Do you know how international shipping works? International shipping from Ukraine in 2024 operates on a single principle: all parcels received for delivery are shipped by road transport from Ukraine to Europe, where they are handed over to logistics services for further delivery.
How to calculate the cost of the parcel
Currently, international shipping is handled by both large Ukrainian companies and smaller ones, and the price range is vast. Our prices for sending a parcel from Ukraine abroad start from $4.00 per parcel.
It is important to remember what affects the cost of sending a parcel abroad. There are three components: weight, dimensions, and the value of the contents. The cost varies depending on these parameters. Different programs have so-called threshold parameters, and exceeding their limits—even by a centimeter—can result in losing the discount.
How to find the cheapest international shipping from Ukraine? To do so, compare the rates of various delivery services listed on our website. Pay attention to consolidated shipping options, Consolidation Plus and Direct Consolidation (for large exporters).
Nowadays, all companies claim to offer the lowest rates for international shipping. However, the truth is that the lowest prices from Ukraine worldwide are offered by Consolidation Plus shipping from Western Bid.
Want to choose affordable yet reliable delivery? Then you are in the right place. Shipping via Western Bid from Ukraine is currently the cheapest and most reliable. Select the optimal terms and speed of delivery using our calculator, and send your first parcel today.
What are the risks associated with cheap international shipping? Cheap international shipping mainly differs from expensive options in delivery times. Also, due to the longer transit time, we recommend packing parcels for inexpensive shipping more thoroughly.
Additionally, you can get insurance even for cheap shipping. You can insure against loss on any Western Bid delivery method for 1% of the contents’ value.
To find out which delivery service is cheaper for sending to Europe/USA, remember that delivery can be land or air. In Europe, land deliveries offer better prices, and in the USA, it is cheaper to send via Consolidation Plus by air.
To determine which postal service offers the lowest rates for parcels of a certain weight, we recommend starting with the shipping calculator. Our website features nearly all services that send small parcels abroad. Our calculator will help you determine the cost for each weight category.
On our website, you can compare prices of different international delivery services. If you know the recipient’s address, our calculator will show you the current tariffs for all delivery methods available through Western Bid, including UkrPoshta and Nova Poshta.
There are no hidden fees or charges for international shipping. All fees and charges are included in the final cost shown by our calculator. Of course, if the dimensions and weight you specify do not match reality, you will need to pay extra to deliver the parcel to the recipient, but today, no fines are imposed for errors in documentation.
Calculating the final cost including customs fees is very simple, but a few things should be kept in mind:
1. Customs duties vary for each country. Usually, if the recipient did not pay customs duty at the time of purchase (e.g., on Etsy), they— not you—are obliged to pay customs duty upon receipt.
2. For the convenience of our clients, for some types of delivery to Europe, we have provided the option to pay import duty by the sender (and this is included in the delivery cost).
Sometimes, the delivery cost turns out to be higher than planned. This usually happens when the weight and dimensions of the parcel were initially entered incorrectly. In such cases, you can cancel the paid shipment and re-process the parcel.
Terms and quality of international delivery
Of course, the first question to get an answer to is how quickly a parcel can be delivered abroad from Ukraine? Express delivery from our center in Kyiv to European countries takes three working days, and to the USA – five days.
It is also useful to know which company offers the fastest delivery times and which company delivers parcels the fastest overall. According to our data, the fastest courier company is UPS, which offers Express courier delivery.
Remember that the terms and speed of international delivery can be affected by several factors. Since air freight from Ukraine is currently (October 2024) impossible, all parcels are first transported by land to Europe, and from there they are dispatched worldwide. Therefore, delivery speed may depend on the military situation in Ukraine, as well as various weather conditions in different parts of the world. Another factor is the pre-Christmas period, when delivery times traditionally increase.
We only work with companies that have the best reputation in international delivery. UPS and FedEx share the first and second places. We do not work with companies that have a poor reputation.
Here is a tip to help you avoid damage to your parcel during international delivery. The main thing is reliable packaging. A standard for good packaging is a test where the parcel is dropped from a height of two meters onto a concrete floor. If your parcel passes this test without damage to the contents, it is most likely to reach the customer intact.
Of course, there are guarantees provided by any courier service regarding quality and deadlines. Almost all international delivery services listed on our website provide certain guarantees. You need to familiarize yourself with each method by following the links on our page to learn more about each method, working conditions, and guarantees.
