How overseas buyers pay for export orders — plain English on currencies, methods, fees and timing.
Method: International wire transfer (SWIFT) to our nominated Australian bank account. Banking details are provided on the commercial invoice.
Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) or US dollars (USD), as agreed at the quote stage.
Timing: Full payment is required before dispatch. Goods are released to the freight forwarder once cleared funds are confirmed in our account.
Fees: The buyer bears all bank fees and intermediary correspondent-bank charges. Please instruct your bank to send the full invoice amount net of all fees (often listed as "OUR" charge code on SWIFT transfers).
Each quote is valid for 14 days from issue unless otherwise stated, and is subject to stock availability at the time of order confirmation.
Once a quote is accepted in writing within its validity period and we issue the commercial invoice, the price is locked. Currency exchange rate movements after the quote is issued do not affect the locked AUD or USD invoice amount.
| Buyer type | Standard terms | Extended terms |
|---|---|---|
| First-time buyer | 100% wire before dispatch | Not available on first order |
| Repeat buyer (3+ orders, no payment issues) | 100% wire before dispatch | 30% deposit / 70% before dispatch (by request) |
| Established trade partner | 100% wire before dispatch | Letter of credit at sight (subject to bank approval) |
Extended terms are at Avalon's discretion and must be specified in the relevant quote. We reserve the right to revert to standard terms at any time.
Under default FOB Melbourne terms, the commercial invoice covers:
The invoice does NOT include:
If the quote is on CIF or CFR terms, freight and (in CIF) marine insurance are added to the invoice — clearly itemised.
If payment is not received within the agreed period, we reserve the right to:
Buyers may cancel an order before the commercial invoice is issued without penalty. After invoice issue, cancellation may incur fees depending on whether stock has been allocated or shipped.
If you need extended terms, letter of credit, or have a specific banking question, just ask — we'll respond within one business day.