DHL is strongest in Europe and the Middle East with fast transit (2-4 days to Europe). UPS has the broadest coverage in North America and stable last-mile delivery in the US. FedEx is balanced across Europe / North America / Asia-Pacific with transit similar to DHL. EMS has the widest global postal network (200+ countries) but slower transit (5-10 days) at the lowest price — best for non-urgent small parcels.

Billed by Chargeable Weight: actual weight vs. volume weight (L×W×H cm ÷ 5000), whichever is greater. Total = base rate + fuel surcharge (monthly index) ± remote area surcharge + oversize / overweight fees. Small parcels (< 0.5 kg) are typically billed at a 0.5 kg minimum. Larger shipments use initial + additional weight or tiered pricing.

Documents, samples (< 5 kg) and urgent shipments → DHL / FedEx. For 30-100 kg e-commerce parcels, compare express vs. air express: dedicated air is 30-60% cheaper but 2-5 days slower. For 100 kg+ shipments, almost always go air express or ocean express — initial + additional weight accumulates very quickly on pure express. Use the Express / Line / Air tabs on the homepage to compare side by side.

Declared Value drives customs valuation and insurance claims. Under-declaring risks inspection or seizure; over-declaring raises duties. General rule: declare at true cost. For B2C small parcels, 50-70% of retail is common. US shipments < $800 may qualify for De Minimis (duty-free); EU < €150 can use IOSS for simplified clearance. For high-value items, also buy transit insurance.

Common return reasons: wrong address / postcode, recipient refusal, misdeclared commodity, prohibited goods. Returning to origin costs roughly 50-80% of the original freight; abandonment is free with some carriers, others charge a destruction fee. For customs holds, the recipient must assist with import permits, invoice, and HS code — contact your forwarder immediately when it happens.

Yes. October-December, DHL / UPS / FedEx add a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS): Europe / North America lanes rise 15-40% on average, with steeper hikes for heavier shipments (> 30 kg). Before Chinese New Year (January-February), outbound flight capacity tightens and select channels add 10-20%. Ship two weeks earlier to avoid PSS and lock in transit time.