SingPost Streamlines Shipping to the EU as New Customs Requirements Take Effect

• Transitions all commercial EU-bound shipments to a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) framework from 1 November 2026 to eliminate border friction across 16 EU destinations¹. 
• Strategic integration with Zonos on ezy2ship automates real-time landed cost calculations and electronic pre-declarations with zero advance catalog uploads required.
• Personal gifts valued at €45 or less remain exempt from customs duties and VAT for the 16 participating EU destinations¹ .
   

Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) is introducing enhanced shipping capabilities and streamlining its European Union (EU) commercial shipping options to a single Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) framework ahead of new EU customs regulations taking effect on 1 November 2026. 
 

The move is designed to protect Singapore-based businesses, eCommerce merchants, and individual senders from supply chain delays, border rejections, and unexpected doorstep tax demands for European recipients. 
 

These developments support SingPost’s ongoing strategy to help local exporters navigate evolving global trade requirements and maintain access to EU markets amid increasing regulatory complexity. The solution currently covers 16 EU destinations¹, with coverage to be extended progressively to the rest of the EU member states. Existing booking and customs clearance arrangements remain unchanged for the remaining 11 EU destinations² until their postal operators are ready.
 

Navigating Europe’s evolving trade landscape
 

The November changes build on the EU’s wider reform of import rules. On 1 July 2026, the EU removed the €150 customs duty exemption and introduced a temporary €3 customs duty per item on low-value eCommerce imports. From 1 November 2026, an additional €2 Union handling fee will apply per item, alongside applicable customs duties and VAT.
 

Simultaneously, EU customs authorities require structured Product Identifiers (PIDs) on pre-arrival declarations. Under the updated requirements, declarations must include a mandatory Merchant Product ID (seller SKU/Product ID) and Local Product ID (manufacturer reference code) for every item line, alongside an optional Global Product ID (such as GTIN, EAN, or UPC barcodes where available). 
 

While the new data requirements represent a significant administrative shift for international commerce, the postal and logistics industry views complete pre-clearance as the only effective mechanism to ensure predictable transit times.
 

"The regulatory landscape in Europe is evolving rapidly, and our priority is to ensure that Singapore-based businesses and retail senders remain fully equipped to trade internationally without friction," said Neo Su Yin, Chief Operating Officer, SingPost. "By transitioning our commercial options to a complete DDP framework, enhancing our digital platforms, and partnering with cross-border technology provider Zonos, we are taking the friction out of compliance - ensuring that goods clear customs smoothly and arrive at European doorsteps with complete cost transparency."
 

Upgraded platforms and end-to-end merchant support
 

To support shippers through the transition, SingPost has upgraded its digital shipping portal, ezy2ship, integrating with Zonos via automated APIs to handle real-time duty calculations and electronic pre-declarations to EU customs. By introducing dedicated data fields that guide senders through entering required PIDs, precise product descriptions, and 6-digit HS codes, the enhanced portal eliminates onboarding friction by requiring no advance product uploads or complex catalog setup prior to order creation.
 

By embedding these compliance checks directly into the booking process, SingPost ensures that electronic pre-advice data meets EU standards before parcels leave Singapore.
 

The enhanced service model accommodates all shipper profiles with tailored support:
 

• For Corporate & High-Volume Sellers: Businesses utilising SingPost’s Speedpost Saver and SpeedPost Priority (EU) service benefit from automated system-to-system data verification and retrospective billing. SingPost and Zonos handle all EU duties, VAT, and item-line handling fee calculations and submissions on the client’s behalf, allowing corporate sellers to offer a frictionless checkout experience to European buyers.
• For Retail Senders at Post Offices: Individual senders and small businesses can visit any post office islandwide. Prepare the required product identifiers, accurate six-digit HS codes and precise item descriptions for your shipment. Estimated duties, VAT, handling fees and postage are calculated at the counter and paid together before dispatch.
• For Personal Gifts (Duty-Free): Qualifying gifts sent between individuals with an intrinsic value of €45 or less remain exempt from customs duties and VAT. For the 16 participating EU destinations, senders can book through ezy2ship or any post office, providing accurate item descriptions and HS codes for the electronic declaration. 
   

Preparing Shippers for 1 November

SingPost encourages all shippers preparing EU-bound parcels for November dispatch to review their product cataloguing and gather required data. Post office counter staff across SingPost's islandwide network have been equipped to assist retail customers with PID entry, HS code selection and electronic declaration entry.
 

For full service details, tariff information, or corporate account onboarding, please visit www.singpost.com.

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, SingPost 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

Media Contacts

Belinda Tan - belinda.tan@singpost.com

Hong Mei Yu  - hongmeiyu@singpost.com

¹Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Monaco, Andorra and listed territories, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden

²Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia (Czech Republic), Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia