Pricing & Classification DMM Advisory

Message board to keep postal customers informed of changes to mailing standards, services, and prices.

April 10, 2020

UPDATE 20: International Mail Service Disruptions Due to COVID-19

On April 10, 2020, the Postal Service™ received notifications from various postal operators regarding changes in international mail services due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The following countries have suspended certain mail services:

Madagascar UPDATE: Paositra Malagasy has advised that the Government of Madagascar has extended the state of emergency in the country until April 19, 2020.

South Africa UPDATE: South African Post Office Ltd. has advised that the government has extended the lockdown until April 30, 2020. The previously declared force majeure situation remains in place. At present, normal services are due to resume as of May 4, 2020.

Unless otherwise noted, service suspensions to a particular country do not affect delivery of military and diplomatic mail.

The following countries have announced service disruptions:

Philippines UPDATE: Philippine Postal Corporation has advised the period of community quarantine has been extended until April 30, 2020.

  • International mail processing centers will maintain a skeleton workforce in order to accept incoming international dispatches. However, items will be processed and forwarded to delivery post offices upon resumption of the normal work schedule, which is schedule for April 30, 2020.
  • There will be no international dispatches from the Philippines to the United States until end of the community quarantine.

Delays to inbound and outbound postal items are expected during the community quarantine period. Detailed information on the areas covered by the community quarantine will be provided as soon as it is available.

South Korea UPDATE: Korea Post has advised that, owing to the suspension of flights, the processing of all outbound letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items destined to Guam is suspended from April 10, 2020 until further notice.

These service disruptions affect Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI), Priority Mail International® (PMI), First-Class Mail International® (FCMI), First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®), International Priority Airmail® (IPA®), International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®), and M-Bag® items.

The DMM Advisory will continue to update mailers regarding new service disruptions as they are received. For a full list of international service disruptions, please visit https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm