Effective January 22, 2023, the Postal Service™ revised Notice 123, Price List, to reflect price changes and classification changes to certain international Competitive Services, as established by the Governors of the Postal Service. The new prices are based on Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Order No. 6384 issued on December 22, 2022, in Docket Number CP2023-42. In that order, the PRC found that the price adjustments included in the Postal Service’s notice may go into effect on January 22, 2023. The order is available on the PRC website at prc.gov. The entire Notice 123 is available for review on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
Also effective January 22, 2023, the Postal Service revised Notice 123 to conform to requested country nomenclature by changing the official name of Turkey to the Republic of Turkiye (with Turkiye as the short name). (For more information, see “IMM Revision: Change to Country Name for Turkey in this issue of the Postal Bulletin.)
Regarding price changes, for Priority Mail International® items destined to Canada, the Postal Service collapsed price groups 1.1 through 1.8 (which are based on origin ZIP Code™) into a single country group. In addition, the Postal Service eliminated the related fee for the International Service Center (ISC) Official Zone Chart for Priority Mail International pieces destined to Canada.
This article further describes the international price and classification changes and the corresponding mailing standards changes for international Competitive Services approved by the PRC on December 22, 2022.
The Postal Service incorporated price changes into the January 22, 2023, edition of Notice 123 for the following Competitive Services:
n Global Express Guaranteed®.
n Priority Mail Express International®.
n Priority Mail International®.
n First-Class Package International Service®.
n International Priority Airmail®.
n International Surface Air Lift®.
n Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (Airmail M-bag®).
n The following competitive international extra services and fees:
n International Insurance.
n Certificate of Mailing.
n International Registered Mail.
n International Return Receipt.
n Customs Clearance and Delivery Fee.
For pricing, see the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com.
Global Express Guaranteed (GXG®) service provides fast international shipping, with international transportation and delivery provided through an alliance with FedEx Express®. The price increase for GXG service averaged 4.9 percent.
The Postal Service provides Commercial Base® pricing to online customers who prepare and pay for GXG shipments via payment methods approved by the Postal Service (other than Click-N-Ship® service), with a discount below the published retail prices for GXG service. Customers who prepare GXG shipments via Click-N-Ship service will continue to pay retail prices. Commercial Plus® prices are set to match the Commercial Base prices.
Priority Mail Express International (PMEI) service provides fast service to approximately 180 countries in 3–5 business days for many major markets, although the actual number of days may vary based upon origin, destination, and customs delays. PMEI with Money-Back Guarantee service is available for certain destinations. (Due to COVID-19 service impacts, PMEI with Money-Back Guarantee service has been suspended for several destinations until further notice. For more information, see the USPS® Service Updates page on usps.com.) The price increase for PMEI service averaged 6.0 percent. The Commercial Base price provides a discount below the published retail prices for customers who prepare and pay for PMEI shipments via permit imprint, online at usps.com, or as registered end-users using an authorized PC Postage® vendor (with the exception of Click-N-Ship service). Customers who prepare PMEI shipments via Click-N-Ship service pay retail prices. Commercial Plus is equivalent to Commercial Base; however, deeper discounting may be available to customers through negotiated service agreements.
The Postal Service continues to include PMEI service in customized contracts offered to customers who meet certain revenue thresholds and who are willing to commit a larger amount of revenue to the Postal Service for PMEI service and PMI service.
PMEI flat rate pricing continues to be available for Flat Rate Envelopes.
Priority Mail International (PMI) is an economical way to send merchandise and documents to approximately 180 countries in 6–10 business days for many major markets, although the actual number of days may vary based upon origin, destination, and customs delays. The price increase for PMI service averaged 6.0 percent. The Commercial Base price provides a discount below the published retail prices for customers who prepare and pay for PMI items via permit imprint, online at usps.com, or as registered end-users using an authorized PC Postage vendor (with the exception of Click-N-Ship). Customers who prepare PMI shipments via Click-N-Ship pay retail prices. Commercial Plus prices are equivalent to Commercial Base; however, deeper discounting may be available to customers through negotiated service agreements.
The Postal Service continues to include PMI service in customized contracts offered to customers who meet certain revenue thresholds and are willing to commit to a larger amount of revenue to the USPS for PMEI and PMI.
PMI flat rate pricing continues to be available for Flat Rate Envelopes, Small Flat Rate Boxes, and Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes.
First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS®) is an economical international service for small packages not exceeding 4 pounds in weight and $400 in value. The price increase for FCPIS averaged 6.5 percent. The Commercial Base price provides a discount below the published retail prices for customers who prepare and pay for FCPIS items via permit imprint or by USPS-approved online payment methods. Customers who prepare FCPIS shipments via Click-N-Ship service pay retail prices. Commercial Plus prices are equivalent to Commercial Base; however, deeper discounting may be available to customers through negotiated service agreements.
Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International service (E-USPS DELCON INTL®) is a tracking service available at no charge for FCPIS items to select destination countries.
International Priority Airmail (IPA®) service, including IPA M-bags, is a commercial service designed for volume mailings of all First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, and large envelopes (flats), and for volume mailings of FCPIS packages (small packets) weighing up to a maximum of 4.4 pounds. IPA shipments are typically flown to foreign destinations (exceptions apply to Canada) and are then entered into that country’s air or surface priority mail system for delivery. The price for IPA service increased 3.5 percent. International Surface Airlift (ISAL®) service is like IPA service except that, once flown to the foreign destination, ISAL shipments are entered into that country’s air or surface nonpriority mail system for delivery. The price for ISAL service increased 12.0 percent.
An Airmail M-bag is a direct sack of printed matter sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address. Prices are based on the weight of the sack. The price increase for Airmail M-bag service averaged 6.4 percent.
Depending on country destination and mail type, customers may add a variety of extra services to their outbound shipments and pay a variety of fees. The Postal Service increased fees for certain competitive international extra services as follows:
n GXG insurance: There is no charge for GXG insurance for coverage up to $100. The fee for GXG insurance increased to $2.45 for each additional $100 or fraction over $100, up to a maximum indemnity of $2,499 per shipment (the maximum indemnity varies by country).
n PMEI and PMI merchandise insurance: There is no charge for PMEI and PMI merchandise insurance coverage up to $200. The fee for PMEI and PMI merchandise insurance increased to $3.40 for each additional $100 or fraction over $200 as set forth in the table shown here, up to a maximum indemnity of $5,000 (the maximum indemnity varies by country).
n Certificate of Mailing service: Prices for competitive international Certificate of Mailing service increased as follows:
n International Registered Mail service: The fee for competitive international Registered Mail increased to $19.05.
n International Return Receipt service: The fee for competitive international Return Receipt service increased to $5.30.
n Customs clearance and delivery fee: The competitive customs clearance and delivery fee per dutiable item increased to $7.85.
n Pickup on Demand: The fee for Pickup on Demand® increased to $26.50.
The Postal Service has already incorporated these revisions into Notice 123, which is available via Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 2-9-23
