The 6 Best International Shipping Services To Grow Your Ecommerce Business

Did you know Australia Post found that over 60% of Australian retailers shipped parcels internationally in 2023?

This figure increased from 54% the year before as more ecommerce businesses began sending products to countries like the UK, the US and New Zealand.

It’s because there are fewer barriers than ever. While you still need to know what you can and can’t send overseas, as well as fill out some paperwork, there are international shipping services that specialise in delivering ecommerce products to all corners of the globe.

The benefits to your business include opening up potential new markets and reducing seasonal slowdowns. There are also significant revenue advantages.

In this article, we’ll showcase the best international services available. We’ll also break down the factors to consider when choosing a courier partner.

Why is International Shipping Important for Ecommerce?

The main reason why international shipping is crucial for ecommerce businesses is that it brings phenomenal growth opportunities. It can create new connections with customers across the world.

Some of the many benefits it brings to ecommerce businesses include:

• New Markets: You might have a solid local foundation, but scaling globally can secure new markets that are much larger.
• Expanded Customer Base: With new markets come new customers. Exposing your online business to other countries can significantly increase sales as more shoppers purchase your products.
• Increased Revenue: The rise in sales will grow your revenue. If you price your product range right, the additional taxes and custom fees won’t eat into your margins.
• Competitive Advantage: Some businesses get overwhelmed by even thinking about shipping parcels internationally. But technological solutions like Interparcel make it easier than you think. This can provide you with a major selling point over your competitors.

The Top International Shipping Services for Ecommerce

You have access to multiple courier partners in Australia with the expertise to deliver your parcels safely and securely overseas. If you’re looking for a recommendation, here are the companies we suggest.

1. UPS

Over 18 million parcels a day. That’s how many packages UPS deliver daily to more than 220 countries. It’s one of the most respected and trusted courier brands, and they have the awards to prove it. These are the international services they provide:

• UPS Document Express: A speedy service when your recipient needs documents fast. They can receive it within four working days.
• UPS Document Saver: If the express option is outside of your budget, the saver option can save you some cash.
• UPS Expedited: Your international customers can expect their packages within ten working days.
• UPS Express: If they need their parcel faster, you can opt for this service, which takes only four working days.
• UPS Express Freight: UPS also provide pallet options. This offering takes up to seven working days.
• UPS Express Saver: The saver option is a little cheaper and offers the same speedy delivery service.
• UPS Import Expedited: You can also import items with UPS. They will arrive in up to seven working days.
• UPS Import Express Freight: For pallet imports, choose this international service so it can arrive within seven working days.
• UPS Import Express Saver: If you need your import sooner, this service will take up to five working days.

2. FedEx

Did you know FedEx is one of the world’s largest express courier companies? It has an extensive presence in several countries, including Australia, where it merged with TNT. Their services include:

• FX Economy: Despite being an affordable option, it can deliver your parcel worldwide within seven working days for non-remote areas.
• FX Economy Freight: Need to ship a pallet? This option will arrive within 12 working days in non-remote areas.
• FX Import Economy: Importing is also easy with FedEx. This service will take up to ten working days after collection. It’s a little longer for remote locations.
• FX Import Economy Freight: If you have a large shipment to import, choose this offering to receive it within ten working days.
• FX Import Priority: FedEx also has a faster importing solution if you need it within four working days of collection.
• FX Import Priority Freight: The pallet import option can be received within seven working days after collection.
• FX Priority: For faster shipping to your international customer, this service will deliver items within four working days.
• FX Priority Freight: The pallet alternative will take up to seven working days.

When browsing FedEx international services in Interparcel’s Shipping Manager, you can filter results by speed or price to help you choose the right one for your needs and budget.

