Vietnam has become one of the world's top furniture exporters, and it's now a genuine alternative to China for sofas and lounges. Here's what Australian retailers need to know about cost, compliance and lead times before ordering a container.
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Last updated: 25 August 2026
In short: Most Australian furniture retailers still default to China when they think about sourcing sofas and lounges, but Vietnam has quietly become one of the world's top furniture exporters — often with better timber compliance paperwork and comparable pricing once you land the container in Melbourne or Sydney. A well-run 20ft container of upholstered sofas typically costs AUD $18,000–$32,000 landed, depending on frame material, foam density and finish, and lands 8–11 weeks after deposit. The trick isn't picking a country — it's picking the right factory, locking in fumigation and timber treatment certificates before the container leaves port, and building a quality control checkpoint into the process so the sofa that arrives in Albury-Wodonga is the sofa you actually ordered.
Vietnam is now the world's second-largest furniture exporter after China, and a huge share of that output is upholstered seating destined for the US, EU, Japan and increasingly Australia. Factories in Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces have spent the last decade building supply chains specifically for Western retailers who got burned on quality or compliance elsewhere.
For Aussie retailers, the appeal isn't just diversification. Vietnamese furniture factories are generally more accustomed to FSC-certified timber and third-party testing because so much of their volume already goes to EU and US buyers with strict import rules. That means the paperwork trail for DAFF biosecurity clearance on treated timber frames is often cleaner than what you'll get from a smaller Chinese workshop that's used to shipping domestically.
China still wins on metal-frame furniture, recliner mechanisms and anything involving complex electronics (powered recliners, massage chairs). If your product is a simple fabric or leather lounge on a solid timber or plywood frame, Vietnam is worth quoting alongside China every time. For a broader look at why Australian importers are increasingly splitting orders between the two countries, see our complete guide to Vietnam manufacturing, and if outdoor rather than indoor furniture is more your range, our guide to sourcing rattan and wicker outdoor furniture covers the same Vietnam-vs-China trade-offs.
Landed cost depends heavily on frame material, upholstery (fabric vs leather vs PU), foam density and container fill rate. Here's a realistic worked example for a 3-seater fabric sofa on a solid timber frame, based on current Epic client shipments.
Cost componentPer unit (AUD, approx.)NotesFOB unit cost (factory price)$180–$260Depends on fabric grade and foam densityOcean freight (20ft container, ~40 units)$25–$45 per unitFluctuates with shipping season and fuel surchargesAustralian duty & GST~10% GST + duty (often 0% under ChAFTA/AANZFTA if criteria met)Confirm tariff classification and origin criteria firstDAFF biosecurity inspection/treatment$150–$600 per containerTimber packaging and frames may need fumigation certificatesLocal delivery (port to Albury-Wodonga)$40–$90 per unitRegional delivery adds more than metro deliveryEstimated landed cost$420–$650 per unitBefore your retail margin
A full 20ft container typically runs AUD $18,000–$32,000 landed for around 35–45 sofas, which is why most first-time importers start with a mixed container split across two or three SKUs to test the market before committing to full containers of a single design.
This matters for two reasons: DAFF biosecurity clearance moves faster with proper documentation, and increasingly, Australian consumers ask about sustainably sourced timber before they buy.
A beautiful fabric sample means nothing if the foam is 18kg/m³ density and sags within six months. Ask for the foam density spec in writing and request a pre-shipment sit-test video from the factory.
Untreated or incorrectly treated timber is one of the most common reasons containers get held at Australian ports for extra inspection. ISPM 15 compliance on all wood packaging is non-negotiable.
For regional retailers, a faulty container is even more expensive to deal with because return freight from Vietnam or China back to Albury-Wodonga eats your margin twice. A pre-shipment inspection (AQL 2.5 is standard for furniture) catches structural and cosmetic issues before they're your problem. If you don't have your own warehouse space to receive and inspect a full container, Epic's warehousing and 3PL service can receive, inspect and forward stock on your behalf.
Some factories will prepare fumigation certificates correctly; many won't. Confirm in writing who is responsible for getting the certificate format right, because Australian Border Force will hold non-compliant containers at the retailer's cost.
From deposit to delivery in regional Victoria/NSW, expect 8–11 weeks: 3–5 weeks production, 3–4 weeks ocean freight to Melbourne or Sydney, and 1–2 weeks for customs clearance, DAFF inspection and inland delivery to Albury-Wodonga. Chinese New Year (mid-February) and Tet in Vietnam (late January/early February) both add 2–3 weeks of factory downtime, so orders placed in December need extra buffer.
Unit pricing is usually within 5–10% of each other for comparable fabric sofas. Vietnam often edges ahead once you factor in fewer compliance delays and lower risk of re-inspection at the Australian border, but China remains cheaper for metal-frame and mechanism-heavy furniture.
No specific import licence is required for furniture, but you do need to be correctly registered for GST if importing commercially, and your goods must clear DAFF biosecurity checks for any timber, foam or packaging components.
Most established factories set MOQs around 30–50 units per SKU for a full container, though some will do mixed containers with lower per-SKU minimums if you're ordering 2–3 designs together.
Yes — most factories offer OEM customisation on fabric, leg finish and stitching detail, usually with a small tooling or sampling fee and a slightly longer lead time on the first order.
Containers are typically held for incomplete or incorrect fumigation paperwork, undeclared timber species, or random inspection. Holding fees accrue daily, which is why confirming documentation before the container leaves port is critical.
Shipping terms matter just as much as the factory you choose — if a supplier quotes you EXW rather than FOB, read our guide on what EXW (Ex Works) actually means for Australian importers before you agree to terms. And if fitting out more than just your showroom floor, our guide to sourcing commercial gym equipment from China covers similarly heavy, compliance-sensitive freight.
Epic Sourcing's bilingual teams on the ground in both China and Vietnam vet furniture factories for timber compliance, foam quality and production capacity before you ever pay a deposit. We've helped source over 20,000 products for more than 300 Australian clients, with average savings of around 77% versus going it alone on Alibaba. For a regional retailer in Albury-Wodonga, that means someone physically inspecting your container before it's sealed — not just hoping the factory photos are accurate. Learn more about Epic's China and Vietnam sourcing service or get in touch with the Epic Sourcing team to talk through your furniture sourcing project.
