CARRIER SERVICE UPDATES
Check back regularly for the latest carrier service updates and alerts to help you make smarter shipping decisions.
Last Updated: 3/2023
GlobalPost is 100% committed to helping our customers navigate changes to international shipping during this challenging and difficult time. We continue to carefully monitor the COVID-19 situation and are taking all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of our employees.
Below are service alerts from international carriers. All updates are accurate as of the date provided.
Delayed Services
GLOBALPOST SERVICE UPDATES
Greece| Updated 3/20/2023
Greece – Strike
Hellenic Post, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the General Confederation of Greek Workers and the Association of Civil Servants have announced a 24-hour strike on Thursday, 16 March 2023.
Air traffic controllers have announced their participation in the strike.
These actions will affect the collection and delivery of both international and domestic mail.
Greece – Heavy snowfalls and snowstorms affecting operations
Hellenic Post, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the entire territory of Greece has been affected by heavy snowfalls and snowstorms since 5 February 2023.
The main sorting centre (Attica sorting centre in Kryoneri), where inbound and outbound international mail is collected and processed, is currently blocked by the snow, which is directly affecting all Hellenic Post operations.
Hellenic Post thanks other Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding and cooperation, and will inform them via EmIS once its operations are back to normal.
Malawi| Partial service disruption - Updated 3/20/2023
Malawi – Force majeure situation following Cyclone Freddy
Malawi Post, wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that Cyclone Freddy, which hit the Southern Region of Malawi, caused very strong winds, floods, landslides and mudslides. Hundreds of people have died, thousands are displaced, and many people are missing.
There is significant damage to infrastructure, including offices and houses, and some roads are also impassable. Post offices and postal staff have also been affected: for example, Muloza post office was completely submerged, and the roofs of offices at Blantyre and Chichiri were damaged, leading to damage to office equipment and furniture.
Currently, it is not possible to establish contacts with around eight post offices.
Most offices in the affected area have been closed to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
Given this situation, Malawi Post has declared a force majeure situation.
Italy| Partial service disruption - Updated 3/20/2023
Italy – Strike
Poste Italiane, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that some Italian unions have announced a 24-hour strike, commencing at 00.01 CET on 17 March 2023, involving ground handlers and other airport services personnel, concerning all Italian airports.
Disruption is to be expected with regard to the handling of inbound and outbound airmail at Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports, although mitigation measures will be taken at the airmail units.
Information on all the scheduled strikes is available (in Italian) at scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi.
Belgium| Customers should expect delays - Updated 3/13/2023
Belgium – Strike
bpost, wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the major Belgian unions have called a national 24-hour strike on Friday, 10 March 2023.
This industrial action is likely to 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 on and around the stated date.
Indonesia| Updated 3/13/2023
Indonesia – IT issues resolved
Pos Indonesia, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the IT issues that were affecting the EMS tracking system have now been resolved.
Indonesia – IT issues
The designated operator of Indonesia, Post Indonesia, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that it has been experiencing IT issues since 11 February 2023.
In particular, this is affecting the EMS tracking system and disrupting the scanning of EMI/EMH events for EMS items. The IT department is working to resolve the situation.
Post Indonesia thanks all Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding, and will provide an update via EmIS once the situation has returned to normal.
Vanuatu| Partial service disruption - Updated 3/13/2023
Vanuatu – State of emergency
Vanuatu Post, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the Vanuatu Government has declared a state of emergency for the whole country in the wake of category 4 tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin, which struck the country on 1 and 3 March 2023 respectively.
The state of emergency will last for six months, from 1 March to 31 August 2023.
While Vanuatu Post will continue to operate, postal service quality for international inbound and outbound mail and service delivery standards (including delivery times and other quality parameters) cannot be guaranteed.
New Zealand| Customers should expect delays - Updated 3/13/2023
New Zealand – Update on Cyclone Gabrielle
NZ Post, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the national state of emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle was lifted on 3 March 2023.
The Auckland, Northland, Tararua and Waikato regions are now in a national transition period, as they move into the recovery stage of their response. Postal operations have returned to normal in these regions.
A local/regional state of emergency remains in place in the Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti regions, which were severely affected by the cyclone. Owing to damage to the road infrastructure in these regions, freight (including mail) is being transported to these areas via alternative routes, resulting in significant delays. However, the processing and delivery of postal items are now resuming throughout these regions.
The New Zealand Government will provide an update regarding the status of the local state of emergency on 13 March 2023.
