FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About International Shipping

To get started, please provide SME SHIPPING with the following information:

• Destination country and city
• Item(s) you want to ship
• Approximate weight
• Approximate carton dimensions, if available
• Product photos, especially for food, cosmetics, liquids, medicines, supplements, electronic devices, or any item you are unsure about

If you do not have all the information yet, you can simply start with a product photo + destination country + approximate weight, and our team will help you check the available options.

Our main services include:

Express Document
For international document shipments, with an estimated transit time of approximately 2–3 business days.

Express Premium
A fast international parcel delivery service suitable for time-sensitive shipments, with an estimated transit time of approximately 2–3 business days.

Express Plus
An international express service offering a balance between delivery speed and cost, with an estimated transit time of approximately 3–5 business days.

AIRMAIL
Designed for small and lightweight parcels weighing up to 2 kg, with an estimated transit time of approximately 7–30 business days.

SME SHIPPING also offers destination-specific and route-specific services, such as China Direct, Korea Direct, Taiwan Direct, Singapore Direct, as well as international air freight and sea freight services.

Actual transit times may vary depending on the destination country, type of goods, customs clearance process, and selected service.

You do not need to select the service yourself.

Simply tell us the destination country, item details, approximate weight, and how urgently you need the shipment delivered.

Our team can help compare suitable shipping options based on the type of goods, transit time, and budget.

Our main Express services include pickup services subject to the terms and conditions of each service.

Some Economy, AIRMAIL, or Direct services may have a pickup fee or require a minimum shipment value to qualify for free pickup.

Our team will confirm the applicable conditions before you proceed with the shipment.

Many international shipping services compare two types of weight:

• Actual weight of the parcel
• Volumetric weight of the carton

For many Express and Direct services, volumetric weight is calculated as:

Width × Length × Height (cm) ÷ 5,000

The higher of the actual weight and volumetric weight is generally used as the chargeable weight.

If an item is lightweight but packed in a large carton, its volumetric weight may be higher than its actual weight.

For example, if the parcel weighs 5 kg but its volumetric weight is 9 kg, a service using chargeable weight will calculate the shipping cost based on 9 kg.

Choosing an appropriately sized carton can therefore help control shipping costs.

Yes.

The final price may change if the actual weight or carton dimensions after packing are different from the information originally provided.

Additional charges may also apply under certain conditions, such as:

• Oversized parcels
• Remote-area delivery
• Special handling requirements
• Other carrier-specific surcharges

Our team will inform you of the applicable charges according to the service conditions before proceeding.

Yes.

Many SME SHIPPING services include basic packing or protective packaging materials according to the conditions of the selected service.

Special packaging, wooden crates, or other customized packing solutions may involve additional charges.

Some types of food can be shipped internationally, but this does not mean that every type of food can be shipped to every country.

Certain dry foods, snacks, and commercially packaged food products may be accepted through supported shipping routes.

However, eligibility depends on factors such as:

• Type of food
• Ingredients
• Destination country
• Import regulations

If you are unsure, send us a photo of the product and the destination country so our team can help check it before shipping.

Some cosmetics and skincare products can be shipped through many of our available routes.

However, products containing liquids, alcohol, aerosols, or certain chemical ingredients may be subject to additional restrictions or documentation requirements.

We recommend sending us a product photo and ingredient information for review before shipping.

Some perfumes and liquid products can be shipped through services that support these types of goods, but not every shipping service accepts them.

Perfume containing alcohol may be classified under dangerous goods regulations and may require supporting documents such as an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) or other documentation depending on the shipping route.

Please have our team review the product before sending it.

Some services can accept electronic devices containing installed lithium batteries, but these shipments are subject to specific air-transport and documentation requirements.

Certain Direct services may not accept electronic devices or batteries at all.

Please provide the product model, battery information, and product photos so our team can check the available shipping options before shipment.

Medicines and dietary supplements must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The requirements depend on factors such as:

• Type of product
• Quantity
• Purpose of shipment
• Destination country
• Regulations of the relevant authorities

We recommend checking with our team before shipping these types of products.

Prohibited and restricted items vary depending on the destination country and selected shipping service.

In general, illegal goods, narcotics, cash, and goods prohibited by applicable import or export laws cannot be accepted for shipment.

