Express/Courier

Express/Courier is a fast, door-to-door transportation method in international trade, usually carried by international express companies such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, and TNT. Its features include fast delivery (usually 3-5 working days), full tracking, and convenient customs clearance. It is suitable for high-value, small-batch, urgent goods such as samples, spare parts, and documents. Use cases include: urgent replenishment, sample delivery, after-sales parts, etc. Precautions: Express costs are relatively high, usually charged by the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight; commercial invoice and packing list are required, and declared value must be reasonable to avoid tariff issues; some countries have import restrictions. Difference from Air Freight: Air freight is airport-to-airport, requiring self-arranged customs clearance and pickup, suitable for large-volume goods; express is door-to-door, including customs clearance and delivery, suitable for small batches. Compared with Sea Freight, express is extremely fast but costly. Compared with Postal Parcel, express has more stable timeliness and better tracking, but higher price. Foreign trade practitioners should choose the appropriate method based on cargo characteristics, timeliness requirements, and cost budget.