Service.

For the first time, sea cargo consignments were cleared nearly two and a half hours prior to arrival, an improvement of more than six hours compared to previous years. Similarly, air cargo consignments were cleared for entry approximately three and a half hours after arrival, a five hour improvement from 2012 and the biggest improvement since 2007. These improved clearance outcomes were largely made possible by early reporting by industry. Early reporting means that cargo can be released more rapidly with 71 per cent of cargo now released by the time it is physically available. The study also found a substantial increase in air cargo and sea cargo volumes in 2013, continuing an upward trend in cargo volumes since 2007.