Important Changes to U.S. Customs Requirements

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is implementing significant changes to how international postal parcels enter the United States. From 24 July 2026, all commercial shipments to the U.S. will be subject to new data and duty requirements. 

Here is what you need to know.

What Is Changing?

10-Digit HTSUS Code Now Required
All merchandise must be declared with a precise 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) code. General or vague item descriptions will no longer be accepted by U.S. Customs.

Complete Customs Data Mandatory
All shipments must include detailed item descriptions, accurate declared values, and complete recipient information.

New Duty Calculation Method
The flat 10% global tariff rate has been removed. Duties will now be assessed based on standard commercial tariff rates, including:

• Section 301 
• Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates
• Applicable Free Trade Agreement rates

Who Is Affected?
These requirements apply to all commercial merchandise and parcels valued at USD 2,500 or below. Document-only letters and flats are not affected.

What to Expect

As the U.S. transitions to a commercial customs processing model, some delays at U.S. hubs are anticipated during the initial period. Senders are encouraged to notify their U.S. recipients of the possibility of longer delivery times while the new system is implemented.

All shipments arriving in the U.S. on or after 24 July 2026 will be subject to the new duty calculation method, with no exceptions.

Further updates to U.S. customs automation are scheduled for September and October 2026. This page will be updated as details are confirmed.

Need Help?

For assistance with HTSUS code classification or customs data preparation, please contact your SingPost Account Manager or write to us at salesadmin@singpost.com.

Last updated: 17 July 2026

SingPost Outlines Dual-Track Shipping Solutions to Help Retail and Corporate Shippers Navigate New EU Customs Rules

From 1 July 2026, the European Union (EU) will eliminate its long-standing €150 customs duty exemption for low-value commercial shipments. All commercial goods sent to the EU's 27 member states and their territories will be subject to customs duty and VAT, regardless of value.

The EU is introducing a flat €3 customs duty per unique product category — determined by each item's Harmonised System (HS) code heading — for low-value commercial shipments under €150, in addition to country-specific VAT and applicable local administrative fees.

Accurate customs declarations are essential. Missing or incomplete information risks border delays, rejections, or forced returns.

What This Means for You

Sending a Personal Gift?

Gifts sent between individuals with a total value below €45 remain exempt from customs duty and VAT. You can continue to send personal gifts via Ezy2Ship or at any post office islandwide. Items must be accurately declared as gifts, and a valid HS code is required for customs clearance even where no duty applies.

Sending Commercial Goods as a Non-IOSS Registered Sender?

Standard postal services — Speedpost Saver International and Speedpost Priority International — remain available at post office counters islandwide and via Ezy2Ship. Shipments clear customs on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis, meaning the recipient in the EU is responsible for settling all customs duties, VAT, and local administrative fees upon delivery.

You will need to provide the following for each item:

• HS code
• Accurate item description
• Declared value

Postal charges are based on actual weight, applied to the nearest predefined weight tier. Rates to the EU start from S$11.90 for 250g up to S$354 for 20kg, depending on chosen transit speed.

Non-IOSS registered senders shipping commercially on a regular basis are also encouraged to open a SingPost Corporate Account to access Speedpost Direct International (EU).

For IOSS-Registered Businesses

IOSS-registered businesses must use a commercial Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) solution.

SingPost's Speedpost Direct International (EU) is designed for this purpose. Under this service, SingPost settles duties, destination VAT, and administrative fees on behalf of the sender, with charges billed to the corporate account afterwards. This ensures smooth customs clearance and eliminates unexpected fees at the recipient's doorstep.

Key features include:

• End-to-End Certainty — Automated DDP mechanism for smooth, predictable entry into all 27 EU member states and their territories
• Data Validation — System-to-system verification to reduce the risk of customs delays or returns
• Dedicated Onboarding — Full support from a SingPost account manager on technical data compliance

Pricing starts from S$16 for the first 100g, based on volumetric weight — the industry-standard measure of a parcel's size relative to its mass, reflecting the space a shipment occupies in transit.

To calculate volumetric weight: Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6,000

For full rates and onboarding support, contact your dedicated SingPost account manager or email salesadmin@singpost.com.

At a Glance — Solutions Available from 1 July 2026

Note: There is no change to prevailing EU duties and taxes for commercial goods valued above €150.

How Fees Are Calculated

Duty is charged per unique product type — not per order. A single parcel containing a cotton apparel item and a pair of casual footwear, for instance, incurs €6 in duty (€3 × 2 product types), not €3.

Looking Ahead — Further Changes from 1 November 2026

An EU-wide handling fee of approximately €2 per consignment is expected from 1 November 2026, alongside new mandatory product-level information requirements. Further guidance will be shared closer to the effective date.

Restricted and Prohibited Goods

These changes affect duties and taxes only. The EU's separate rules on restricted and prohibited goods remain unchanged. Please refer to SingPost's General Prohibitions and Dangerous Goods Guide for more information.

Need Help?

