Service Alert – 01 March 2024
In an effort to ensure you’re aware of any service disruptions that may impact your business, please see the postal and carrier alerts and updates around the globe.
We will update regularly with continuing news and information as we receive it, in order to keep your operations informed.
AUSTRALIA
Intelligence received by Everstream Analytics on February 29 indicated that Australia Post has declared force majeure with effect from February 28. Reportedly, wildfires in Victoria have been impacting the collection and delivery of all mail products. Among the most affected areas are the following postcode areas: 3352, 3373, 3467, 3468, 3477, 3478, 3469, 3370 and 3352. As a result of widespread wildfires, mail flows into and out of Australia are also likely due to transportation disruptions. It remains unclear how long the disruptions may persist.
USA
Disaster declaration in Texas due to wildfires: Media sources on February 28 reported that authorities had issued a disaster declaration for at least 60 counties in Texas, the United States following the breakout of multiple wildfires. Sources indicated that the Texas Panhandle region is most impacted, with at least 13 wildfires burning out of control. Several cities and towns including Amarillo are at risk of the wildfires. Highways 136, 83, and 23 are closed. Thousands of residents are being urged to evacuate. Business and transportation disruptions are expected.
USA
Weather conditions in Louisville, Kentucky, caused a disruption to operations in the United States. As a result, some shipments may experience unavoidable delays.
GREECE
Due to a strike at our network partner Hellenic Post on Wednesday the 28th of February, delays may be expected in the delivery of mail and parcels in Greece.
MEXICO
We have been informed that the Alianza Mexicana de Organización de Transportistas A.C. will resort to a national strike on 15 February 2024 on all highways in the country of Mexico.
Delays may be expected in the delivery of mail and parcels in Mexico.
BELGIUM
Due to farmers protests in Belgium, delays are expected in the delivery of mail and parcels.
FRANCE
French farmers plan blockade of several highways leading to Belgian border: Media sources reported on February 1 that French farmers have planned a blockade of major highway crossings between France and Belgium, including the A22 at Rekkem, the A27 at Baisieux, and the A2 at Saint-Aybert. These border regions are likely to experience heavy traffic. Logistics disruptions are likely.
ITALY
Due to a backlog at Poste Italiane, please expect delays in the delivery of mail and parcels in Italy.
SPAIN/PORTUGAL
Portugal: Mail and parcels with destination Spain/Portugal and returns from Spain/Portugal may be delayed due to strikes and blockades of the agricultural sector in France.
BELGIUM
Highway blockades due to farmer protest: On January 29, media reports revealed that farmers from the Federation of Young Farmers (FJA) have begun launching intermittent highway blockades across Belgium since the evening of January 28. As of the morning of January 29, blockades are being reported along several roadways includ-ing the E411, E42, E19, the Brussels ring road, and the N4. The blockades are expected to last for a few hours until the end of the morning rush hour. Further blockades are possible over the course of the week. Disruptions to logistics operations are possible.
FINLAND
Postal workers join nationwide strike: Media sources indicate that the Finnish Post and Logistics Union (PAU) have confirmed their partic-ipation in a nationwide strike across Finland on February 1 and February 2 respectively. The work stoppages will be held from 00:00 to 02:00 local time on February 1 as well as on shifts starting from 18:00 local time on February 2. The strikes are to oppose the government’s planned legisla-tive reforms related to social security cuts. Delays in the mail and parcel delivery services of Posti Group Oyj can be expected.
UNITED KINGDOM
Due to storm Jocelyn, please expect delays in the delivery of mail and parcels in the United Kingdom.
THAILAND
Due to a relocation of the Thailand Post sorting center, please expect delays in the delivery of mail and parcels in Thailand.
Expected delays: 2-3 days
IRELAND
Due to storm Isha, please expect delays in the delivery of mail and parcels in Ireland.
Expected delays: 2-3 days
BRAZIL
Postal workers in Brazil will be going on indefinite strike in Sao Paulo, Rio, Tacantins and Maranhao starting November 23. This strike will affect 40% of the national workforce.
We do not know whether or not this is a total work stoppage or a slowdown but please expect clearance and delivery delays.
ISRAEL
Israel Post would like to inform you that, as a result of the ongoing conflict and severe military situation in Israel, it is currently unable to deliver postal items to, or receive them from, the Gaza Strip.