3. TNT

As a part of the FedEx family, TNT leverages the global courier provider's strengths to offer exceptional international services. TNT has a stellar reputation in Australia but it also conducts hundreds of flights every week. Their offerings include:

• TNT Document Express: This option is perfect if you need any document delivered within four working days.
• TNT Economy: It’s an excellent, cost-effective solution to deliver parcels up to 55 kg and 240 cm worldwide.
• TNT Economy Freight: A pallet option for deliveries within seven working days is also available. However, due to customs clearance, transit times can be up to three days.
• TNT Express: One of the fastest solutions for international deliveries. Parcels can be received within four working days in non-remote areas.
• TNT Express Freight: A speedy pallet option that only takes seven working days to deliver after collection.
• TNT Import Economy: TNT also provides importing options. This service takes up to nine working days after collection.
• TNT Import Economy Freight: The pallet service is just as fast. But, it may require up to three days of clearance due to customs.
• TNT Import Express: If nine days is too long, this service can import your goods within seven working days.
• TNT Import Express Freight: The pallet option is just as quick, pending customs clearance.

Another benefit of TNT is that it offers B2B and B2C international services. However, you must be careful when choosing the correct one to avoid surcharges.

4. Australia Post

While Australia Post is responsible for delivering envelopes and lightweight parcels throughout the country, it can also deliver items overseas. Their international services include:

• Economy: If speed isn’t a priority and you don’t require tracking, this international service is for you. It does have an optional signature on delivery add-on and transit cover for items above $100.
• Standard: This service includes tracked delivery and other optional extras. It’s ideal for parcels up to 20 kg.
• Express: It’s a speedier service that includes tracking and signature on delivery. This will give you confidence in knowing your parcel has been received.
• Courier: Australia Post’s premium service is only available at selected outlets. It also comes with tracking and signature on delivery.

If you have a MyPost Business or Parcel Contract account, you can now integrate them with Interparcel. You’ll gain access to all your user-friendly, time-saving tools and pay-per-order, not per-label like other shipping solutions. This way, you maximise your profits and reinvest them by entering new international markets.

5. DHL eCommerce

A sub-division of DHL, this courier specialises in giving business owners choice, control and convenience of their shipping needs. No matter where your customers are located, DHL ecommerce can safely deliver it. Their services include:

• DHL eCommerce Packet Plus: If you sell jewellery or light apparel, this service is a cost-efficient way to deliver parcels up to two kilograms. It’s a hybrid offering that uses couriers and local postal services. But it does mean you have limited milestone tracking.
• DHL eCommerce Packet Plus Bulk: The bulk offering allows you to combine multiple satchels into one box. It does require a separate pickup, but you can choose any courier company to complete this task.
• DHL eCommerce Parcel Direct: Choose this offering for more traditional international services. It provides complete tracking visibility for parcels up to 6 kg and 68 cm in length.
• DHL eCommerce Parcel Direct Bulk: The bulk offering provides identical features for items with a commercial value of less than $800.

The Interparcel International Bulk Solution is designed for online businesses selling small and lightweight products. The cost of shipping these items overseas can be prohibitive. But this solution fixes the issue by combining multiple satchels into one box, paying one pick-up fee and utilising the local postal services to finalise the delivery.

6. DHL

Boasting a fleet of more than 250 aircraft globally, DHL is one of the largest courier companies in the world and an expert in international shipping. Some of their offerings include:

• Interparcel Document Express (DHL Document Express): An excellent option to send contracts or records to another country within four working days.
• Interparcel Express (DHL Express): Ship packages up to 40 kg and 180 cm in length to any country within four working days. If the package is travelling to remote areas, it may take longer.
• Interparcel Import Express (DHL Import Express): Need some items imported? This service can deliver them within six working days after collection.

DHL has access to over 500 airports worldwide and specialises in optimising routes to ensure their packages arrive quickly. They have also won several awards for customer service and do what it takes to keep clients long-term

What to Consider When Choosing The Right International Shipping Partner

As you can see, there are several high-quality international courier companies. But which one is right for your ecommerce business? Here’s how you can decide.