New Zealand – Cyclone Gabrielle
New Zealand Post, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that a national state of emergency was declared on 14 February 2023 at 8.43 (local time) in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. Local states of emergency had previously been declared in the following regions and districts of the upper North Island: Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Waikato, and Hawke’s Bay.
Owing to the severity of this weather event and the scale of the emergency, the central government has taken over from the local authorities and is now managing the response with the Civil Defence Act. The upper North Island is most severely affected, but significant impacts are forecast in the lower North Island and upper/central South Island.
Weather warnings/watches are in place in the following areas: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, and other islands in the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Mount Taranaki, Wairarapa (including the Tararua district), Wellington, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Turikirae Head to Mataikona, Marlborough, Nelson, areas south of Blenheim (including the Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury Plains and the foothills north of the Rakaia River) and the Chatham Islands.
To ensure the safety and well-being of its customers and staff, New Zealand Post has decided to implement the following measures:
-Suspension of all deliveries in red alert areas;
-Suspension of air network operations;
-Suspension of all line haul services to the Far North, Gisborne, and Coromandel areas.
New Zealand Post is currently conducting an assessment and the situation is being monitored closely.
New Zealand – End of COVID-19 protection framework
New Zealand Post, wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the COVID-19 protection framework (traffic light system) ceased to apply as of 12 September 2022. Therefore, with effect from the fourth quarter of 2022, normal processes and service standards have been reinstated, meaning that New Zealand Post’s delivery agents will once again obtain a signature or other form of evidence of receipt. If a delivery attempt is unsuccessful, the addressee will receive a notification asking them to collect the item from a designated New Zealand Post site, in line with the normal procedure.
Poland| Updated 3/6/2023
Poland – IPS migration
The designated operator of Poland, Poczta Polska, wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that it will be migrating from IPS 2018 to IPS 2021 on Sunday, 5 March 2023.
Poczta Polska will make every effort to minimize the impact of the migration on the operational processing of international mail, but delays in data transmission should be expected for up to 14 hours (5.00 to 19.00 CET).
Poczta Polska thanks all Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding and apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
Slovakia| Updated 2/27/2023
Slovakia – IPS migration
Slovenska pošta, a.s., would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that it will be migrating from IPS 2017 to IPS 2021 on Sunday, 5 March 2023.
Slovenska pošta will make every effort to minimize any potential issues, but there may be delays in data transmission during the migration. It hopes to have the system fully up and running and resolve any data quality issues by 1 April 2023. Slovenská pošta thanks all Union member countries and their designated operators for their continued support and understanding.
Mauritius| Customers should expect delays - Updated 2/27/2023
Mauritius – Class III cyclone warning
Mauritius Post wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that Mauritius is experiencing cyclonic conditions and a class III cyclone warning is in force, with effect from 20 February 2023.
Consequently, the international airport is temporarily closed and various flights have been canceled.
The transportation and processing of all inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post, and EMS items) are affected, thereby resulting in delays in the delivery of mail across the country.
The authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
Mauritius – Gradual resumption of postal activities
The designated operator of Mauritius, Mauritius Post, wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that economic and postal activities are resuming.
The transportation, processing, and delivery of mail are still affected but are gradually returning to normal. Call center operations have resumed as normal.
Mauritius Post thanks all Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding.
Finland|Customers should expect delays - Updated 2/20/2023
Finland – Strike
Posti Ltd, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) has announced a strike in the transportation sector from 15 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 16 to 21 February 2023.
Consequently, Posti envisages the following delays:
– approximately 5 days for parcels and EMS items sent during the industrial action;
– 5–14 business days for letter-post items and magazines;
– approximately 5 days for long-distance deliveries requiring transportation with heavier equipment between cities in Finland;
– 5–14 business days for printed products distributed to the door or mailbox.
Posti estimates that operations will return to normal on 27 February 2023. Designated operators are asked to consider sending parcels and EMS items outside the industrial action period when delays will be minimal.
If deliveries cannot be done owing to the strike, the items will be stored appropriately. Deliveries related to health and safety will not be affected by the industrial action.
Turkey | Customers should expect delays - Updated 2/13/2023
Turkey – Earthquakes
Turkish PTT Corporation, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that two massive earthquakes (magnitude 7.7 and 7.6) hit the southern and south-eastern regions of the country on 6 February 2023. As a result, the Turkish government has declared a state of emergency with effect from 8 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 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). As a result, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed and delays are likely in the affected areas.
