DHL Suspends Consumer Shipments Over USD 800 to U.S. Following Customs Rule Change

DHL Express, the international courier arm of Germany’s Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced on April 19 that it will temporarily suspend direct consumer deliveries to U.S. residences for any parcel valued above USD 800. This measure takes effect on April 21 and is a direct response to new rules from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that lower the de minimis exemption threshold from USD 2,500 to USD 800 overnight.

Regulatory Change Drives Suspension

Under the revised CBP directive, parcels exceeding the USD 800 de minimis level now require a formal customs entry, complete with invoices and additional documentation. The sudden influx of higher‑value consignments into formal clearance channels has overwhelmed DHL’s existing processes, prompting the carrier to halt affected B2C shipments until it can bolster its clearance capacity.

Impact on Shippers and Consumers

• Unaffected Shipments:

  • Business‑to‑business (B2B) parcels of any value.

  • All shipments (B2B and B2C) declared at USD 800 or less.

• Delayed or Suspended:

  • B2C consignments above USD 800 will not be accepted or delivered until further notice.

DHL reassures customers that it is working to minimize disruptions. The company urges e‑commerce retailers and individual shippers to adjust declared values or route high‑value parcels through their business channels.

Industry Reaction and Next Steps

The move by DHL follows similar measures from other international carriers that are grappling with the new customs workload. Hongkong Post, for instance, recently suspended sea‑mail shipments to the U.S. in protest of the lower de minimis level and associated duties.

DHL has committed to expanding its customs‑entry teams and streamlining documentation workflows. It expects to lift the suspension once it demonstrates the capacity to process formal entries efficiently, likely ahead of another set of CBP rule changes slated for May 2.