Severe Japan Post SAL/EMS/ePacket suspensions due to COVID-19 + Russia's invasion in Ukraine! -> (Updated March 8 2022)

[roadstar_na6]

My EMS parcel took 72h to arrive in Germany whereas some Air Mail stuff did it within the time a flight takes : D

[Socimi]

19 minutes ago, Nick_Burman said:

 

Thanks. I'm thinking about Italy.

 

Cheers Nicholas

 

Italy?

 

Well, SAL has resumed shipping to Italy this summer, so, you could say things are back to normal.

 

(including the Dogana custom fees roulette)

Edited October 2, 2020 by Socimi

[Cat]

Ooh!  Was just checking the latest shipping update at CDJapan and spotted this good news:
 

Update Oct. 8, 2020 : Japan Post to Resume Shipping with Non-Registered Airmail to the U.S.

Japan Post announced that they will resume shipping with Non-Registered Airmail as well as printed matters up to 5kg by Airmail from Oct. 9, 2020.

Note that there still may be some delays due to COVID 19 related issues.

[Yavianice]

@Cat Unless your trains fit in an envelope, this will not matter, since Airmail only includes Letters according to Japan Post. https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2020/1008_01_en.html

[chadbag]

55 minutes ago, Yavianice said:

@Cat Unless your trains fit in an envelope, this will not matter, since Airmail only includes Letters according to Japan Post. https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2020/1008_01_en.html

 

From that link for the US

 

"Among Air items, only some ordinary letter-post items such as Printed Matter, Special Mailbags for Printed Matter and Small Packets are accepted from October 9, 2020."

 

It says "Small Packets" are accepted starting October 9

[Yavianice]

@chadbag

 

Yes, but if you look closely at the table, you see that ePacket, SAL, EMS is still a no-go. I think with "small packets" they mean "letter box sized packages" i.e. no thicker than 3 cm. 

 

At least, that's how I understand it. Aren't the usual packages for train cases usually shipped as ePacket, SAL, or EMS? I don't recall receiving a package not having any of these services. 

 

Edited October 8, 2020 by Yavianice

[chadbag]

2 minutes ago, Yavianice said:

@chadbag

 

Yes, but if you look closely at the table, you see that ePacket, SAL, EMS is still a no-go. I think with "small packets" they mean "letter box sized packages" i.e. no thicker than 3 cm. 

 

At least, that's how I understand it. Aren't the usual packages for train cases usually shipped as ePacket, SAL, or EMS? I don't recall receiving a package not having any of these services. 

 

 

 

I've had stuff shipped "small packet" before from Japan form some eBay sellers.   Some were more than 3 cm.  I think it is weight based but have not researched it.  I suspect it is similar to "Päckchen" in Germany (or what used to be -- don't know if they still have that), which was weight based, not size based IIRC.

 

[Yavianice]

Just now, chadbag said:

I suspect it is similar to "Päckchen" in Germany (or what used to be -- don't know if they still have that), which was weight based, not size based IIRC.

Päckchen is still a thing in Germany. However the usual UPU size restrictions apply (L*W*H no more than 90 cm) and 2kg maximum. But it also has a reduced rate for "letterbox sized" packages.

 

I dunno. Perhaps I can ask a retailer in Japan if he can ask the details. 

[Cat]

It looks like the manga can start flowing again from CDJapan at the very least.

[Yavianice]

Ok, I asked RG-R what his take is on this issue, and he believes that Small Packet by Air is possible for the following rates for the U.S.A.

 

 

(Picture courtesy of RG-R)

[Cat]

HLJ just posted shipping details:

Air Small Packet can be used to ship packages that are up to 2KG, and have combined measurements of up to 90cm.

[cteno4]

Works out reasonable for small bits! Not much more than Sal small packet for the lower/smaller end of things.

 

jeff

[Yavianice]

MTP reports that Japan Post services to Canada have been suspended. It's not yet updated on the Japan Post website, however.

[fpav_2125]

Update: Japan Post from today is accepting packages to some countries (EMS and Airmail)

 

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2021/0218_01_en.html

 

Ireland, Argentina, Colombia and Chile are some countries of that list but Japan Post will be not accepting items containing lithium batteries to some countries.

Edited February 27, 2021 by fpav_2125

[maihama eki]

Small packet service to US and Australia shut down again.

 

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2021/1101_01.html

 

 

[katoftw]

Didn't realise it had started again for Australia.

 

Weird though since 2x daily flights to two major capitals just started again. And another 2x more in December.

 

But they might just have a huge backlog headed my way.

[JR 500系]

Yeah Only In Japan has also made a video about this:

 

 

[Yavianice]

Due to Russia's invasion in Ukraine, Japan Post has halted all Air parcel / EMS / SAL shipments to Europe. Only surface mail is available.

 

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/overview_en.html

 

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2022/0308_01_en.html

 

 

[katoftw]

That's a weird one. Is the Ukraine situation effecting all of Europe's airspace/s?

[railsquid]

6 hours ago, katoftw said:

That's a weird one. Is the Ukraine situation effecting all of Europe's airspace/s?

 

The direct route over Russia is no longer available to European airlines, and Japanese ones have (AFAIK) voluntarily decided to avoid Russian airspace as well, so all flights are going the long way round, either via China/India then wriggling back up into Europe avoiding all the icky airspace, or the other way via Alaska.

[Wolf]

I think DHL and FedEx is still working, at least that's what PlazaJapan claims.

[Yavianice]

@Wolf Because DHL and Fedex operate with their own planes, those planes take the cold war or India route. DHL to Europe also usually goes via Hong Kong-UAE-Europe and is thus not affected by these tensions.

@katoftw Because of the rerouting of flights to-from japan and europe over the cold war route (anchorage) or China/India etc., it takes longer to fly these routes. Which means that it becomes more expensive to fly/more kerosene is needed for the same flight. For this reason, airlines will either charge more for postal services to hitch a ride or just not allow them because it wouldn't be cost efficient or there is not enough fuel capacity to fly flights with extra non-passenger related cargo.

[Yavianice]

Japan Post announced increases for all their parcel services. The new prices can be found here. The new prices will go into effect on June 1st.

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/2022fee_change/index_en.html

[katoftw]

China and Australia services returned this week. All services except SAL.

[bill937ca]

Mandarake has posted EMS is back for the following countries:

 

India, Canada, Finland, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Peru, Romania

 

Just changed my HS Tomytec Prague T3 order to EMS shipping!

 

Japan Post list is here:

 

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2022/1101_01_en.html?fbclid=IwAR1aES9jjLZ2Qh667ohaLeKUYqpNLD6NaDwLleQdP20wvK3OWI9bSWhkH2Y

Edited November 5, 2022 by bill937ca