International Shipping FAQs

For businesses looking to open up new markets overseas or improve their international logistics, Parcelhub has outlined some of the essential information to help keep your cross-border shipments profitable. This page is designed to answer your most common questions.

Where can I find out more about any current surcharges?

Our cross-border team is in constant contact with our suppliers to keep up to date with trends and changes in the market. Details of all current surcharges can be found on this page: International Delivery Update.

Do you have any suspended or embargoed lanes?

The international landscape is forever changing. While we offer a robust and versatile blend of services, we occasionally encounter suspensions and embargoes (force majeure, conflict, etc.). This page provides further details: International Delivery Update.

Do you have a list of Prohibited items?

Depending on what your business is exporting, there could be barriers to shipping internationally to certain countries. There are obvious restrictions on selling items like ammunition and pharmaceuticals abroad, but some countries may have bans, limits, or restrictions on importing other products.

Most items banned from being sent internationally are dangerous and illegal goods, such as firearms, narcotics, medical waste, and more. Yet certain countries have bans on importing more common items you may think are safe to send. If you are looking to ship a new commodity or have encountered issues previously, please contact us, and we will explore the options available to you. Common Restricted Items List.

Do consumers receive notifications?

Consumer notifications are offered as standard for all part-tracked and fully tracked services. They can be customised to meet a customer’s branding and scheduled to despatch in-line with tracking events. In addition to standard notifications, a number of different uplifts and carrier-supplied communications are also available: 

• Bespoke emails: Customisable email templates allow you to use your own text and branding to message recipients during delivery. You can also customise the text to your recipient’s local language. With a range of tracking triggers available, you may choose from various communication points for emails to be sent. We work with you to tailor your emails and include your own branding, providing you with a great free-of-charge way to engage with recipients at the start of the delivery process.
• Carrier emails: On occasion, our carriers may contact recipients directly. Carrier emails are at the discretion of the final mile carrier. They may be sent for the following reasons: Address Queries, Re-route to a pick-up location, Duty and Tax payments, Additional identification information or recipient tax ID, or General customs queries.​​​​​​​
• Final mile emails: These are subject to the carrier and local end carrier used. Parcelhub can send notifications directly to your recipients, which link to the final mile carrier website. Communications are Parcelhub branded and are designed to guide recipients to the delivery carrier and provide a more local-look delivery experience.

By keeping recipients informed, first-time delivery success increases, and you receive fewer queries about items in transit.

Who do I contact if I need item-level support?

If you are a Parcelhub business customer, you will have a dedicated internal account executive available to support you; in addition, we also have a specialist WISMO team (Where Is My Order) primed to take action on any tracking queries and help manage shipments through to delivery.

Glossary of Typical International Shipping Terms 

IOSS - The E.U.'s Import One-Stop-Shop, or IOSS, allows eCommerce sellers to register with just one of the 27 E.U. tax authorities and to submit one monthly IOSS VAT return in a way that will enable the correct payment of VAT across the other E.U. tax authorities where customers are based.  It was created to facilitate and simplify the declaration and payment of VAT for sellers making distance sales of imported goods to buyers in the E.U., where the value of those goods does not exceed EUR 150.

If the seller is not registered in the IOSS, the buyer must pay the VAT and usually a customs clearance fee charged by the transporter when the goods are imported into Europe.

DDP - Delivered Duty Paid, otherwise called DDP, is an Incoterm that specifies the seller is responsible for delivering goods to a specified destination and bears all risks and costs of delivery.

DAP/DDU - DAP (Delivered at Place)/DDU (Delivery Duties Unpaid).

As another Incoterm, DAP means that the seller is responsible for delivering goods to a specific destination and covering all transport costs and risks. Also sometimes referred to as Delivery Duties Unpaid.

EORI - Whenever a U.K. company imports or exports goods to the E.U., it needs an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. The EORI number was introduced to improve the speed and security of customs clearance for imports from and exports to non-EU countries. This is usually G.B. followed by your nine-digit VAT number and 000. You can also apply for an EORI number online.

DE MINIMIS – This refers to a value threshold below which imported goods are exempt from customs duties and/or taxes. We strongly recommend familiarising yourself with these as your business expands into new territories.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - This represents the country of manufacture or production from which an article or product comes. Rules of origin can impact duty rates, especially in countries with trade agreements.

TRANSIT AIM – The expected time frame for a shipment to arrive at its destination for a delivery attempt. Many variables with international shipping cannot be accounted for in a “Transit Aim”. Through our various channels, we keep our customers informed of all notable international service alerts.

Useful Websites for B2B International Shipping

Customs Information and Regulations

U.K. Government - Import and Export: Provides comprehensive information on import and export regulations for the U.K.

Department for Business & Trade: Details helpful advice, practical support for exporting and international markets, and the opportunity to join the UK Export Academy for free training.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Information on importing and exporting goods to and from the USA.

European Commission - Trade: Details on trade regulations within the European Union.

Tariff and Duty Calculators

Duty Calculator: Helps calculate import duty and taxes for goods shipped worldwide.

Hurricane eCommerce: Providing the solutions to some of the biggest cross-border data challenges, including:

• H.S. Code Classification
• Duty & Tax Calculation
• Prohibited & Restricted Goods Screening
• Denied Parties Screening
• IOSS
• ICS2 Second Release

Trade Agreements and Economic Zones

World Trade Organization (WTO): Information on global trade agreements and policies.

European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Details on trade agreements between EFTA countries and other nations.

International Trade Databases

Trade Map: Provides trade statistics and market access information by country and product.

U.N. Comtrade: Database of international trade data collected by the United Nations.

Embrace the opportunities of cross-border eCommerce with our expert team and integrated solutions, allowing you to provide your customers with more delivery choices to support the growing need for international delivery speed, service and shipping costs.