Therefore, there will be no postal exchanges with the Gaza Strip until further notice.
UNITED KINGDOM
Royal Mail continues to dispatch export mails for all subclasses utilizing international mail processing center (IMPC) codes GBLALE and GBATHA through the UPU Postal Technology Centre’s IPS Cloud solution. Outbound dispatches are still being delayed and tracking elements impacted owing to the fact that the Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC) is not currently fully operational.
Import letter-post volumes to the UK are being subjected to continued delays, which is negatively affecting quality of service owing to the need to use contingency operational sites, processes and routings in the UK to mitigate the lack of processing capability at the HWDC import office of exchange.
Clearance delays should be expected.
CANADA’S BAN ON CERTAIN HARMFUL SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
Effective December 20, 2022, the manufacture and import for sale of the following harmful single-use plastics in Canada will be prohibited:
checkout bags
cutlery
foodservice ware made from, or containing, problematic plastics that are hard to recycle
stir sticks
straws (with some exceptions*)
To provide businesses in Canada with enough time to transition and to deplete their existing stocks, the Regulations will enter into force through a phased approach:
Starting on December 20, 2022, with the prohibition on the import and manufacture of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from problematic plastics, stir sticks, and straws; the prohibition on the sale of these items will come into force in December 2023.
In June 2023, the manufacture and import of ring carriers in Canada will be prohibited and the sale of these items will be prohibited in June 2024.
As of June 2024, the sale of flexible straws packaged with beverage containers will be prohibited.
By the end of 2025 the Government will also prohibit the manufacture and import for the purposes of export of all six categories of single-use plastics, making Canada the first among peer jurisdictions to do so internationally. These phased timelines recognize the complexity associated with retooling manufacturing lines for these products.
* Exceptions to the ban on straws allow single-use plastic flexible straws to remain available for people in Canada who require them for medical or accessibility reasons. This includes for use at home, in social settings, or in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and long term care facilities. All other types of single-use plastic straws will be prohibited.
RUSSIA, AFGHANISTAN
No Russian and Afghanistan transportation as of yet. International Transportation will keep us posted
BELARUS SERVICE SUSPENSION – EFFECTIVE 22 JULY 2022
Due to restrictions imposed by governments and/or carriers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask that you please not send any shipments destined to Belarus until further notice.
Please note, if material to Belarus is received by APC accidentally, we will ship once restrictions have been lifted and service resumes.
If you have any additional questions, please contact your Customer Service Representative or your Sales Representative.
UKRAINE
The designated operator of Ukraine, Joint Stock Company “Ukrposhta”, wishes to update all on the situation with postal operations following the Russian Federation’s military actions towards Ukraine.
Situation as of 10.00 on Monday, 28 February 2022:
Despite ongoing heavy fighting in Kyiv, other major cities and other locations in Ukraine, Ukrposhta has opened post offices in 20 regions, so that customers can receive pensions and other benefits, and receive parcels. The working hours of most open post offices will be reduced to enable staff to return home earlier.
With road access for postal exchanges with its centre in Kyiv severely limited, Ukrposhta has moved some outbound mail processing operations to the Lviv office of exchange.
Ukrposhta is again asking the designated operators of other Union member countries to send their international postal items to Ukraine in closed transit via Poland, Slovakia or Latvia. Ukrposhta is collecting the consignments from those countries.
Ukrposhta is doing its best to deliver all incoming postal items to addressees in Ukraine as quickly as possible; however, this will depend on the security situation in specific locations, as the lives of staff and customers are the top priority.
Many designated operators have asked how they can help Ukraine, so a special “Help Ukraine” project (helpukraine.center/en) has been launched to provide humanitarian aid. Currently, the project involves one warehouse in Poland, but more will be added, probably also in other countries. A green corridor will be organized for such humanitarian aid. Those wishing to help Ukraine are asked to use this special warehouse as a transhipment terminal.
If postal customers abroad wish to send aid to specific addressees in Ukraine, they are kindly requested to send it in closed transit via the Polish, Slovak or Latvian Post. The value of such private parcels may not exceed 100 EUR.
Ukrposhta is grateful for all the incredible support that the world is providing to Ukraine and to Ukrposhta at this difficult time. It will continue to inform the international postal community about any developments.
