Express shippers suspend B2C imports into Russia
FedEx Express and other shippers are withdrawing from business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer shipping into Russia, after changes were made to customs procedures. FedEx Express confirmed at the weekend that it has temporarily suspended shipments to Russia after being told the country was no longer clearing goods shipments under established express clearance processes.
The US-based express shipping giant said Russian customs authorities were only clearing items being shipped to private individuals under the “Individual Passenger Customs Declaration Process”.
FedEx said the suspension of service only applied to shipments going to individuals, and did not impact on business-to-business shipments.
The company said at the weekend: “FedEx Express remains committed to providing excellent customer service. We intend to resume shipping for express shipments destined to private individuals in Russia as soon as the necessary operational changes can be implemented to comply with the required customs process changes.”
Shippers
TNT Express has said it us still shipping for-consumer items into Russia
DHL Express is widely reported to have suspended its shipping into Russia, while it is understood that other shippers are considering whether to bring in similar service suspensions.
TNT Express stated that its services to and from Russia are not subject to suspension.
The company said: “TNT Express continues to offer its international delivery service to and from Russia without additional restrictions. Customers can continue to use all our services as normal. TNT Express strictly complies with all customs rules and regulations.”
UK-based cross-border e-commerce shipping specialist wnDirect said the tightened customs procedures in Russia would hit online retailers selling into the country, but said its own services were continuing into the high-growth online shopping market.
Russia’s e-commerce market was expected to reach $36bn in value in 2015, growing to $72bn by 2020. The high growth rates have attracted significant interest from the global retail industry.
wnDirect, whose investors include online shipping company MetaPack, said new legislative developments in Russia means B2C traffic into the country will require more stringent ID checks.
Stuart Hill, the wnDirect managing director, said his company was already complying with the requirements.
“We already had the systems and processes in place to effectively collect proof of ID and handle the other customs regulations already built into our system. So it’s business as usual for us. In co-operation with our in-country partner, SPSR, we are in a unique position to be able to clear goods into Russia,” he said.