Businesses shipping regularly into the EU should speak to their SingPost account manager for support with shipping options and customs preparation. You may also reach us at salesadmin@singpost.com or locate your nearest service point at www.singpost.com.

Towner Post Office and Teban Post Office will cease operations from 15 July 2026. 

POPStop Potong Pasir will cease operations from 17 July 2026. 
Most post office services remain accessible via the 24/7 Self-Service Lobby at the same premises.
 

Whampoa Post Office and Harbourfront Post Office will cease operations from 25 July 2026. Most post office services at Whampoa Post Office remain accessible via the 24/7 Self-Service Lobby at the same premises. 

Tiong Bahru Post Office will cease operations from 31 July 2026.

Geylang East Post Office will cease operations from 19 August 2026. Most post office services at Geylang East Post Office remain accessible via the 24/7 Self-Service Lobby located beside the letterbox adjacent to the current location.
 

To find your nearest service point, visit our website or the SingPost Mobile app.

Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) advises that the south-west monsoon is causing severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and flooding, in several parts of the country. The following areas are currently affected:

• National Capital Region
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Occidental Mindoro
• Pangasinan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Oriental Mindoro
• Bulacan

These adverse weather conditions may affect postal operations, including the collection, processing, transportation and delivery of inbound and outbound mail items to and from the affected areas. Consequently, delays beyond the normal delivery standards may be experienced.

PHLPost is monitoring the situation closely and will resume normal operations in affected areas as soon as weather and local conditions permit and it is safe to do so.

Sociedad Estatal Correos y Telégrafos S.A., S.M.E. (Correos) notifies that its postal operations and delivery services in the affected areas have now been fully restored. All previous disruptions have been resolved, and the acceptance, processing, transportation and delivery of postal items have resumed under normal operating conditions.

Poste Italiane informs that following an earthquake that struck Campi Flegrei-Pozzuoli on 31 July 2026, regular collection and delivery services may be subject to delays in postcode areas 80070 and 80078.

Poste Italiane has taken all necessary measures to minimize disruption and safeguard service operations. Every effort is being made to ensure the continuity of collection and delivery services, while maintaining the safety of staff and citizens in the affected area.

China Post advises that postal services have resumed as normal following the passage of Typhoon Bavi.

Hongkong Post informs that postal operations have returned to normal as of 29 July 2026, following the disruption caused by Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8, which was in force from 25 to 26 July 2026.

Japan Post notifies that the strong earthquake which occurred in Japan on 28 July 2026 has severely impacted Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, causing major disruption to rail and road transportation in the affected areas and neighbouring regions.

The postcode areas affected are as follows:

860xxxx – 869xxxx (Kumamoto prefecture);
880xxxx – 889xxxx (Miyazaki prefecture); and
890xxxx – 899xxxx (Kagoshima prefecture).

The transportation and delivery of all inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) to and from these areas are subject to delays.

La Poste advises that a number of its sorting centres and post offices are affected by the wildfires that have been raging since 22 July in the Gironde (33) and Landes (40) departments, resulting in the closure of certain postal facilities.

The fires are continuing to spread towards the city of Bordeaux.

These incidents are causing significant disruption to all postal operations, including the collection, transport, processing and delivery of letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items. Some localities remain inaccessible until further notice.

The postcode areas currently affected are: 33950, 33970, 33138, 33510, 33740, 33148, 33380, 33680, 33121, 40460, 40600, 40160, 33127, 33160, 33185, 33700, 33320, 33520, 33700, 33127 and 33610.

Business continuity and assistance measures have been put in place. However, letter, parcel and EMS operations remain impacted in the following departments: 16 (Charente), 17 (Charente-Maritime), 19 (Corrèze), 23 (Creuse), 24 (Dordogne), 33 (Gironde), 40 (Landes), 47 (Lot-et-Garonne), 64 (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and 87 (Haute-Vienne).

Sociedad Estatal Correos y Telégrafos S.A., S.M.E. (Correos) informs of a wildfire outbreak affecting certain regions of Spain.

Owing to the wildfires, postal operations are currently disrupted in the following postcode areas:

Because of the fires and the resulting road closures and operational constraints, there may be delays and disruptions in the collection and delivery of postal items. Shipments addressed to the affected locations are being held and will be delivered once operations have been restored and services can safely resume.

Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) advises that the State of Israel has extended the state of emergency until 11 August 2026.

Israel Post operations continue to function normally, with certain restrictions; therefore, service delays may occur.

Israel Post will do its utmost to minimize any potential inconvenience.

Hongkong Post notifies that the Hong Kong Observatory announced the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 from 20.10 (UTC+8) on 25 July 2026 until 12.40 (UTC+8) on 26 July 2026.

The processing and conveyance of all international inbound and outbound mail, as well as domestic mail, in Hong Kong were disrupted during this period. Quality of service for all products, including letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items, will be affected.

Operational impacts are expected to continue for at least one day following the resumption of services, as Hongkong Post works to clear the backlog accumulated during the disruption.

Hongkong Post will continue to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as additional information becomes available.

