In foreign trade, 'Postal Items' typically refer to letters, parcels, and other items sent through the postal system, not email. It is a mode of international cargo transport suitable for small, low-value, non-urgent samples, documents, or small batches of goods. Use cases include: sending samples, documents, small accessories, etc. Precautions: understand each country's postal prohibitions and restrictions, pay attention to declared value and tariff thresholds, keep mailing receipts for inquiries or claims; slower transit times, tracking information may be incomplete. Compared with commercial express (e.g., DHL, FedEx), postal items are lower cost but slower and have lower compensation limits; compared with full container sea/air freight, postal items are suitable for small items and do not require formal customs declaration. Foreign trade practitioners should weigh cost, timeliness, and security; for high-value or urgent goods, commercial express or formal customs declaration transport is recommended.
📝 Examples
1. We have sent three samples by postal airmail, expected to arrive in 7-10 working days; please keep an eye out for them. (Note: Using postal mail to send samples and informing the customer of the estimated transit time.)
2. Since the goods value is below USD 800, we choose to ship by postal parcel to save express costs and avoid formal customs declaration. (Note: Using postal items to avoid high express fees and complex customs procedures.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
For unfamiliar terms, use GlobalSync's multilingual email helper to confirm with your partner