SingPost Outlines Dual-Track Shipping Solutions to Help Retail and Corporate Shippers Navigate New EU Customs Rules

Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) is unveiling a new dual-track shipping solution to help shippers navigate sweeping changes to European Union (EU) customs regulations, which take effect on 1 July 2026. Shippers have until 30 June 2026 to despatch commercial goods to the EU before new customs duties apply to shipments valued below €150.

Navigating the EU’s New Customs Landscape
 

Effective 1 July 2026, the EU will eliminate its long-standing €150 de minimis customs duty exemption. Customs duties will apply to all commercial shipments entering the EU's 27 member states and their territories, regardless of value, requiring every single item to be formally declared upon entry.

The EU is introducing a transitional flat €3 customs duty for low-value commercial goods under €150. This fee is assessed per unique product category—determined by the item's Harmonised System (HS) code heading—inside a single parcel, alongside standard local destination Value Added Tax (VAT), and applicable administrative fees.

Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) personal gifts valued under €45 remain exempt from the new customs duties and VAT. Members of the public can continue to send personal gifts via SingPost’s Ezy2Ship or at any post office islandwide. Senders must accurately declare items as gifts and HS code data for customs clearance.

Shipments entering the EU with missing or inaccurate declaration details risk immediate border delays, rejections, or forced returns. To mitigate these risks for Singapore exporters, SingPost’s dual-track approach provides services for all customers according to their EU Import One-Stop Shop¹ (IOSS) registration status.

Looking Ahead: Further EU Customs Changes in November 2026
 

The 1 July regulatory updates mark the first phase of the EU's comprehensive customs overhaul. On 1 November 2026, the European Union is expected to introduce an additional €2 customs handling fee per eCommerce import to offset rising administrative processing costs, which will stack on top of the newly implemented €3 flat duty.

Furthermore, the inclusion of highly structured Product Identifiers (PIDs)—such as Global Trade Identification Numbers (GTINs), manufacturer codes, or merchant SKUs—will be mandatory on all customs declarations.

"The regulatory changes taking effect across the EU represent a fundamental shift for anyone shipping into the EU — from an individual sending a family gift to a large eCommerce merchant shipping in commercial goods," said Lee Hon Chew, Vice President, International Affairs & Commercial, SingPost.

"For individual consumers and small businesses operating without an IOSS registration, our islandwide post office staff are fully trained to guide them through the new mandatory HS code requirements to keep standard postal shipping seamless. Simultaneously, for our IOSS-registered corporate partners, our Speedpost Direct International (EU) service ensures a completely frictionless experience for recipients by handling all duties and taxes prior to delivery."

The IOSS Distinction: Determining the Shipper’s Journey

Based on the present operational arrangements, a sender’s access to standard postal tracks will now depend on their IOSS registration profile, establishing an explicit operational divide in cross-border workflows:

Track 1: Commercial Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Solution (Required for IOSS Registered enterprises; Optional for Non-IOSS Customers)

At present, corporate shippers with a valid IOSS profile have to utilise commercial DDP solutions such as SingPost’s newly launched, Speedpost Direct International (EU). 

Under this DDP track using Speedpost Direct International, SingPost settles the necessary duties, destination VAT, and administrative fees on behalf of corporate customers, billing shippers retrospectively. 

This commercial solution ensures a smooth delivery experience and eliminates unexpected fees at the recipient's doorstep. Key benefits of Speedpost Direct International (EU):

• End-to-End Certainty: An automated DDP mechanism for smooth, predictable entry into all 27 EU member states and their territories.
• Upfront Data Validation: System-to-system verification to drastically reduce the risk of customs delays or returns.
• Dedicated Onboarding: Full support from a SingPost account manager to assist with technical data compliance.

Pricing for Speedpost Direct International (EU) corporate accounts starts from S$16 for the first 100g. Charges are based on volumetric weight — the industry-standard measure of a parcel's size relative to its mass — rather than actual scale weight, reflecting the space a shipment occupies in transit.

                            Volumetric Weight = Length x Width X Height (cm) 

                                                                  —----------------------------------------

                                                    6000

For full rates and tailored onboarding support, corporate customers can reach out to their dedicated account manager or email salesadmin@singpost.com. 

Track 2: Postal Delivered Duty Unpaid Solution (Available to Non-IOSS registered senders only) 

Conversely, for retail shippers, casual senders, and individual entrepreneurs operating without IOSS registration, standard postal network services remain accessible both over the counter at the post office and via Ezy2Ship. 

When sending items of commercial value under €150 or personal gifts exceeding €45, these senders can utilise SingPost’s postal solutions, specifically Speedpost Saver International and Speedpost Priority International. The shippers using this route must provide complete itemised details, including valid HS code declarations. 

These shipments clear customs via a DDU framework. Under this mechanism, the parcel faces normal border evaluations, and the end recipient in the EU is responsible for paying all accumulated customs duties, local VAT, and destination administrative handling fees upon delivery. Non-IOSS commercial shippers may also access the commercial SpeedPost Direct International (EU) DDP service when they open a SingPost Corporate Account.

Postal services are charged strictly on actual weight applied to the nearest predefined tier. Rates to the EU start from S$11.90 from 250 grams to S$354 for 20kg, with variations depending on chosen transit times. Senders have the option to drop off these shipments directly at post offices islandwide.

¹Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS): The electronic portal created by the EU to simplify the declaration and payment of VAT for distance sales of imported goods up to a value of €150. Registering for IOSS allows sellers to collect VAT transparently from the buyer at the point of purchase, accelerating green-lane customs clearance. Note: Starting 1 July 2026, while IOSS continues to manage import VAT, it cannot be used to remit the new flat €3 customs duty, which must be declared and processed separately. Read more here. 
 

About Singapore Post Limited (SingPost)

Singapore Post (SingPost) is a leading postal and eCommerce logistics provider in Asia Pacific. The portfolio of businesses spans from national and international postal services to warehousing and fulfilment, international freight forwarding and last mile delivery, serving customers in more than 220 global destinations. Headquartered in Singapore, SingPost has approximately 3,000 employees. Since its inception in 1858, the Group has evolved and innovated to bring about best-in-class integrated logistics solutions and services, making every delivery count for people and planet. www.singpost.com