Home Business Transportation and Logistics DHL Temporarily Suspends U.S.-...

DHL Temporarily Suspends U.S.-Bound Consumer Shipments Above $800

Transportation and Logistics

Business Honor
21 April, 2025

Stricter U.S. trade rules prompt DHL to pause high-value consumer shipments temporarily.

Global logistics provider DHL has announced a temporary suspension of business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments valued over $800 entering the United States. The move, effective April 21, 2025, is in response to increased customs clearance delays following recent changes to U.S. import regulations.

The decision comes after new U.S. trade rules took effect on April 5, lowering the threshold for formal customs processing from $2,500 to $800. Under the updated policy, shipments above $800 now require more extensive documentation, which has caused notable transit delays for international logistics providers.

DHL stated on its official website and in customer communications that the volume of formal customs entries has significantly increased, resulting in multi-day delays for affected shipments. The suspension is described as temporary and does not impact business-to-business (B2B) shipments or B2C shipments valued below the $800 threshold.

“We are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase,” DHL noted in its message to clients. “This temporary measure allows us to maintain service quality while adapting to the new customs landscape.”

Historically, importers have used informal entry processes for shipments under $2,500. However, with the revised threshold, many packages now require formal processing. The U.S. de minimis exemption, which allows shipments under $800 to enter duty-free, is also expected to change next month for goods originating from China, further shaping the logistics landscape.

DHL joins a growing list of global shipping companies adapting to evolving U.S. trade policy. FedEx and UPS have already introduced new fees for China-to-U.S. shipments, and Hong Kong’s postal service plans to suspend all U.S.-bound shipments by the end of April.

Customers are encouraged to monitor updates from DHL and consider adjusting declared shipment values or exploring B2B channels where possible.