{"id":1048,"date":"2020-12-21T14:27:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T19:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/universal-postal-union-track\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T22:26:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T22:26:01","slug":"universal-postal-union-track","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/universal-postal-union-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Universal Postal Union (UPU) Tracking for Ecommerce Orders: Is It Reliable?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Table of Contents<\/p>

** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

What is Universal Postal Union tracking?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does the UPU track a package?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the issues with using UPU tracking?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using 3PL fulfilment for more reliable shipping<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universal Postal Union tracking FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Universal Postal Union<\/a> (UPU) was established in 1874 after the Treaty of Bern was signed, and is one of the United Nations\u2019 specialized agencies. It consists of four bodies: Congress, Council of Administration, Postal Operations Council, and the International Bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was established due to a high demand for an international mail postal system with lower rates and faster turn around times. Prior to its establishment, mailing letters and small packages internationally was expensive and difficult since every country had its own postal agreements. This led to issues such as the need to add multiple stamps to a letter for each country it passes through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the UPU\u2019s sole purpose is to encourage global postal growth by coordinating policies amongst its 192 member countries. They set technical and security standards across postal operators for international delivery and bring unity to the process of sending letters and small packages across borders within the member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many ecommerce businesses selling products in developing nations, you might come across UPU tracking. But is UPU tracking reliable? In this article, you\u2019ll learn more about what UPU tracking entails.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Universal Postal Union tracking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UPU itself is a specialized agency of the United Nations, which is in charge of setting technical and security standards across postal operators for international delivery. In cooperation with shipping operators, the UPU established the International Postal System (IPS), a universal application to manage mail processes, which includes tracking of international parcels and mail. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does the UPU track a package?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With UPU tracking, once you ship a package, you will receive a 13-digit code that looks like this: XX000000000XX. The initial two letters refer to the type of package, while the final two letters are the country of origin\u2019s code. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the barcode is generated, it is scanned and all the courier\u2019s information is inputted into the tracking system. This includes details such as the time the parcel left the agency, to be delivered, where the mail came from, and where it\u2019s headed, etc. The item then reaches another branch of the agency, located near the buyer\u2019s location, where the shipping barcode<\/a> is scanned again. These new details are stored in the system, including the time at which the parcel was received. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The item is once again scanned at the agency before being sent out for delivery. This information is stored in the tracking system<\/a>, including the dispatch time. Finally, the tracking system updates the delivery status after the item reaches the buyer. Packages can be tracked online using the tracking code. The <\/span>UPU continuously tracks the package and can provide your customers with tracking details through the online tracker here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the issues with using UPU tracking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recently, the Trump administration threatened to withdraw from the UPU, unless a deal was made. In September 2019, the UPU and the Trump administration reached a deal and has agreed to let the US determine its own rates for small packages. You can get more insights on this topic here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though a deal was reached, some changes still impact businesses. Between the postage increases in January 2020 and ones that took effect in July 2020, postage rates for international small packages from the US to other countries have increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These continuous changes can impact UPU tracking and its reliability. Here\u2019s an overview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher tariffs from China<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because of the ongoing US-China economic trade war, higher tariffs are being imposed on imports from China to the U.S, and vice versa. Consequently, ecommerce businesses are having to spend lots more on international shipping<\/a>. <\/span>In 2020, USPS raised the fees it charges for incoming parcels. International shippers, including from China, now have to pay $2.87 per package and $3.95 per kilogram (2.2 pounds). This is a huge increase in shipping costs on small parcels from China to the United States<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unreliable tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The UPU\u2019s tracking system can be unreliable since transit times would depend on individual agreements between the US and different countries, rather than through the UPU. Because of this, it can be a challenge to accurately track packages depending on what countries it must travel through to reach its destination. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher terminal dues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The UPU meets every few years to renegotiate its treaty to ensure it is economically feasible for someone in a developing country to send international mail. To do this, the UPU charges lower terminal fees to economically disadvantaged nations. An agreement that took effect in 2018 raised terminal fees for certain countries with strong economies, such as China. However, the higher fees still don\u2019t cover the full cost for the USPS to deliver packages to countries like China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using 3PL fulfilment for more reliable shipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A third-party logistics<\/a> (3PL) provider like ShipBob offers best-in-class fulfilment and logistics services for ecommerce brands. By outsourcing fulfilment<\/a> to ShipBob, you can easily optimise your logistics operations<\/a> while saving time and money in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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