Questions and answers about international shipping from Ukraine
How much does express international delivery cost? Express delivery from Kyiv to the USA starts at $24 per shipment. Express delivery to Europe starts at $17 per shipment.
Which service offers delivery of documents/shipment within 1-2 days? Currently, such delivery does not exist in Ukraine. The shortest delivery time from Kyiv to Europe is 3 working days.
How to calculate the cost of international delivery? The simplest way is to calculate the shipment cost using our calculator. If for some reason you cannot use it, contact our operators via chat or call us at the toll-free number.
What factors influence the delivery price: weight, dimensions, distance? Indeed, these factors affect the delivery price. Also, consider that most delivery methods ship based on dimensional weight, not actual weight. Dimensional weight depends on the size of the parcel. Our calculator already includes the calculation of dimensional weight, so you always get the current shipping rate.
Additional factors that may affect delivery costs include the presence or absence of an IOSS number (which confirms that the recipient has paid import duty), and the estimated value of the contents, which may exceed the duty-free maximum value. Sometimes shipments to hard-to-reach areas also cost significantly more. Again, our calculator will provide the final shipping price. If you correctly entered weight, dimensions, and item value, we will never call you or request an additional fee, unlike other companies.
How do prices for international delivery change during holiday periods? Usually, from October 1 to January 15, international shipments include a so-called Pick Surcharge of up to $1 per parcel. We inform our clients annually about such increases, and information about them is available in the news section in your personal account.
Which seasons are busiest for delivery services? All global delivery services slow down during the pre-New Year period, which begins at the end of November and early December. There are also typical delays during hurricane season in the southern US from July to the end of September.
How to avoid delays during peak seasons of international delivery? Inform your customers and send parcels as early as possible.
What fees or taxes are included in the international delivery cost? Our declared price does not include optional insurance against loss or the customs duties that the recipient may need to pay if they did not pay them at the time of purchase.
How to calculate customs duties and taxes when sending abroad? Each country generally has its own customs regulations. However, broadly speaking: if you send a purchased item from a marketplace to your customer in the European Union, and the item’s value is up to 150 euros, with VAT paid at checkout, neither you nor the recipient pay customs duties. In other cases, customs duties and VAT are paid by the recipient. In the USA, you can ship a duty-free parcel with an estimated value up to $800. More detailed information on customs fees is available on our website—use the Search option.
Is insurance included in the cost of international delivery? Express shipments via UPS and FedEx are automatically insured against loss for $100, and this insurance cost is included in the payment. For other shipments, we recommend insuring the parcel with our insurance at 1% of the item value.
How to get a discount on international shipping? Sending a package through Western Bid, you receive discounts of up to 80% off the base price. Due to the large volume of shipments (and we send thousands of parcels daily), we obtain discounts from postal operators and pass these discounts to you. Currently, we offer the best prices for international forwarding in Ukraine.
Additionally, if you send 8 or more packages per day, you are eligible for a special Consolidation Direct service, which offers you the lowest prices because you collect your consolidation parcels yourself, saving on forwarding costs.
How to save on international shipping? There are several ways to save on shipping:
1. Send goods to our fulfillment center, and then distribute from there after sale to end customers.
2. If you are not from Kyiv, you can send us several parcels in one New Post box to Kyiv.
3. For large volumes, you can use the Consolidation Direct service.
Which service to choose for sending international documents? Since documents are usually lightweight but very important, we recommend sending them through us via courier express deliveries UPS or FedEx.
Can I send documents abroad via a courier service? Of course, you can.
Which companies provide document delivery from Ukraine? Currently, you can use FedEx and DHL services, but their prices will be significantly higher than ours.
Which service is best suited for sending parcels abroad? All the delivery methods available on our website are intended specifically for sending parcels from Ukraine abroad.
What are the restrictions for sending international parcels? Each method of shipment has weight and size restrictions. Courier companies do not accept parcels with a calculated weight over 70 kg. We also do not accept parcels with an estimated value above $2500.
Can I send a non-standard size parcel? Check on our calculator. If you see a delivery price, it means we will accept such a parcel. If the size exceeds permissible limits, the calculator will inform you of the specific limits for that method.
Which courier services operate with Ukraine? Which companies provide courier delivery abroad? Currently, three companies provide courier services: UPS (exclusively through Western Bid), FedEx, and DHL.
