Here you will find the latest UK & global mail service updates and a list of upcoming worldwide public holidays. This is updated throughout the week with latest information available.
UK Service Updates
We are currently experiencing no collection issues with regards to UK mail or parcel deliveries but in some instances we have experienced delays to the processing and/or delivery of UK mail and courier items as a result of high volumes in the respective networks.
International Service Updates
GENERAL UPDATE – The closure of Russian airspace is causing delays to transport routes, especially to those in the far east. There are also severe delays at both sides of the Channel Tunnel due to extremely high demand and a reduced service which is affecting parcel deliveries both to an3d from Europe. Delays are also being seen to numerous destinations as a result of current flight capacity or destination handling issues.
POST-BREXIT EU TRANSPORT/CLEARANCE UPDATE – A number of our suppliers (both postal and courier) are reporting issues with regards to road transport and clearance at the EU border. This is causing delays and a number of suppliers are now charging additional EU clearance fees. If you require any additional information or if you would like to talk to our team to see how this may affect you, please contact or Client Service Team on +44 (0)1444 871111 or via e-mail on [email protected].
Algeria – The relocation of office of exchange is hampering the normal processing of inbound and outbound mails and causing delays. The situation is expected to return to normal by the end of January 2024. Ongoing (issue start date: 27/12/23)
Belarus – Due to flying restrictions to Belarus, the country is currently only available via road. This results in a delay of approximately 14 days. As soon as flying is possible again, the transit time will be back to normal. Ongoing (issue start date: 27/05/22)
Belgium – We have been informed by Bpost that, as of 27th January 2024 and owing to the expansion of the Belgian farmers’ movement throughout the country, the majority of motorways, strategic sections of the secondary road network and access to major cities are subject to disruption. This movement is expected to last at least until 2nd February 2024. As a result, bpost is experiencing difficulties with regard to the receipt of international shipments, as well as the transportation, collection and delivery of all mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items). Delays are therefore to be expected in the processing of mail.. Ongoing (issue start date: 25/01/24)
Belgium – We have been informed that a strike involving the Belgium Post Office (Bpost) is planned for Thursday, 8th of February. It is very likely that the strike will affect the international sorting centre as well as domestic sorting and the distribution network. Therefore delays may be experienced. Ongoing (issue start date: 08/02/24)
Brazil – Mail and parcels with destination Brazil are expected to be delayed due to capacity issues at our postal partner Correios Brazil. Expected delay upto 14 days. Ongoing (issue start date: November 2023 – updated: 05/02/24)
Canada – Mail and parcels with destination Canada are expected to be delayed due to limited air transport capacity. Expected delays 7 days. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown)
Colombia – The Mail and parcels to Colombia are expected to be delayed due to capacity issues at Colombia Post and the airport. We have been informed delays can be in excess of 21 days. Ongoing (issue start date: July 2023 – updated 02/11/23)
Cyprus – Mail and parcels to Cyprus are expected to be delayed due to a strike at Cyprus Post from Tuesday 12th December to Thursday 14th December. Expected delay: 3-5 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 12/12/23)
Eritrea – We have been informed that due to the domestic situation in the country, all mail services to this destination remain suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 08/10/18)
Finland – Mail and parcels to Finland are expected to be delayed due to strikes. Expected delay – 4 to 5 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 25/01/24)
France – Mail and parcels with destination France and returns from France may be delayed due to strikes and blockades of the agricultural sector. Ongoing (issue start date: 24/01/24)
France – France is implementing a new Air Control System (called 4-Flight) for all airports located in Paris and its suburbs (CDG, ORY, BVA and LBG). As a result, airline companies are supposed to reduce the frequencies and numbers of flights of a minimum of 20%. This shall concern the period January 9th to February 14th. Ongoing (issue start date: 09/01/24)
Georgia – Mail and parcels to Georgia are experiencing delays due to transport issues. Expected delay 2-3 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 05/09/23)
Germany – Mail and parcels to Germany are expected to be delayed due to flooding. The following postal codes are affected: 06XXX, 20XXX, 21XXX, 22XXX, 28XXX, 29XXX, 30XXX, 37XXX, 38XXX, 39XXX, 90XXX, 92XXX, 95XXX, 97XXX and 96XXX. Ongoing (issue start date: 01/01/24)
Germany – Mail and parcels with destination Germany are expected to be delayed due to strikes. The affected areas are Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. Expected delay 1-3 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 09/01/24)
Guadeloupe – Mail and parcels with destination Guadeloupe are expected to be delayed due to a strike. Expected delay upto 5 days. Ongoing (issue start date: November 2023)
Greece – Mail and parcels with destination Greece are expected to be delayed due to capacity issues at our postal partner Hellenic Post. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown)
Hong Kong – Mail and parcels to destination Hong Kong are experiencing delays due to transport issues – expected delays upto to 14 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 04/10/22)
Indonesia – The Indonesia post office, Pos Indonesia, has communicated a change to national customs regulations effective 1st August 2021. All inbound postal items and the related declaration forms (CN 23 EMS, CN 22, CN 23 and CP 72) are to be completed with the corresponding tax ID (NPWP) of the Indonesian resident, where available. For corporate addressees, tax ID information is required. For private addresses, if the tax ID number is not available, there are some alternatives:
• National identity number (NIK);
• Passport number (for foreigners); or
• Other identification number, e.g. driver’s licence number.
