North Queensland Custom Services

14/02/2025

3 of our trucks recently on show at Brown and Hurley Townsville thanks to Tony and Rob for arranging.

30/01/2024

North Queensland Customs Services Awarded Trusted Trader Status

North Queensland Customs Services is now an accredited Trusted Trader under the Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) Program, which recognises businesses for their secure supply chain and compliant trade practices. This was achieved through a rigorous application process carried out by North Queensland C...

04/06/2023

Great shots of some our trucks at Convoy for a cure!

06/09/2022

**CTAA media release

Empty Container Congestion Hampers the Port of Brisbane

The scourge of empty container congestion most often experienced in Australia’s largest container ports, Melbourne &
Sydney, has moved north and is significantly hampering landside container logistics operations in the Port of Brisbane.
In addition to the usual heavy demand for empty container park capacity due to high container volumes through Port of
Brisbane, one major Empty Container Park (ECP) provider is in ongoing rate negotiations with its shipping line clients. As a
result, significant empty import container de-hire volumes are being redirected to other ECPs who are near or at operational
capacity.
This has led to a scarcity of truck arrival slot capacity and the need for the remaining ECPs in Brisbane to closely monitor
capacity, truck slotting and truck arrival behaviour against slot bookings. These other ECPs are at or well over 80%
capacity.
This level of congestion causes additional costs for transport operators, who must stage more empties back through their
yards, double handle boxes, store them longer in-yard, and spend longer administering the de-hire and export pick up
processes.
If these added costs are passed on by transport operators to their forwarder and importer/exporter clients, then this simply
makes imported goods more expensive for the end consumer and exported commodities less competitive in international
markets unless the exporter absorbs the added costs.
The real danger exists too that the delays will lead to some import containers not being de-hired in the container detention
“free time” allocated by the shipping lines. This causes fractious arguments between importers, their transport providers
and shipping lines about who is responsible for container detention fees.
On the export side, the lack of suitable empty equipment types (including Food Quality containers) mean that some
shipping lines are only giving exporters limited days to pick up empties and pack them out before vessel cut-off. This
throws even more complexity into the empty container management chain, and export packing and delivery timeframes for
smaller to medium volume exporters.
It doesn’t help if some parties in the chain, including shipping lines, think that there are no issues with the current capacity
levels and empty container management processes, and don’t acknowledge that they have their part to play in solving the
problems.
It is hoped that the current congestion is relatively short-lived, and that all ECP capacity in Brisbane is available again soon.
It is also acknowledged that additional ECP capacity has been added into the Port of Brisbane operations through the
opening of the Medlog facility on Fishermans Island.
However, the current situation highlights the need for the Queensland Government, in collaboration with the Port of
Brisbane and industry stakeholders to develop a more detailed set of independent landside container logistics performance
indicators like those being published and refined in all the other major capital city container ports such as Sydney,
Melbourne, and Fremantle.
For example, the Victorian Government has recently refined its Port Performance Monitoring Framework to include vital
empty container management indicators and is embarking on a collaborative Industry / Government trial of paperless truck
entry initiatives into Melbourne’s ECPs.
CTAA is calling on the Queensland Government and the Port of Brisbane to investigate the development of similar
performance indicators to compare landside container logistics productivity levels, and to work with industry on initiatives to
improve the empty container management chain associated with the Port of Brisbane.

28/08/2022

Dear Valued Clients & Partners,

Please be informed of the new BMSB measures, coming into effect 1st September 2022.

The Brown Marmorated Stink bug (BMSB) is a pest, known to ‘hitchhike’ inside imported shipping containers, machinery, goods and packaging. It poses a significant threat to the Australian biosecurity, as it can severely damage local crops. Therefore, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry releases seasonal measures each year to protect Australian agriculture.
The 2022-23 BMSB seasonal measures will apply to target high risk goods manufactured and shipped from target high risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September 2022 and 30 April 2023 (inclusive). Vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period will also be subject to BMSB measures.
Target high-risk goods other than containerised shipments will be subject to mandatory offshore treatment. Non containerised goods that arrive untreated or treated by an unapproved treatment provider in a target high risk country, will be directed for exportation on arrival. Moreover, untreated break-bulk cargo will be refused permission to discharge from the vessel. Whilst goods shipped in iso-tanks and as bulk-in-holds of cargo vessels are not subject to the measures.
A few key changes to take note of:
• The addition of China and UK as 'Emerging Risk Countries'
• Inspect (unpack) inspections instead of Secure Seals intact inspections at Approved Arrangements for BMSB verifications.
• Similar to previous seasons, there are provisions for containers sealed prior to September 1, but shipped on board after September 1 to be released without treatment. A sealing declaration or other evidence as specified is required.
Should you require any advice or assistance, please reach out to us.

