Exporting with Royal Mail
Exporting with Royal Mail
Royal Mail is trusted by thousands of customers to export across the globe. In partnership with the Department for International Trade and their Exporting is GREAT campaign, we want to support businesses to start shipping overseas, grow into new markets, or streamline their export process.
Here you will find resources to help your business export and grow with confidence.
What kind of exporter are you?
Scaling up shipping
Royal Mail business export guides
For the past number of years, we’ve commissioned Delivery Matters research looking at the attitudes of online shoppers in the UK and around the globe.
We’ve analysed their findings and created business export guides for key international markets. See how Royal Mail can help you grow in:
You can also download the full set of reports now:
What would you like to do with your exports?
Check our country guides for more information on shipping to 230 countries and territories with Royal Mail, including:
- Local delivery partner services
- Prohibitions and restrictions
- Correct address formats
- Customs requirements
Royal Mail is the go-to delivery provider for many marketplace sellers. Our Click & Drop online postage tool allows you to link all of your storefronts and marketplaces and import all your orders to one place.
Amazon and eBay are the most recognisable global names, but other marketplaces can have a bigger reach in different countries and territories. The Department for International Trade has a handy drop-down so you can quickly find the best marketplace for your export destination:
Incidents or ongoing situations in different countries can affect mail services, causing delays and other problems.
We regularly update our international incident bulletin. If you send a lot of items abroad – or frequently receive items from abroad – you may want to bookmark this page, and complete the form to receive email updates.
Public holidays can also delay mail: check this list of international holidays and factor in more delivery time when needed.
Knowing the markets where you want to export is crucial to a successful experience. We have put together some guides with key elements on major markets, in order to assist you along the way.
With the international trading landscape changing significantly over the past few years, providing the correct customs data is more important than ever.
Electronic Customs Pre-advice Data
It is now mandatory to provide electronic customs pre-advice data and an S10 barcode when you ship abroad. You are also required to provide a CN22 or CN23 and the information electronically in the pre advice you send to us.
Some countries are applying penalties and delaying or returning items that are sent without the required electronic data and physical S10 barcode attached.
Use one of our data-compliant shipping platforms – Click & Drop, Pro Shipping or API shipping – to automate this process and take the stress out of electronic customs.
Why are we asking you to provide electronic customs data?
Electronic customs data is required to make sure that existing, emerging and future legislative, security and customs requirements overseas are met. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) requests that customs forms are completed accurately and in full. This will include the sender and recipient information and details on the contents within the parcel. Doing so can help enable a more efficient customs clearance process abroad and lead to faster delivery times.