LibanPost informs that it has resumed full operations across all Lebanese territories, with the exception of the southern region, which continues to be affected by ongoing military operations.

SingPost has resumed postal services to Qatar.

Services to the following countries remain suspended:

• Bahrain
• Iran
• Iraq
• Kuwait

Empresa de Correos de Chile informs that its operations in the Coquimbo and Atacama regions are currently being affected by a weather system which is causing heavy rainfall.

The transportation and delivery of inbound and outbound mail to and from the Coquimbo region will be delayed by at least 24 hours. In addition, the following areas will not have home delivery services until further notice:

Branches: Illapel; Los Vilos; La Serena – Plaza de Armas; Mall Plaza La Serena; La Pampa; La Serena – El Milagro; Ovalle; Vicuña.

Distribution centres: Coquimbo; La Serena; Ovalle; Salamanca Post Office.

Plants: La Serena.

The operating hours of some branches and agencies may also be reduced where necessary, resulting in delays in the transportation, collection and delivery of letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items.

Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) notifies that the State of Israel has extended the state of emergency until 28 July 2026.

Israel Post operations continue to function normally, with certain restrictions; therefore, service delays may occur.

Israel Post will do its utmost to minimize any potential inconvenience.

China Post informs that Typhoon Bavi is severely affecting southeastern coastal China with winds up to force 16.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds across southeastern, northern, and northeastern China are causing road flooding and traffic disruptions, resulting in domestic and international mail service delays for letter-post, parcel-post, and EMS.
 

Sociedad Estatal Correos y Telégrafos S.A., S.M.E. (Correos) advises that implementation of the new customs messaging system has been completed successfully and operations have returned to normal.

Furthermore, the delays arising from the deployment of the new system in the customs processing of items destined for the Canary Islands (postal codes 35XXX and 38XXX), as well as Ceuta, Melilla and other areas have been resolved and customs processing is once again operating as normal.

The Agencia Boliviana de Correos notifies that all postal and logistical operations have been fully restored and are now operating as normal, following the social unrest that started in May 2026.

Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos (Correios) informs that postal services have resumed as normal in Juiz de Fora, Ubá and Matias Barbosa following the severe storms in February 2026.

As mail volumes evolve, SingPost continues to optimise our network to ensure reliable, consistent delivery within our service commitments. 

The updated collection times are as follows:

Mail posted after the cut-off time will be collected and processed the following working day.

Our service quality commitments remain unchanged:

• 98% of local mail delivered within one working day, if posted by the cut-off time
• 100% of local mail delivered within two working days, if posted by the cut-off time

Postal services to Bahrain and Kuwait are suspended following extensive flight cancellations to these two countries.

In addition, services to the following countries remain suspended:

• Iran
• Iraq
• Qatar

Poste Italiane advises that an Italian union has called a strike commencing 7 July 2026. As a result, postal services may experience delays and disruption.

Poste Italiane is taking steps to minimize any inconvenience. However, depending on the response to the call to strike, the impact may continue over the following days.

SingPost has resumed postal services to Kuwait.

Services to the following countries remain suspended:

• Iran
• Iraq
• Qatar

LibanPost advises that the state of war persists following a significant deterioration in the security situation. Air strikes affecting Lebanon continue to cause extensive damage and civilian casualties.

As a result, many airlines have not yet resumed their services to Lebanon. Furthermore, road closures (especially in the south of Lebanon) and security restrictions continue to have an impact on the opening hours of certain post offices and the ability to reach sensitive and closed areas. These factors will negatively affect LibanPost’s performance and service-level, although the scope of the impact remains to be determined.

LibanPost wishes to emphasize that it is doing its utmost to maintain its service levels despite the difficult situation.
 

Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) informs that the State of Israel has extended the state of emergency until 14 July 2026.

Israel Post operations continue to function normally, with certain restrictions; therefore, service delays may occur.

Israel Post will do its utmost to minimize any potential inconvenience.

Your Speedpost services have a new home.

From 1 July 2026, the Speedpost website will close. Everything you need is now available directly on SingPost.com.

Here's where to find what you need:

• Track a shipment — Use the tracking widget on the SingPost.com homepage or mobile app. It supports all domestic and international Speedpost tracking numbers.
• Explore shipping options — Find delivery speeds, service information, and commercial rates under the Speedpost section in the main menu.
• Calculate postage — Use the postage calculator on SingPost.com to estimate rates and transit times.
• Find a drop-off point — Locate your nearest post office, POPDrop Kiosk, or POPStop Agent via the service locator.

We recommend bookmarking singpost.com now so the transition is seamless for you.

Thank you for your continued support.

Poste Italiane advises that the maintenance work at Cagliari Elmas Airport (Sardinia) has been completed and all services have resumed as normal.
 

Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) notifies that the State of Israel has extended the state of emergency until 30 June 2026.

Israel Post operations continue to function normally, with certain restrictions; therefore, service delays may occur.

Israel Post will do its utmost to minimize any potential inconvenience.