International express delivery refers to the door-to-door express delivery and logistics business between two or more countries (or regions). The delivery business of letters, business documents and articles between countries (or regions) is a mode of delivery in which express mail is inspected and released through border ports and customs between countries. After the international express arrives at the destination country (or region), it needs to be re-transferred in the destination country (or region) before the express mail can be delivered to the final destination.
The well-known commercial international express companies are DHL, FedEx, UPS, and TNT, which are called the “four major international express companies”. The four major international express companies have their own characteristics and advantages. They are very popular because of their extremely fast delivery time, wide distribution range, good door-to-door service, strong customs clearance ability and excellent customer service. In addition to the four major international express companies, there are many common international express companies, all of which have their own characteristics and advantages.
DHL
DHL is a global international express company that provides professional transportation and logistics services. It is one of the world’s largest delivery networks, with more than 34 sales offices and 44 mail processing centers on five continents. Its transportation network covers more than 220 countries and regions around the world.
DHL’s full name in Chinese is DHL Air Freight, which is a subsidiary of the world-renowned German Post Group Deutsche Post DHL Group.
DHL in China is a joint venture between DHL and Sinotrans, called Sinotrans DHL. In Hong Kong, DHL registered and established DHL International as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The official websites of DHL in mainland China and DHL in Hong Kong are as follows:
?Official website of DHL in mainland China: http://www.cn.dhl.com
?Official website of DHL in Hong Kong: http://www.dhl.com.hk
1. Advantages
(1) Wide coverage, covering 220 countries and regions.
(2) Extremely fast delivery, with global delivery within 2 to 7 working days.
(3) Affordable prices, easy to get 30% to 60% off the official published rates.
(4) Strong customs clearance capabilities, especially in the United States and Western Europe.
(5) Easy to query, you can query the detailed package delivery information online.
(6) Fast Internet access, you can query online in as fast as 1 hour, and it can be sent to the destination the next day.
2. Shipping requirements
1) Size restrictions
A single package’s length, width, and height must be less than 1.2m. If it exceeds 1.2m, an extra-long fee of 260 yuan/ticket will be charged.
2) Weight restrictions
The billable weight of a single package must not exceed 70kg. If it exceeds 70kg, an extra-heavy fee of 260 yuan/ticket will be charged.
3) Item types
Mainland DHL:
? Mainly general goods.
? When shipping batteries and items containing batteries, you must provide MSDS certification and battery letter (the original copy must be provided), otherwise it cannot be shipped.
?A formal purchase invoice or authorization letter is required for branded products, otherwise they cannot be sent.
Hong Kong DHL:
?Mainly general goods.
?Products with built-in batteries can be sent, and a pro forma invoice, commercial invoice and product list are required.
4) Prohibited items
?Items that are expressly prohibited from circulation, delivery or entry and exit by national laws and administrative regulations, such as state secret documents and materials, national currency and counterfeit currency and securities, imitation weapons, controlled knives, precious cultural relics, endangered wild animals and their
?Infringing goods that are prohibited from being sold on various e-commerce platforms.
?Items that are prohibited from being imported by the destination countries (regions)
?Air transport embargoes, such as liquids, powders and items containing liquids or powders, etc.
?Products such as electric motors and engines.
5) Common security inspection returned items
?Food and animal and plant products: tea, instant noodles, bamboo products, etc.
?All cosmetics, pencils, fountain pens, items with sachets, etc.
?Medicines and medical supplies: all medicines.
?Controlled knives, suspected knives, etc.
?Products with liquids: thermometers, etc.
?Inflammable and explosive items: matches, diesel, alcohol, outdoor survival fire tools, etc.
?Magnetic items: magnets and other magnetic materials, audio equipment, motors, compasses, coils, etc. ?Others: bills of lading, counterfeit coins, currency, mobile phones, computers, powdered items, tobacco, audio and video products (CDs), etc.
3. Rates
DHL in the Mainland charges based on the initial weight of 500g and the additional weight of 500g. The rate for a single package weighing less than 21kg (unit: yuan).
Notes:
?The above quotation is for reference only. Large customers can usually get a 30% to 60% discount. The actual price is subject to the official website of DHL in the mainland or the contract agreement. The website for DHL official website to check the rates is http://dct.dhl.com.
?For express shipments sent to areas not served by DHL, a remote area service fee will be charged, with a charge of 2.5 yuan per kilogram and a minimum charge of 125 yuan per ticket. The website for DHL to check remote areas is: http://remoteareas.dhl.com/jsp/first.jsp.
?Fuel surcharge: changes once a month, subject to the official value announced by DHL.
?Address change fee: the charge is 100 yuan per ticket.
?Tariffs of various countries: subject to the specific customs clearance fees of each country. Generally, the higher the declared value, the higher the tariff. If the declared value is much lower than the actual value, a relatively high fine may be incurred. If the recipient refuses to pay the tariff, the tariff will be automatically borne by the sender.
The billing method of Hong Kong DHL is the same as that of mainland DHL: the billing is based on the initial weight of 500 grams and the additional weight of 500 grams. The rate table of a freight forwarder for a single package weighing less than 2lkg (unit: yuan).
Notes:
?The parcels of Hong Kong DHL need to be transferred to Hong Kong by the logistics service provider (freight forwarder) after centralized export before being shipped and posted online.
?The mainland DHL cannot send parcels of Hong Kong DHL, and vice versa.
4. Delivery time
The average delivery time of DHL in 220 countries and regions around the world is 2 to 7 working days, excluding special circumstances such as holidays and flight delays due to snowstorms. Due to the transit process, there is a certain time difference for Hong Kong DHL.
5. Express tracking
DIHL express information details query platform:
? Mainland DHL: http://www.cn.dhl.com
? Hong Kong DHL: http://www.dh.com.hk
? 17TRACK: http://www.17track.net
? AnerShip: https://www.afcrship.com
Signature information:
Supports tracking, and provides the status information to be delivered and the signature certificate information of the customer.
6. Compensation standard
Compensation standard:
For damaged, lost or delayed goods, the maximum compensation is US$20 per kilogram, combined with the declared amount, the lower of the two, and the maximum compensation amount does not exceed US$100. In addition, if insured, it shall be implemented according to the insurance agreement.
Return Instructions:
(1) For returns not caused by DHL’s fault, such as the recipient’s refusal to accept the shipment or the sender’s active request for a return, the sender shall bear all costs including return freight and taxes.
(2) If the shipment is returned due to DHL’s inability to deliver, the return is free of charge.
(3) Some countries or regions do not allow the shipment to be abandoned and can only be returned by force.
(4) For countries or regions that support the abandonment of shipments, local destruction will also incur costs, and the rates vary.
7. Collection Method
For collection methods and their differences, please consult the official platform.