• Delivery Speed: Just like domestic customers, international shoppers want their parcels fast. Choose a courier company to get packages to their recipients within a reasonable timeframe. In Shipping Manager, you can sort services by speed to find the best option.
• Excluded and Restricted Items: Some courier companies won’t carry certain items. Review the list of restricted and prohibited items for the providers you’re considering before booking. Shipping one of these materials can result in surcharges, fines, and other punishments.
• Tracking Services: As international delivery takes longer than usual, you should keep tabs on where your items are. If you notice or are alerted to a delay, proactively reach out to customers to manage their expectations.
• Coverage: You must confirm that your preferred courier provider ships to your customer’s location. While they may deliver to the country, they might not take it to remote areas. Confirm their processes to see if they outsource it to contractors or use the local postal network.
• Customer Support: If something goes wrong, you want to know, it is easy to get a hold of a service team. The good news is that if you ship with Interparcel, we can use our connections to find the answers faster and get the solutions you need.

How Interparcel Can Support Your International Shipping Services

International shipping doesn’t have to be overwhelming or drain the hours from your day. Our free and user-friendly fulfilment tools can help you automate manual tasks and fulfil orders for your global fanbase in minutes. Here’s how we can help:

• Shipping Manager: Comparing couriers for all your orders is seamless in Shipping Manager. You can review international courier providers in one dashboard and sort results by company, speed of delivery, or price.
• Transit Cover: You’ll have peace of mind knowing you get up to $100 of transit cover with your Interparcel shipment. There is also an option to purchase more up to a maximum of $2000.
• Branded Tracking: Allow customers to track their parcels as they travel overseas. You can customise the portal to match your brand identity and include banners featuring exclusive offers or upcoming sales events.
• Calculators: Getting a quick quote for international delivery with Interparcel is easy. Select the destination country from the dropdown menu to determine the cost of shipping your item.
• Rule Manager: You can use Rule Manager to automate all those mind-numbing repetitive tasks. If you choose the same courier company for all international deliveries, set a condition and rule so the settings are automatically applied once you import orders into Shipping Manager.
• Smart Boxing: If you want to save as much money as possible on packaging materials, use Smart Boxing. It will provide recommendations for preparing multi-item orders and limit the padding you need to include to protect your products.
• Customer Service: When you encounter international shipping issues, contact our support team via phone, live chat, or email. We have direct access to couriers and can get answers to your questions faster.

Get Ready to Go Global

Scaling your ecommerce business globally is becoming a necessity. You can’t sit back and plan for the best time to enter international markets. With partners like Interparcel, we can help you get your products into your customer’s hands quickly and cheaply.

We also reduce the complexities of international shipping. Our services can help you deliver to over 200 countries with trusted companies like UPS, FedEx, and TNT. You also gain access to time-saving tools that speed up your fulfilment operations.

The best part is that it’s free to use. All you have to do is sign up for an Interparcel account to start putting your plans into motion.

FAQ

What is the Cheapest Way to Ship Internationally?

The cost of shipping parcels internationally varies. It’s based on the location you're shipping to, as well as the size and weight of the parcel. When comparing services with Interparcel, you can filter results by price to find the cheapest option.

What Service is Best for International Shipping?

The best international shipping service will depend on the item you are sending. Fortunately, there are several offerings available that cater to different needs. For example, the Interparcel International Bulk Solution is perfect for small and lightweight items. But if you need to send something heavier or on pallets, you should look at companies like TNT, UPS, and FedEx.

Which Courier Service is Best for International Shipping?

TNT, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and DHL eCommerce have stellar reputations in international markets. You can trust them to deliver your parcel to the recipient.

Which International Courier is Fastest?

Companies like DHL and FedEx can deliver your parcel in four working days to any country. However, it may take longer if it needs to travel to a remote location.

How Long Does International Shipping Take?

International deliveries can take anywhere from four to ten working days. When comparing options with Interparcel, sort results by estimated delivery time to find the fastest service.