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].
Australia – We have experienced delays due to the flooding as previously advised. Australia Post also advise that Parcel Post items sent to Western Australia from the east coast of Australia may take up to an additional two weeks to be delivered (based on the current estimates). Heavy rain and flooding closed the Sydney-to-Perth rail line. The Melbourne-to-Adelaide rail link was closed due to damage caused by a train derailment and reopened on 21st November; however, delays are expected due to a backlog of freight. Ongoing (issue start date: 25/10/22 – updated 09/12/22)
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 – The designated operator of Belgium, bpost, has communicated that the major Belgian unions have called a national 24-hour strike on Friday 10th March 2023. This industrial action will likely affect letter-post and parcel deliveries in Belgium, as well as bpost’s domestic and international logistics network. Delays are to be expected with regard to inbound and outbound letter post and parcels in Belgium around the stated date. Ongoing (issue start date: 10/03/22)
Canada – Restricted access to flights and capacity issues at the only available Canada Post entry point (airport) are causing significant disruption. These factors combined with peak volumes and COVID-19 prevention measures have resulted in backlogs locally at Canada Post and to some extent Canadian customs. Subsequently, many suppliers are reporting potentially heavy delays (currently estimated at 7-14 days). Ongoing (issue start date: unknown – updated: 14/12/22)
China – China Post has notified that they are now in the process of clearing the backlog of items currently held up due to quarantine measures at airports. However, Covid-19 restrictions remain in place and continue to directly impact the processing, transiting and delivery of items. As a result, the postal authority are unable to guarantee compliance with the agreed delivery standards and delays should be expected for items destined for China. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown – updated: 05/08/22)
Cyprus – The delivery of mail and parcels with destination Cyprus is experiencing delays due to major flooding. IT systems are also damaged, resulting in missing tracking information like delivery confirmations. Expected delay: 1-3 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 14/04/23)
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 – The designated operator of Finland, Posti Ltd, has informed us that the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) have announced a strike in the transportation sector from 15th February 2023. In addition, the Postal and Logistics Union (PAU) has announced that it will support the AKT strike with industrial action concerning the loading and unloading of trucks and trailers from 16th to 21st February 2023. It is anticipated at this stage that the following estimated delays should be expected – 5 working days for tracked parcels and 5-14 working days for all mail and letter post items. Ongoing (issue start date: 15/02/23)
Finland – Intermittment strike action is impacting to, varying degrees, the delivery of mail and parcels to France. Ongoing (issue start date: 01/03/23)
France – Due to the ongoing strike action in France, the French post office La Poste has informed that delivery delays may be experienced. The next national strike is currently scheduled for 6th April. Ongoing (issue start date: March 2023)
Germany – Mail and parcels to Germany may be delayed due to a national strike on Monday the 24th of March. Ongoing (issue start date: 24/03/23)
Germany – The designated operator of Germany, Deutsche Post, wishes to inform that, owing to increasing COVID-19 infections among its staff and severe shortages on the labour market, it is currently encountering challenges in delivering letter-post items in line with its high quality standards. These challenges are mainly seen on a local or regional rather than nationwide level but may affect different parts of Germany. Ongoing (issue start date: 27/01/22 – updated 01/11/22)
Greece – The designated operator of Greece, Hellenic Post, wishes to inform that the Association of the Civil Servants announced a 24-hour strike on Wednesday March the 8th. This action affected both international and domestic mail collection and delivery. Ongoing (issue start date: 08/03/23)
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)
Israel – Mail and parcels with destination Israel are experiencing delays due to capacity issues at the postal operator. Ongoing (issue start date: 29/09/21 – updated 14/12/22)
Italy – Mail and parcels to Italy might be delayed due to a planned strike announced by two trade unions on Friday the 7th of April. Ongoing (issue start date: 07/04/23)