What is the difference between regular and courier delivery? Courier delivery is faster and more reliable. As a result, it is more expensive. Additionally, courier delivery is available worldwide, while consolidation has its geographical limitations.
How to track an international shipment? If you sent your shipment through Western Bid, you can always track its movement on our website. Moreover, we provide you with international tracking numbers that allow you to monitor your parcel on courier company sites or simply in Google.
Which international delivery services offer online package tracking? All delivery methods and services presented on our website are designed for shipping goods to buyers, and therefore all provide tracking numbers (tracking IDs).
How can I find out where my parcel is located at the moment? You can enter the tracking number into the tracking form on the Western Bid website or on the courier service’s website. In your Western Bid personal account, you can also simply click on the tracking number in the Sent Parcels section, and you will immediately receive the delivery status.
What to do if the parcel is not trackable? First of all, do not panic. Check the parcel’s tracking number on various websites. If the parcel still cannot be tracked for 5 days or more from the date of sending, you need to contact customer support. If the parcel was sent via WB, create a request (ticket) in your personal account, and we will respond within one working day.
Is it possible to connect parcel tracking to my Shopify/Etsy store? Every online store has the opportunity to notify the customer about the shipment status. The Western Bid personal account allows you to automatically send tracking numbers to different systems and marketplaces.
Which delivery services support API integration for tracking? All courier services known to us, including ourselves, have the possibility of API integration.
What are the restrictions for international shipping? What cannot be sent abroad? Of course, you cannot send just anything anywhere. There are a number of restrictions you should be aware of:
1. Packaging restrictions. Both the sender’s and recipient’s countries have their own import and export customs rules. For example, it is prohibited to export amber from Ukraine, and in the USA, importing any living flora or fauna without special permission is prohibited. We have consolidated all packaging restrictions into a single list available on our website. Generally, it is forbidden to send liquids, food products, drugs, and weapons in any way.
2. Size and weight restrictions. Each method has its own, but in general, we do not handle oversized goods, and we do not accept parcels weighing over 70 kg.
3. Geographic restrictions. We do not ship parcels to countries under US and EU sanctions.
Which countries have the strictest import requirements? Besides sanctioned countries, the most complex regulations and import controls are in India, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, and Argentina.
How will the prices for international delivery change in the coming years? Prices will increase.
What to do if the parcel is lost? Regardless of whether the parcel was insured or not, please inform our customer support about this.
How to file a claim in case of delay or damage to the parcel? In such cases, we always recommend contacting the carrier company. If you sent via Western Bid, create a request (ticket) in the Help section of your personal account, and we will respond within one working day.
How to get compensation for damaged goods during international shipping? In all cases of damage, it is recommended that the recipient prepare an act stating that the parcel was damaged. As the sender, you can then contact the carrier’s support with this act and request compensation.
How to resolve customs issues during international delivery? Usually, customs does not have complaints against the sender (with rare exceptions). Most customs problems are resolved by the recipient of the parcel.
How to choose a delivery service when starting an online store? It is especially important for a new store to provide maximum convenience for buyers, so it is better if both courier and economical delivery options are available. Later, based on sales data, you can leave only the most popular methods.
Which international delivery services are best suited for small businesses? All international services offer business deliveries for small packages. Moreover, all postal and courier services profit mainly from small parcel shipments, so the prices for small packages and boxes are always better than for large shipments.
How to accurately calculate delivery costs when planning international sales? Delivery costs consist of the cost of packing materials and the actual postal service fees. Calculate the costs for all stages. Consider pre-Christmas price increases. It’s advisable to determine the typical shipment, purchase boxes and packing materials wholesale, thereby saving on shipping. Also, consider the location of the goods. If the goods are far from potential buyers, it is better to move them closer using fulfillment centers.
Which companies offer favorable terms for startups? Usually, there are either special programs within postal operators for entrepreneurs or better prices offered by aggregators working directly in ecommerce.
International parcel shipping from Ukraine abroad for e-commerce, entrepreneurs, and business primarily involves understanding the terms, rules, and logistics processes, simplifying them, and choosing the most advantageous options.
Our company works with the most well-known international carriers such as UPS, FedEx, Nova Poshta Global, Ukrposhta. By registering, you will be able to use the services of all main market operators, get the lowest rates thanks to our corporate discount, choose the optimal delivery methods and timelines for your goods and business, easily issue shipping documents, insure your shipments, and track parcel movement.
We look forward to seeing you at Western Bid!
