Please note when making shipments that hand sanitizers are classified as dangerous goods and cannot be sent abroad through shipping companies. Shipit's partner for dangerous goods transportation is Cargo Safe.
Package deliveries domestically and globally are still operating normally for the most part, though exceptions may occur in delivery practices and particularly home deliveries will increase for shipping companies.
Changes in delivery exceptions may occur without notice and shipping companies may not always be able to prepare for or notify about these in advance. Shipit aims to update current guidelines on this specific page.
Companies and individuals should prepare for changing practices in shipping methods due to coronavirus. Below we go through the impacts and also provide current updates on how coronavirus affects package deliveries.
Please note that shipping companies may cease package delivery or acceptance by citing Force Majeure when the situation or international restrictions so require.
Business and Home Deliveries
Home deliveries will increase both domestically and globally. This may lead to partial delays in international package deliveries.
For shipments where the recipient is a business, it must be confirmed that they can receive the shipment on location. If the business cannot arrange a representative to receive the shipment, we recommend sending the shipment to a private address so it can be delivered. Similar changes are expected in all countries. Please note that most shipping services do not support service changes once the shipment has been sent, though paid service changes can still be made for courier deliveries.
For door deliveries, it's good to note that services intended for businesses may not serve private individuals in the same way and it's recommended to choose a shipping service suitable for private individuals.
For home deliveries, no signature is required from the recipient due to the exceptional situation. Instead, the driver writes the customer's name on the signing list and the package can be left at the door.
Pickup Point Deliveries
Changes can be expected in pickup point deliveries including closure of certain points and redirecting packages to parcel lockers for example. Note especially the limited capacity of parcel lockers, so we recommend customers pick up their shipments promptly to ensure smooth package traffic.
At pickup points, cashiers will not handle customers' mobile phones - ID and mobile phone remain in the customer's own hand and delivery signatures are not required from recipients in all cases.
As the state of emergency begins in European countries, certain pickup points will close completely both domestically and in Europe. Individual UPS Access Points may also be closed in Finland.
Please note that pickup points may be removed from service without prior notice. For online retailers, this may also appear as errors when trying to create a shipment - in this case it's good to verify that the pickup point is not on the closed list. Posti has closed some of its pickup points due to the exceptional situation: more detailed list of closed pickup points >
Country-specific Guidelines and Freight Traffic 13.5.
Freight traffic is still operating normally for the most part. Current exceptions include imports from Wuhan and deliveries to Kuwait. However, transport capacities may suffer due to reduced flights etc.
Air freight transport capacities are strained, capacity problems occur globally.
Package services operate normally to Europe for the most part. For intercontinental transport we recommend using courier company services - courier companies largely use their own cargo planes but delays may occur in rural areas due to reduced passenger flight routes. As volumes shift to courier shipments in international transport, minor delays may also occur in these deliveries. Transport to many Asian countries suspended.
For package services to the United States we recommend FedEx and UPS services.
Finnair suspends cargo traffic to the United States due to suspension of passenger traffic.
No deliveries to India at all currently.
Posti 24.9.
Posti deliveries outside EU mainly suspended.
Posti domestic pickup points also have small exceptions, read current pickup point updates for Posti
Posti extended storage time at pickup points from 7 days -> 21 days for packages sent after March 23. Please note that because of this Parcel lockers are temporarily partially full and shipments are being redirected to different pickup points.
Countries where delays should be expected when sending via Posti
All countries.
Countries where Posti deliveries are not currently made at all
All non-EU countries except: Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Vietnam and United States.
EU countries: Malta
Posti returns shipments it cannot deliver, notifications can be made to Shipit about these shipments and we will file a claim with Posti.
Postnord 8.5.
Postnord is restarting MyPack Collect deliveries to Europe. Exception is Spain where only Postnord Home service can be used.
UPS delivery exceptions EDIT 3.7.
UPS operates normally for the most part, although exceptions may occur e.g. in delivery times.
In all areas, the rule applies that signatures are not mandatory for deliveries - instead the driver signs off the delivery as completed. Business deliveries operate normally, but it's good to verify that the business can receive packages before sending.
If UPS cannot deliver a shipment and the area is not under quarantine, delivery will be attempted again. If the shipment cannot be delivered - UPS normally stores it at the terminal for 5 days. There may be regional variations in the information.
Pickup point deliveries:
UPS has exceptions in pickup point deliveries in Europe. However, shipments may still be directed to a UPS Access Point or terminal for pickup if they cannot be delivered or the shipment is en route to an area where deliveries are not made. Individual Access Points may also be closed in Finland. EDIT 14.5.: We added UPS Access Point deliveries back to routes EDIT 18.6.2020 about 95% of points are currently operational.
Exceptions in deliveries to businesses and private individuals:
Check here for exceptions in UPS Asian traffic
Exceptions in deliveries to Africa
NOTE: we assume the following restrictions apply to all shipping companies as the information has been provided to UPS by government authorities.
Many non-EU countries are implementing restrictions, so service exceptions may occur without notice.
GLS exceptions 31.8.
GLS deliveries are operating relatively normally to Europe at the moment.
We added FlexDelivery additional service to every GLS package. With this service, the recipient receives additional information and different delivery options via email.
Customer receives information about incoming shipment and its delivery
Numerous free delivery options are available
Receiving packages is easy
Using the service requires no registration from the recipient
If GLS has no access to the area where the shipment is headed, the shipment will be returned directly to the sender.
NOTE!: Always check the recipient's opening hours before B2B shipment. The shipment may be returned immediately if the business is closed.
FedEx 18.6.
Delays may occur in all deliveries.
No deliveries to the following postal codes or cities:
Turkey: 99000 - 99999
More exceptions See more impacts on different areas in FedEx deliveries here >
Bring, GLS, FedEx, Postnord and UPS shipments to private individuals abroad are operating normally for the most part, delays may occur in all deliveries. No exceptions have yet been observed in domestic freight and package traffic.
Useful links:
FedEx situation updates regarding coronavirus
Matkahuolto situation report for package services
Posti situation updates by country
Effects of coronavirus on Postnord services
UPS situation report for international courier deliveries
With Shipit you can send packages right away from Create Shipment, for businesses we recommend registering to access business-oriented services.
Read more about our services for individuals, businesses and online retailers