Chunghwa Post yesterday announced that it would launch an international ePacket shipping service next month and cease handling international registered small packets.
The state-run postal service said in a statement it would launch the international ePacket service on April 1, expanding availability from 24 countries and territories to any destination that accepts international airmail.
At the same time, the postal service would no longer accept international registered small packets, it said.
Photo: Lin Chih-yi, Taipei Times
The change comes in response to policy adjustments by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the rapid growth of global cross-border e-commerce, the company said.
Following the launch of the new service, registered mail services would be limited to documents, such as letters, postcards, aerograms, newspapers and printed materials, it added.
Demand in the postal market has increasingly shifted toward small-parcel delivery services that offer tracking, higher operational efficiency and more competitive pricing, it said.
“International registered small packets require recipients’ signatures upon delivery, written inquiries for tracking issues and more manual processing, resulting in higher operational costs,” the company said.
By contrast, the international ePacket service provides full online tracking throughout the shipping process and does not require a signature upon delivery.
Moreover, international ePacket rates are generally lower than those of international registered small packets sent via airmail, the company said.
Customers can track the shipment status through Chunghwa Post’s global information Web site, making the service particularly suitable for cross-border e-commerce sellers and people sending lightweight items abroad, it added.
A 300g packet to Japan sent as a registered small packet currently costs NT$173, including a postage fee of NT$108 and a registration fee of NT$65.
Through the ePacket service, the same shipment would cost NT$140, saving about NT$33, the company said.
The company announced on Tuesday last week that it has temporarily suspended international mail services to 15 countries due to the impact of the US-Iran war.
The 15 are: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Israel, Pakistan, Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Greece, Egypt and Morocco, a notice posted on Chunghwa Post’s official Web site says.
Additional reporting by CNA
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS