Mining, Power & Energy

We can import and export a range of commodities. We have many clients in the mining and energy industries.

Some of our past projects include:

• Earthmoving & drilling equipment
• Material-handling equipment
• Truck parts
• Measuring equipment
• Pipes and plant components
• Agricultural machinery, including vehicles
• Safety chambers
• Precision tools
• Industrial supplies

Connect with our staff now to check if we can handle your goods!

The total shipping lead time greatly depends on the country of origin and the specific delivery address in Australia. It also depends on the assigned shipping line and whether it is a direct shipment or transhipment service.

As a general rule, you can assume the follow indicative sea freight transit times:

• From China to Australia: 15-25 days
• From Europe to Australia: 42-50 days
• From US to Australia: 30-45 days
• From New Zealand to Australia: 35-45 days

Request a quote today and our specialist consultants can discuss your shipping options.

The price of shipping your cargo is contingent on the mode of transport, taking into consideration your equipment’s weight and dimensions. The basis for choosing the mode of shipment is as follows:

• For an FCL shipment, the price is usually on a per-container basis, if the weight exceeds a certain weight threshold, heavy surcharges may apply.

• For a breakbulk shipment, the price is per revenue tonne. The revenue tonne is either the greater value of cargo cubic measure, or cargo weight measure.

• For an LCL shipment, the price is per cubic metre based on weight-based volume or gross volume, whichever is higher.

• For an airfreight shipment, the price is per chargeable weight (gross weight or dimensional weight, whichever is higher). You can use our Chargeable Weight Calculator for an estimate.

• Use Existing Services: Leveraging regular cargo services is more cost-effective than chartering.
• Containerization: If the equipment fits in a standard container, it’s significantly cheaper.
• Part Chartering: Sharing vessel space with other shippers can reduce costs compared to full charters. ICE can source and coordinate air or sea part charters if that suits your logistics requirements best.

Example Case: ICE chartered a vessel for the Northern Territory Government’s Gas Processing Plant. A part-charter was used to bring equipment from Shanghai to Darwin. This was chosen for efficiency and volume management, despite Darwin being a less common port.

Effective planning is the cornerstone of successfully shipping mining equipment, especially given its high value, technical complexity, and time sensitivity. The process begins with a clear understanding of when the equipment is needed, where it currently is, and its final destination. Equally important is gathering technical documentation and identifying any special handling requirements, such as whether the equipment is self-propelled or requires crane lifting. These early insights shape every downstream decision, from selecting the appropriate mode of transport (e.g., air freight, sea freight, RORO, or breakbulk) to determining the most cost-effective and logistically feasible route. By investing time upfront to clarify these variables, shippers can avoid costly delays, ensure compliance with handling protocols, and align the shipping method with both budget and operational timelines. This groundwork not only enables accurate budgeting but also ensures that the chosen logistics solution meets the expectations and project constraints.

We will suggest the best shipping method based on the nature of the goods and destination. Generally, the options are:

• Shipping Containers – used if your equipment can be disassembled tofit into a container.
• Flat Rack Container – used for cargo that’s too high to fit into a container, flat racks are containers that are not enclosed..
• RO-RO (or Roll-on, Roll-off) shipping – used for large, out of gauge consignments. Driveable cargo is suited this type of shipping.
• LoLo (Lift-on Lift-off) Shipping – another method used for large, out of gauge consignments. Often vessels will have cranes to manage loading and unloading.
• Air freight charter – recommended if you have a large volume of time critical cargo.
• Multimodal shipping (mix of air, sea and rail) – we may recommend a combination of freight modes if you are looking to reduce transit times and mitigate against airfreight costs.

Yes! Australia strictly implements the policy of accepting only machines free from biosecurity materials (such as grasses, seeds, soil and animal materials).

Used equipment  needs to be decontaminated or cleaned before shipping to Australia.

If your items are directed for inspection on arrival and do not meet quarantine requirements, your shipment may be sent for cleaning at a designated Australian biosecurity depot. Once cleaned, any items that do not pass a second quarantine inspection will need to undergo additional processing.

Our customs brokers can help organise all clearance activity in advance for you! Connect directly with Stephen, one of our customs brokers here, to discuss biosecurity for your machinery.

Flexibility and customer service. Our experienced operators/consultants get to know your business so you receive a truly bespoke service when working with ICE.

As independent forwarders, we have the flexibility of choosing the best shipping option for your cargo through our vetted network of overseas agents. We build the operation around your requirements to the smallest detail.