For products such as food, cosmetics, liquids, perfume, batteries, medicines, supplements, artwork, or other regulated goods, you should not automatically assume that they cannot be shipped.

Some items may be accepted through specific routes if the required documents and shipping conditions are met.

If you are unsure, send us a photo of the item and let our team check it first.

The required documents depend on the type of goods, destination country, and shipping service.

For general merchandise, information may be required for a Commercial Invoice or customs documentation, including:

• Description of goods
• Quantity
• Value of goods
• Country of origin
• Purpose of shipment

Certain products may require additional documentation, such as:

• MSDS
• Lithium battery documentation
• Licences or permits from relevant authorities

The SME SHIPPING team can help review the basic documentation requirements for your shipment.

You should not declare an artificially low value.

The value and product information shown on customs documents should reflect the actual value or a value that can be reasonably supported.

Customs authorities may request additional evidence, such as:

• Commercial invoices
• Proof of purchase or sale
• Product information

Incorrect declarations may result in customs delays, additional charges, or other complications.

Possibly.

Depending on the destination, the recipient may be required to pay import duties, VAT, GST, customs charges, or other fees.

The amount does not depend only on the shipment's weight or value. Other factors may include:

• Destination country
• Type of goods
• HS Code
• Country of origin
• Import method

If you would like an initial assessment before shipping, provide us with the product details, destination country, and declared value.

The USD 800 threshold should no longer be treated as a general rule for all shipments to the United States because U.S. rules concerning low-value imports have changed.

Goods entering the United States may be subject to duties, taxes, or other charges even when the shipment value is below USD 800.

Before shipping, the applicable conditions should be checked based on the product type, declared value, country of origin, and selected shipping service.

Goods entering the European Union may be subject to VAT, IOSS-related requirements, customs duties, or other charges depending on the type of transaction, shipment value, and import method.

EU rules relating to low-value imports changed in 2026, so a single tax formula should not be assumed to apply to every shipment.

If you are shipping products for online sales or directly to customers in the EU, please inform our team so we can help review the appropriate shipping method and documentation.

Not necessarily.

Customs authorities may inspect shipments as part of their normal procedures to verify:

• Product descriptions
• Declared value
• Documentation
• Licences or permits
• Duties and taxes

In some cases, the recipient may be asked to submit additional documentation, pay duties or taxes, or complete customs procedures before the parcel can be released for final delivery.

You can track your shipment using the tracking number provided by SME SHIPPING or through the tracking system associated with the selected service.

For some services, tracking information may only become available after the parcel has been transferred to another carrier, reaches the destination country, or enters the customs clearance process.

Therefore, there may be periods during transit when the tracking status does not change.

Not necessarily.

Tracking updates may temporarily stop while the shipment is:

• In international transit
• Waiting for a flight
• Being transferred between carriers
• Under customs processing
• Waiting for processing at the destination

If the shipment exceeds the normal transit time for the selected service, you can send the tracking number to SME SHIPPING and our team will help investigate the status.

Common reasons may include:

• Incorrect recipient name, address, or postal code
• Unable to contact the recipient
• Recipient failed to collect the shipment within the required period
• Recipient refused the shipment
• Recipient did not complete customs or tax requirements
• Import restrictions applied to the goods
• Missing or unacceptable documentation

Returned shipments may be subject to additional carrier, storage, return, or other charges depending on the destination and service conditions.

If duties, taxes, or other charges must be paid before the shipment can be released and the recipient does not complete the required process, the shipment may be held at the destination, returned to the sender, or handled according to the carrier's and customs authority's procedures.

Storage charges, return shipping charges, or other fees may apply.

We recommend informing the recipient in advance that destination duties or taxes may occur.

You should carefully check the recipient's:

• Full name
• Address
• Postal code
• Telephone number

before the shipment is dispatched.

Once the shipment is in transit, some services may not allow address changes. Other services may allow changes only at certain stages and may charge an additional fee.

If you notice an error, contact SME SHIPPING as soon as possible.

Coverage depends on the selected service.

Examples of coverage for our main services include:

• Express Document: Loss coverage up to THB 2,000
• Express Premium: Loss coverage up to THB 10,000
• Express Plus: Loss coverage up to THB 5,000

For higher-value goods, additional insurance coverage may be available subject to the terms and conditions of the selected service.

Please declare the actual value of your goods before shipping so our team can recommend appropriate coverage.