Shipping to Papua New Guinea: Ports, Costs and Timelines

Papua New Guinea is the biggest market in the Pacific and the closest to Australia, yet shipments there still catch people out. The voyage from Brisbane takes days, not weeks. The problems tend to come before and after it: choosing the wrong gateway port, underestimating the trip inland, and paperwork or biosecurity issues that hold cargo on the wharf.

This guide covers how cargo reaches PNG from Australia, the two gateway ports and when to use each, realistic timelines, what drives costs, and what's needed to clear customs and biosecurity. For the wider region, see our complete guide to shipping to the Pacific Islands.

PNG's two gateway ports

Both international container terminals are owned by PNG Ports Corporation and have been run by the global port operator ICTSI under 25-year agreements signed in 2017.

Motukea (Port Moresby)

The Motukea International Terminal, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, took over the international container traffic previously handled at the old Port Moresby wharf. It's the gateway for the National Capital District and Central Province, and for goods consumed in the capital, including government, retail and construction cargo.

Lae

Lae, operating as the South Pacific International Container Terminal, is PNG's largest container port. It sits at the start of the Highlands Highway, which makes it the natural gateway for the Highlands provinces, Morobe and much of the north coast, as well as for the mining and agricultural projects inland.

Choosing between them

Choose the port nearest your goods' final destination. Port Moresby isn't connected by road to Lae or the Highlands, so cargo landed at the wrong port may need to go back on a ship to reach its destination. For a project in the Highlands, Lae is almost always the right answer. For an office fit-out in Port Moresby, Motukea is.

Provincial ports

Beyond the two gateways, provincial centres such as Madang, Wewak, Rabaul, Kimbe and Alotau are served by coastal shipping, either relayed from Lae or Port Moresby or on carrier rotations that call them directly. Allow extra time and handling for these. Our guide to why transhipment matters explains how onward legs work.

Shipping services from Australia

PNG is one of the better-served Pacific trades. Specialist carriers run regular direct services from the east coast, typically calling Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane before heading north. Swire Shipping, for example, has run its Australia to PNG service from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Port Moresby and Lae on a frequency of roughly every eight days. Services from Asian hubs also call PNG directly, which matters for goods sourced from China or South-East Asia.

Both FCL and LCL are readily available to Port Moresby and Lae. Our comparison of FCL vs LCL to the Pacific Islands helps you choose.

How long it takes

Based on carrier rotations published in 2026. Schedules change, so confirm current sailings before you book.

The fastest way to shorten the total is preparation: get your customs registration, broker, permits and documents in place before the ship sails, so the entry can be lodged while the cargo is still at sea.

What drives the cost

Ocean freight to PNG is competitive compared with smaller Pacific destinations because of the volumes involved, but the total cost includes much more than the sea leg:

• Origin charges in Australia, including cartage, terminal access charges and documentation
• Ocean freight and surcharges such as BAF
• Terminal handling and port charges at Motukea or Lae, and the delivery order
• Broker fees, duty, any excise and 10% GST
• NAQIA inspection fees and any treatment
• Inland trucking, which on Highlands routes can rival the ocean freight
• Security for high-value loads moving inland

Compare quotes on a door-to-door, landed-cost basis. Our guide to Pacific freight quotes explains every line.

Customs: what to set up before you ship

PNG Customs runs an electronic process through ASYCUDA World, built around licensed brokers. Before your goods arrive you need to:

1. Hold a Tax Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Commission.
2. Register with PNG Customs as an importer.
3. Appoint a licensed customs broker on Form G26.
4. Make sure the importer's name is identical on the TIN, invoice, bill of lading and G26.

The broker can lodge the import entry up to five working days before arrival, and it must be lodged within five working days after the vessel reports. Customs value is calculated at CIF level, duty and taxes must be paid electronically within five clear working days of assessment, and cash isn't accepted. Our PNG customs clearance checklist covers every document and step.

Duty and tax

Import GST is 10%, and duty rates depend on the tariff classification. Most manufacturing inputs, including plant and machinery, attract no customs duty, while excise on private motor vehicles can reach 40%. See import duty and taxes in the Pacific Islands for a worked example.

Biosecurity with NAQIA

NAQIA inspects imported goods, containers and packaging, and requires permits for animal products, plant products and biological materials, issued before import. African swine fever has been present in PNG since 2020, so pork products face particular scrutiny. Use ISPM 15 marked timber, ship clean goods and leave food out of household shipments. Our guide to PNG biosecurity rules explains what inspectors check.

Getting cargo inland

For many shipments the hardest leg is the last one. The Highlands Highway from Lae carries most freight to the Highlands provinces, and road conditions, weather and security all affect timing and cost. Practical points:

• Book reputable inland transport before the ship arrives, ideally through your forwarder or broker.
• Use escorted or secured transport for high-value cargo, and avoid unnecessary stops.
• Pack for rough roads, with proper bracing and lashing.
• Confirm who returns the empty container, and where, to avoid detention.
• Insure the full journey, not just the sea leg.

When air freight makes sense

For urgent parts, medical supplies and documents, air freight into Port Moresby is the fast alternative, with direct passenger services from Australian east coast cities carrying cargo in the hold. Capacity and piece size are limited, and all outbound air cargo from Australia must be security examined or come from a Known Consignor. See air freight vs sea freight to the Pacific.

Vehicles and household goods

Vehicles must be thoroughly cleaned for NAQIA, need extra customs documentation including a statutory declaration of ownership, and private vehicles attract heavy excise. Household goods need a detailed inventory and should contain no food, plants or soil. See shipping a car to the Pacific Islands and moving household goods to the Pacific Islands.

Frequently asked questions

Written by

Peyton Brown

Senior Editor of The Pennsy's Pacific shipping desk, with more than a decade in Pacific freight operations, documentation and customs coordination across Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

More from Peyton