Failure to comply with this regulation may result in inbound processing delays, as items will be held until the required identification numbers have been provided. Furthermore, in accordance with the new regulation, all inbound postal items containing goods will be submitted to Customs. Therefore, it is very important that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that the CN 23 EMS, CN 22, CN 23 and CP 72 customs declaration forms for all postal items containing goods (letter mail, parcels and EMS) are duly completed in accordance with article 20-001 of the UPU Convention Regulations. Incomplete, incorrectly completed, or missing customs declara tions may cause delays in delivery. Ongoing (issue start date: 04/08/21)
Indonesia – Pos Indonesia, inform that, as result of the implementation of new import regulations by Indonesian Customs, delays in the delivery of all international inbound items should be expected from 17th October to 15th November. Ongoing (issue start date: 20/10/23 – updated 03/11/23)
Israel – Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) have informed our suppliers that as of 7th October 2023, Israel has entered a complex and severe military situation. Israel Post, as an essential service provider, is doing its utmost to maintain its service level under state security guidelines. However, as there are some flight cancellations, closed roads (especially in the south, but also in the centre of the country), and security restrictions in opening service points and in reaching sensitive and closed areas, there will be an impact on performance. Ongoing (issue start date: 07/09/23)
Italy – Mail and parcels to Italy delivered may be delayed due to capacity issues at Poste Italiane. Expected delay 1-3 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 03/11/23 – updated 05/02/24)
Italy – Poste Italiane would like to inform that they have a backlog for clearance of packets and parcels due to an issue with the national customs IT system. The backlog is also causing capacity issues in the warehouse, therefore also low value items (value below 150,00 €) are impacted, including items with IOSS number. Ongoing (issue start date: 07/09/23)
Japan – Mail and parcels with destination Japan are expected to be delayed due to an earthquake. Affected prefectures are Fukui, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Toyama, and Yamagata. Expected delays: 2 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 01/01/24)
Jordan – The designated operator of JORDAN, Jordan Post, wishes to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that, in accordance with the customs clearance procedures prescribed by the Jordanian customs authority for inbound international mail items containing goods, the addressee’s mobile phone number is of vital importance. Once the item is received by Customs, the addressee will be contacted for further customs declaration and payment of customs duties and taxes. The addressee’s mobile phone number will serve as the only credential for login purposes in the customs declaration system. Meanwhile, in an effort to improve customer experience and enhance delivery performance, Jordan Post has been asking mail couriers to contact addressees in advance to arrange a specific time for delivery before they go out to deliver. If the addressee’s mobile phone number is not available, the overall delivery performance will be severely affected. Therefore, all designated operators are requested to inform their staff and customers that, wherever possible, the mobile phone number of the addressee should be provided on the CN 22, CN 23 or CP 72 customs declaration forms for all letter post, parcel post and EMS items containing goods destined for Jordan. Ongoing (issue start date: 28/11/19)
Libya – All mail services to Libya are currently suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 16/07/14)
Malta – Mail and parcels with destination Malta are experiencing delays due to limited air capacity. Expected delay 3-5 days. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown)
Mexico – Mail and parcels with destination Mexico are expected to be delayed due to transport issues at the Mexican postal network and backlogs. Expected delay 1-2 weeks. Ongoing (issue start date: 20/05/23 – updated 03/11/23)
Niger – Mail and parcels with destination Niger cannot be delivered due to a suspension of services in Niger. Ongoing (issue start date: 31/08/23)
North Korea – Destination North Korea is closed due to transport issues. Ongoing (issue start date: 28/09/22)
Poland – Poland Post has advised that they are currently experiencing a significant increase in the volume of items received into their network due to the aid assistance they are providing to bordering Ukraine. Poland Post is continuing to process and deliver items as soon as possible however, due to the increased volumes, delays are to be expected. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown)
Saudi Arabia – The delivery of mail and parcels to Saudi Arabia is experiencing delays due to lack of processing capacity at Saudi Post. Expected delays: 1-2 weeks. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown)
