DHL Suspends Shipments Over $800 to U.S.
Global logistics provider DHL has announced a temporary suspension on international shipments to the United States for items valued over $800. This move, disclosed in a company notice, applies specifically to orders sent from businesses abroad to individual customers in the U.S. The suspension, which began on Monday, will remain in effect “until further notice.”
The change comes in response to a recent shift in U.S. customs policy, which has altered the threshold for international shipments requiring formal customs declarations. Previously, packages under $2,500 did not require such declarations. However, as of April 5, the threshold has been reduced to $800, resulting in a surge in paperwork and processing delays at ports of entry.
DHL explained that the decision was necessary to manage the backlog caused by this regulatory update. “This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock,” the company stated, noting that delays of several days have already been observed.
Impact Limited to Business-to-Consumer Shipments
The temporary suspension will affect only business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments. According to DHL, business-to-business (B2B) shipments will continue as usual, though they too may experience slower transit times due to increased customs processing.
In its statement, DHL emphasized that all international shipments valued under $800 remain unaffected and will continue to be processed and delivered without interruption. “While we are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase, shipments over USD 800 — regardless of origin — may experience multi-day delays,” the notice read.
This clarification is likely to provide some relief to small businesses and consumers who rely on timely international deliveries. However, the broader effects of this suspension may ripple across global e-commerce, especially for international sellers who frequently ship high-value goods directly to U.S. consumers.
Customs Policy Shift Behind the Disruption
The operational bottleneck stems from a policy revision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that reduced the value threshold for informal entries. Informal entries typically allow for quicker processing with fewer documentation requirements. The new $800 limit means that more packages now fall into the category of formal entries, which demand additional paperwork, scrutiny, and processing time.
DHL’s decision highlights the challenges international courier companies face when adapting to sudden regulatory changes. The increase in formal entry requirements has overwhelmed the company’s customs processing capacity, prompting this unusual suspension.
Though the company did not provide a specific timeline for resuming full service, the notice makes clear that DHL is actively working to address the increased volume and scale its operations accordingly. Internet archive data indicates the announcement was posted online sometime on Sunday.
In the meantime, DHL customers—particularly those in the B2C space—are advised to monitor updates from the courier and consider alternative logistics arrangements for high-value international shipments to the U.S. until the suspension is lifted.