Saudi Arabia | Updated 2/6/2023
Saudi Arabia| Back to normal
Saudi Post Corporation, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the electrical damage and IT issues caused by the heavy rainfall have now been resolved. All services have therefore resumed as normal with effect from 30 January 2023.
Peru | Partial Service Disruption – Updated 1/30/2023
Peru – Disruption to postal services
Servicios Postales del Perú (Serpost), wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that, owing to the civil unrest and protests taking place in Peru since 7 December 2022, 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. Serpost is working hard to minimize the impact of the situation and to ensure the safety of its employees and customers. It is monitoring the situation closely and will make every effort to ensure that mail is delivered as quickly and safely as possible.
Macao| Updated 1/19/2023
Macao, China – Back to normal
The People’s Republic of China’s designated operator for Macao, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the situation has improved and all postal operations have returned to normal.
Israel| Updated 1/19/2023
Israel – Update concerning mail distribution and collection
Israel Postal Company, would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that mail distribution and collection (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) are no longer subject to interruptions and delays as a result of the health-related restrictions.
Hong Kong| Updated 1/19/2023
Hong Kong, China – Resumption of normal delivery process for items requiring signature on delivery
Hongkong Post, the People’s Republic of China’s designated operator for the territory of Hong Kong, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that Hongkong Post’s delivery process for all items requiring signature on delivery is returning to normal. With effect from 3 January 2023, when performing at-the-door deliveries of letter-post, parcel-post or EMS items requiring signature on delivery, the postman or postwoman will again obtain a signature from the recipient. In case of an unsuccessful at-the-door delivery attempt, the addressee will receive a notification asking them to collect the item from a designated post office, in line with the normal procedure. The collection arrangements at post offices remain unchanged. Hongkong Post thanks all other Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding.
Hong Kong, China – Resumption of advice of delivery service
Hongkong Post, the People’s Republic of China’s designated operator for the territory of Hong Kong, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that it has resumed the advice of delivery service for incoming mail items. Hongkong Post thanks all other Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding.
Malaysia| Updated 1/19/2023
Malaysia – Back to normal
Pos Malaysia, asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the situation has returned to normal and all postal operations were back to normal as of 29 December 2022. Pos Malaysia thanks all other Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding.
Malaysia – Heavy rain and widespread flooding
Pos Malaysia asks us to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the country is experiencing heavy rain and widespread flooding. The postal network has been severely affected and some post offices have been closed. Some roads are also inaccessible to traffic, which is delaying the delivery of mail, EMS and parcels.
Costa Rica| Updated 1/19/2023
Costa Rica – IT issues
Correos de Costa Rica wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that, with effect from 10 December 2022, it is deploying a new version of IPS and CDS and is working on the interface between these solutions and its internal IT systems.
Pakistan| Updated 1/19/2023
Pakistan – Update on postal services following flooding
Pakistan Post wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the delays and disruption to mail operations are under control, and mail delivery in the areas affected by flooding has improved significantly. Pakistan Post thanks all other Union Member countries and their designated operators for their understanding and cooperation.
Thailand | Updated 1/19/2023
Thailand – End of flooding
Thailand Post would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the rain in the southern part of Thailand has now ceased. All postal operations have therefore resumed as normal with effect from 30 December 2022. Thailand Post thanks all other Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding.
Thailand – Illegal barcodes
Thailand Post would like to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that the series of barcodes starting in “UT” and ending in “TH” (i.e. UTxxxxxxxxxTH, as shown below) has been used illegally without its authorization. The above-mentioned barcodes were allocated to a bulk mailer customer, but the service relating to the said barcodes has been suspended since May 2020. Therefore, items bearing these barcodes are not considered as postal items originating from Thailand Post. Consequently, Thailand Post reserves the right to deny all remuneration, charges and liability relating to such items. Thailand Post thanks all other Union member countries and their designated operators for their cooperation in this matter.
Russian Federation | Mail services suspended until further notice – Updated 2/28/2022
GlobalPost has suspended all services to Russia effective Monday February 28, 2022.
Solomon Islands | Mail services suspended until further notice – Updated 12/8/2021
GlobalPost has suspended all services to Solomon Islands effective Wednesday December 8, 2021.
Ukraine | Mail services suspended until further notice – Updated 2/24/2022
GlobalPost has suspended all services to Ukraine effective Thursday, February 24, 2022.