Saudi Arabia – It has been advised that, with immediate effect, Saudi Arabian Customs has introduced some changes for all Non-Document shipments sent to Saudi Arabia. All B2C shipments that contain materials other than documents/printed matter will require the Consignee’s ID number. Where this is not provided, the parcel may be delayed in clearing customs until the ID number is obtained from the consignee. All B2B shipments of non-document materials will require a Commercial Registration Form from the consignee. This will be requested from the consignee when arriving in the country and upon receipt of the form, the parcel can be cleared through customs. Ongoing (issue start date: 15/04/16)
Serbia – Mail and parcels with destination Serbia are expected to be delayed due to staffing issues at our postal partner Public Enterprise Post of Serbia. Expected delays: 1-3 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 16/11/23)
Somalia – All mail services to Somalia are currently suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 11/11/19)
Spain – Ground staff at IAG-owned Iberia airlines have confirmed a 4-day strike, from the 5th January until midnight on the 8th of January. This will impact both inbound and outbound mail handling in Spanish airports. Ongoing (issue start date: 05/01/24)
Sudan – We have been informed that due to the domestic situation in the country, all mail services to this destination are suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 17/04/23)
Syria – We have been informed that due to the domestic situation in the country, all mail services to this destination remain suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 08/10/18)
Thailand – The continuing heavy rain in the southern part of Thailand has caused flash floods in various areas. A blockage in the road networks has caused delays in transporting and delivering postal items to addressees including difficulties for customers to access the postal services at the post offices located in the affected areas. Delivery offices impacted: TH90XXX, TH91XXX, TH94XXX, TH95XXX, TH96XXX. Resolved (issue start date: Dec-2023)
Thailand – Mail and parcels with destination Thailand are expected to be delayed due to the relocation of the Thailand Post sorting center. Expected delay – 2-3 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 25/01/24)
UAE – We have been informed that the UAE customs authorities are reducing the Duty threshold from AED 1000 to AED 300 effective January 1st 2023. Ongoing (issue start date: 01/01/23)
USA – We have been informed of an industry wide capacity issue affecting conveyance to USA (JFK) due to peak volumes and we are seeing a 1-2 day delay on transit. Ongoing (issue start date: 01/12/23)
USA – Mail and parcels to Chicago and surrounding areas in United States are expected to be delayed due to limited flight capacity. Expected delay 5-7 days. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown)
Yemen – All mail services to Yemen have now been suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 27/03/15)
Upcoming Public Holidays
January 29th – New Zealand (regional)
January 31st – India (regional)
February 1st – Malaysia (regional), Mauritius, Rwanda
February 2nd – Liechstenstein
February 3rd – Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe
February 4th – Angola, Sri Lanka
February 5th – Burundi, Ireland, Mexico, pakistan, San Marino
February 6th – New Zealand
February 7th – Grenada, Various (Israa & Miaraj Night)
February 8th – Slovenia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Various (Israa & Miaraj Night)
February 9th – Bolivia (Regional), Lebanon, Mongolia, South Korea, Vietnam, Various (Chinese New Year)
February 10th – Malta, Mongolia, Nepal, Vietnam, Various (Chinese New Year, Korean New Year, Losar)
February 11th – Bhutan, Cameroon, Iran, Japan, Liberia, Mongolia, South Korea, Vatican City, Vietnam, Various (Chinese New Year)
February 12th – Argentina, Australia (regional), Brazil, Germany, Gibraltar, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Myanmar, South Korea, USA (regional – Government holiday), Vietnam, Various (Carnival Monday, Chinese New Year)
February 13th – Argentina, Brazil, Qatar, USA (regional – Government holiday), Vietnam, (Carnival Tuesday, Chinese New Year)
February 14th – India (regional), Lebanon, Vietnam, Various (Ash Wednesday, Chinese New Year)
February 15th – Afghanistan, China, India (regional), Serbia
February 16th – China, Lithuania, North Korea, Serbia, Uganda
February 17th – Kosovo, Libya
February 18th – Gambia
February 19th – Canada (regional), India (regional), Kosovo, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone
February 20th – India (regional), Malaysia (regional)
February 21st – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe
February 22nd – Algeria, Bhutan, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia
February 23rd – Bhutan, Brunei, Guyana, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Sri Lanka
February 24th – Brunei, Estonia, India (regional), Philippines (regional), Thailand
February 25th – Bangladesh, Iran, Kuwait
February 26th – Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Thailand
February 27th – Dominican Republic
February 28th – Spain (regional), Taiwan
February 29th – Guadeloupe
March 1st – Bosnia & Herzegovina (regional), Moldova, Paraguay, Romania, South Korea, Spain (regional), Switzerland (regional)
March 2nd – Ethopia, Myanmar, Puerto Rico, USA (Government holiday)