24/08/2022

Markets tread water, ahead of the important Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, where Central Bankers and economists gather to discuss monetary policy. Ahead of the keynote address, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell will be the release of the Fed’s key inflation indicator, the PCE. It was 6.8% for June, but the CPI numbers moderated, so expectations are for a softer number. If the PCE number were to increase, then we could see an even more hawkish speech, from the head of the Fed. The key driver of US inflation has been fuel prices, but the US Biden Administration has been pouring oil from their ‘strategic oil reserve’ to push prices lower. US Oil reserves are now dangerously low, the lowest since 1985, following the previous administration’s massive stockpiling when oil dipped to below zero. The strategic reserve is a national security issue, as these need to be strong in case of mobilisation, and in these troubled times, red flags should be waving.

European and US equities markets remained soft overnight, unsupported by economic data and fears over rising interest rates and recession. European flash PMI data was extremely weak, with Australian, Japanese, European, and US PMI data, contracting on many fronts. The energy crisis in Europe is only getting worse, as Russia prepares to shut down Nord Stream 1 completely, at the end of August. This is supposedly only temporary, but enough to see electricity and gas prices spiral into the heavens. This will drive the European economies into a deep recession, unless arrested, which seems unlikely in the near future. Gas prices have gone from EUR$3/megawatt hour, two years ago, to EUR$300/megawatt hour today! This is astounding and not sustainable

What does all this mean? "lower" fuel prices are transitory at best, and will rebound with vigor. Make your purchasing and logistics plans accordingly. North Queensland Customs provides International freight rates, customs brokerage, transport and procurement consultancy services to all our clients. Don't hesitate to contact us.

With kind regards Ben

15/08/2022

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵! 🥳 What a very neat, slick Kenworth T410.
Congratulations Ben of North Queensland Custom Services, this is a beauty 👌🏽
Thanks for the business, we do appreciate it and we trust you'll love this great machine.
Salesman: Robert Garbutt (Townsville)

KENWORTH Australia

10/05/2022

Check out our informative Resources section on our website. It's a handy link to import and export documents and organisations.

Have you checked out our Resources section of our website? It contains lots of valuable links and information on import and exporting. You can look up international trade terms, access import and export documents, as well as access links to Australian and global trade organisations. Check it out at:...

04/03/2022

Some of our trucks on remote location, delivering on our clients needs!

25/08/2021

Check out our new website - www.nqcs.com.au

Our goal with this new website is to provide our visitors an easier way to learn about services and to browse information based on their own choice. The new website gives better access to who we are, the services we offer, as well as a comprehensive resources library on current import/export and freight forwarding documents. We wanted to make the new website faster, easier to navigate, and more user-friendly. We hope we have succeeded in that goal.

Amongst the new features the site contains integrated social media buttons for Facebook and Linkedin to foster improved communication.

We would also like to thank our amazing staff at NQCS who donated their time and energy to make this site what it is.

24/08/2021

Interesting article about the current port congestion worldwide.

Worsening congestion at Chinese ports due to a coronavirus outbreak is worrying Australian importers and exporters already struggling with global supply chain issues.

16/12/2019

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many Sponsors from within our Townsville Community that help put Stable on the Strand on each year. Today we would like to highlight our BRONZE SPONSORS FOR 2019!

- ATM
- Belgian Gardens State School
- BM Webb Group
- Envirobank
- G&T k9 security
- Global Hire & Services
- Gough Plastics
- JD Technical (Computer Works)
- John Gribbin Realty Pty Ltd
- Judy Satish Podiatry
- Livingstone Automotive Consulting
- Loloma Jewellers
- Mercure Townsville
- Norstate Promo
- North Queensland Custom Services
- Norquip Hire
- Not just Numbers
- NTP Forklifts Australia
- Nu Edge Solutions Australia
- Regional Business Services
- Rider Levett Bucknall
- Royal Wolf
- BIG4 Rowes Bay Beachfront Holiday Park
- Scripture Union Queensland
- St Patrick's College Townsville
- The Coloured House
- Tropic Petroleum
- Dr William Talbot Opthamologist
- Tropical Waste Services


Townsville City Council
Townsville Catholic Education