Direct printer import
Ship print runs to your door without printer freight markup
China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to Australia, New Zealand, UK and USA. Collected, shipped, cleared, and delivered to your door.
Typical savings
Up to 35% cheaper
than printer-arranged freight
Printer-arranged freight
AUD $5,300
Book Systems
AUD $3,800
You keep
AUD $1,500
Indicative costs for 3cbm
Shenzhen
Sydney door
FTA-eligible duty handled by Book Systems
Split delivery options at destination
Direct from printer
Why import your books with Book Systems?
Because we’re the freight partner the industry already endorses. Leading publishing associations across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK back our service — their members get negotiated rates, expert advice on off-shore printing, and a team that lives and breathes book freight. You get lower landed costs, fewer surprises at the border, and people who understand a print run isn’t just another shipment.
Backed by
Benefits
The benefits of importing your books with us
Forty years of book freight, distilled into one service. Origin to destination, paperwork to delivery, quote to invoice — we own every step.
Nearly 40 years of book freight
We’ve been moving print runs from off-shore printers to publishers since the 80s. There isn’t a lane, printer, or surprise we haven’t already solved.
Local agents at every origin
Our teams and agents work on the ground in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore — meeting printers in their language, on their time zone, and inside their business culture. Issues get resolved before they reach you.
All export formalities handled
Origin paperwork, certificates of origin, export declarations, and printer hand-off — managed by our team at the source so your shipment never sits idle.
Trade-agreement experts
Deep working knowledge of ChAFTA, MAFTA, AANZFTA and other free-trade agreements. We claim every duty concession your books are eligible for, automatically.
One-stop shop, every leg
Collection, ocean freight, customs, delivery — one team, one invoice, one point of contact. No hand-offs, no finger-pointing, no gaps in the chain.
The price we quote is the price you pay
No surprise surcharges, no “we forgot about that” line items. You know the per-unit landed cost of every title before you commit to the print run.
All import formalities handled
Customs clearance, duty and GST settlement, biosecurity, and final-mile delivery. Your books arrive at your door, cleared and ready to sell.
Book Systems
×APA
The unifying voice of Australian publishing
The Australian Publishers Association represents more than 200 publishers advocating for an industry that is sustainable, inclusive and future-focused.
How we work together
APA members get a discount on their freight up front. We also offer advice and advocacy to publishers navigating off-shore printing — including all aspects of free-trade, export and import customs formalities and tax. Book Systems organises shipping to book fairs around the world in partnership with the APA.
Book Systems
×PANZ
Te Rau o Tākupu — publishers for a stronger, better New Zealand
The Publishers Association of New Zealand / Te Rau o Tākupu represents trade, educational, scholarly and digital publishers across Aotearoa. PANZ supports its members with training, advocacy, export opportunities and a strong collective voice to government.
How we work together
PANZ members get negotiated freight rates with Book Systems on every shipment in and out of New Zealand. We coordinate logistics for PANZ-led international book fair stands, and provide expert advice on off-shore printing — handling export and import customs formalities, free-trade agreement claims, and GST end-to-end.
Sailing schedules
Upcoming sailings
Regular sailings from all major printer origins.
| Vessel / Voyage | Origin | Cut-off / ETD | Destination | ETA | Transit days | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OOCL BEIJING / 127S | Ningbo | 19-May / 24-May | Melbourne | 09-Jun | 21 | Departing |
| OOCL KUALA LUMPUR / 190S | Hong Kong | 20-May / 28-May | Sydney | 11-Jun | 22 | Closing |
| EMMANUEL P / 0008W | Ningbo | 24-May / 29-May | Auckland | 24-Jun | 31 | Filling |
| OOCL BRAZIL / 056S | Ningbo | 26-May / 31-May | Sydney | 13-Jun | 18 | Filling |
| ALS JUNO / 007S | Shanghai | 27-May / 01-Jun | Melbourne | 15-Jun | 19 | Open |
Need more info?
Share your contact details, and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Frequently asked questions
We have established lanes from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. If your printer is somewhere else, ask — we can almost certainly arrange collection.
Door-to-door into Australia, New Zealand, the UK, USA, and Canada. Split deliveries across multiple addresses are no problem.
Books from many origins qualify for zero or reduced duty under agreements like ChAFTA, MAFTA and AANZFTA. We handle the certificates of origin and claim every concession your shipment is eligible for.
Yes. Our quote covers collection, ocean freight, customs, duty, GST and door delivery. No surprise surcharges — the per-unit landed cost we give you is the number you can plan around.
There is no minimum. We consolidate weekly out of major origins, so even a single carton can travel as part of a larger sailing.
Typical sea transit is 3–5 weeks origin-to-door, depending on lane and destination. Cut-offs and ETAs are published live on our sailing schedule.
No — Book Systems clears your goods through Customs and settles duty and GST on your behalf.
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Book Systems International is a global logistics provider, catering to the needs of the publishing industry.
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