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)
Mexico – Mail and parcels to Mexico are expected to be delayed due to limited flight capacity. Expected delay – 7 days. Ongoing (issue start date: March 2023)
New Zealand – Mail and parcels to the Auckland region in New Zealand will experience a delay due to severe weather conditions. Expected delay: 3-5 days. Ongoing (issue start date: unknown – updated 31/01/23)
North Korea – Destination North Korea is closed due to transport issues. Ongoing (issue start date: 28/09/22)
Norway – DA national strike is currently scheduled for 19th April. This is expected to cause delays of approx. 1-3 working days. Ongoing (issue start date: 19/04/23)
Peru – The designated operator of Peru, Servicios Postales del Perú (Serpost), wishes to inform that, owing to the civil unrest and protests taking place in Peru, there may be disruption to postal services (both inbound and outbound). The unrest has disrupted transportation and access to certain areas of the country, making it difficult to ensure the timely delivery of mail. Ongoing (issue start date: 10/12/22 – updated 03/02/23)
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)
Somalia – All mail services to Somalia are currently suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 11/11/19)
South Korea– Mail and parcels to destination South Korea are experiencing delays due to transport issues – expected delays upto to 14 days. Ongoing (issue start date: 04/10/22)
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)
Tanzania – All mail/cargo going to DAR is embargoed until further notice. Ongoing (issue start date: 30/04/18)
Turkey – The Turkish Post Office (Turkish PTT Corporation) has stated that as a result of the two earthquakes that hit the southern and south-eastern regions of the country on 6th February 2023, the Turkish government has declared a state of emergency with effect from 8th February 2023. These devastating earthquakes have caused buildings to collapse and significant disruption to transport and travel in the affected areas. The most severely affected cities are Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa, as well as the surrounding districts and villages. This has had, and will have, a major impact on operations and, consequently, on the quality of service for all types of inbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) and significant delays are likely in the affected areas. Ongoing (issue start date: 06/02/23)
Ukraine – Delivery of mail to Ukraine is suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 18/03/14 – updated 01/03/22)
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 – Mail and parcels to destination United states might be delayed due to tornadoes, heavy rainfall and floods. The affected states are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi and Tennessee. Ongoing (issue start date: 01/04/23)
Yemen – All mail services to Yemen have now been suspended. Ongoing (issue start date: 27/03/15)
Upcoming Public Holidays
May 8th – Bulgaria, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, UK, USA (regional – Government holiday), Various (Victory Day, VE Day)
May 9th – India (regional), Uzbekistan, Various (Europe Day, Liberation Day, Victory Day)
May 10th – India (regional), USA (regional – Government holiday), Various (Latin America Mother’s Day)
May 12th – Georgia
May 13th – Spain (regional)
May 14th – Cambodia, liberia, Paraguay, Various (Mother’s Day)
May 15th – Cayman Islands, Fiji, Malawi, Paraguay, Samoa, Spain (regional), Tuvalu
May 16th – India (regional), Iran, South Sudan
May 17th – DR Congo, Malaysia (regional), Norway, Spain (regional), Thailand (Government holiday)
May 18th – Haiti, Turkmenistan, Uruguay (Government holiday), Various (Ascension Day)
May 19th – India (regional), Turkey, Various (Ascension Day)
May 20th – Cameroon, East Timor
May 21st – Chile, Montenegro
May 22nd – Canada (regional), Colombia, India (regional), Malaysia (regional), Martinique, Yemen
May 23rd – India (regional), Jamaica
May 24th – Ecuador, Eritrea, Montenegro, Various (Orthodox St. Cyril & Methodius Day)
May 25th – Argentina, Bolivia (regional), Jordan, Lebanon, Various (African Unity Day)
May 26th – Argentina, Bermuda, Georgia, Guyana, Hong Kong, Israel, Macau
May 27th – Guadeloupe, South Korea
May 28th – Armenia, Ethiopia, Saint Martin, Various (Mother’s Day, Pentecost Sunday)
May 29th – Australia (regional), Azerbaijan, Fiji, Portugal (regional), South Korea, Turks & Caicos, Various (Spring Bank Holiday, Memorial Day, Whit Monday)
May 30th – Anguilla, Croatia, Malaysia (regional), Nicaragua, Spain (regional), Trinidad & Tobago
May 31st – Brunei, Jordan (Government holiday), Malaysia (regional), Spain (regional)
June 1st – Cape Verde, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Samoa, Various (International Children’s Day)
