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There is an entire list of topics e-commerce store owners need to stay updated on. The landscape shifts every day, enforcing constant adjustments in strategy and causing small fires that need to be put out.
Understandably, the topic of shipping usually slips their minds. There is simply not enough time left for the last – but crucial – element of the buyer’s journey.
However, at Octolize, shipping is our priority. We live and breathe all topics delivery-related, so that our clients can focus on what they do best – boosting profits.
The past few months have been especially eventful for the shipping industry. A lot of big changes caused a significant upheaval, which continues to impact various players in the process – couriers, international store owners, and small local merchants.
Keeping in mind all this, we have created this news roundup answering the question that most of you have asked more than once recently: “What’s going on in the shipping industry?”.
Here is a recap of top shipping news from Q3 and Q4 of 2025. Find out what you might have missed from a reliable, trusted source.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest hits that shook the world of shipping recently was the ending of the de minimis exemption. It was a rule that freed goods under $800 shipped into the United States from paying duties or taxes.
This type of parcel now faces the same 15% tariff as most imports from the EU.
As a result, multiple international carriers such as UPS and FedEx are enforcing additional charges on top of their standard fees to counter the increased administrative burden and costs they have to incur.
According to Practical Ecommerce, the new customs standards will primarily hurt 3 types of e-commerce sellers:
Although the tariff aims to protect the US market from unfair practices and an onslaught of imported goods threatening the local suppliers, it does have its consequences for businesses all over the world.
Additional charges pose 2 potential risks:
Some businesses are shifting their focus to other sectors outside the US. They are adapting their sales and marketing strategies to target markets in Europe and Asia.
Amidst the turmoil related to the withdrawal of the de minimis rule, European officials responded with their own restrictions. The EU plans to withdraw the duty-free status for small parcels below 150 EUR.
The new law would come into effect in 2028, but it is dependent on establishing a centralized EU customs data hub to streamline cross-border item-level declarations.
Similar to the new standards in the US, withdrawing the duty-free status in the EU could generate additional costs for all manufacturers importing their goods from abroad. It might be particularly impactful for businesses that shifted their attention to the European market after the customs changes imposed in the US. It is crucial to follow updates and plan ahead.
It is that time of the year again when couriers raise their rates to keep up with the increased demand. We have been observing that trend for the past several years, and it is no different this holiday season.
Major carriers such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS have already hiked up their prices and will continue to do so until mid-January.
The exact amount is individual to every courier and changes depending on the dates. For example, in Germany, DHL has added an extra €0.69 surcharge in peak weeks on top of the regular €0.19 fee introduced back in 2022 for November and December deliveries.
Merchants will need to face increased rates during the hottest period of the year, encompassing Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas holidays. Raised shipping costs can lead to abandoned carts and angry customers, making transparency more important than ever.
One way to avoid misunderstandings is to display the shipping cost on the product page. The customer will be able to enter their address and see the shipping costs before they even add an item to the cart. This simple solution heightens trust and strengthens brand loyalty. At Octolize, it is available as a WordPress plugin and Shopify app.
For a few months now, Shopify merchants have been able to manage their shipping process within Shopify.
Previously, owners of Shopify-based stores had to rely on third-party solutions for end-to-end shipping process management. The introduction of new tools into Shopify allows them to ship at the lowest rates with international carriers such as FedEx, DHL Express, UPS, and USPS, print shipping labels, process bulk orders, and manage the shipping process directly within the platform.
The shift in focus is motivated by wanting to provide equal support to different kinds of businesses – both those with straightforward and complex shipping needs alike.
Shopify store owners will exhale in relief at embracing a centralized system for managing their shipping. It can potentially lower costs when external tools that had previously been used to handle the process become obsolete and are replaced with a built-in system.
The recent customs changes have had a negative impact not only on e-commerce sellers, but also on the courier companies themselves. FedEx’s CFO, John Dietrich, expected the company to lose $170 million in Q3. According to Deutsche Bank’s estimates, that would account for 0.8% of overall revenue during that period.
The situation looks even drearier for USPS, which has announced $1.6 billion in losses in Q3. It is a significant increase of $552 million from the same quarter last year.
Reality isn’t looking much better for European carriers, either. Germany’s Deutsche Post expects to cut 8000 jobs, the Netherlands’ PostNL has requested government intervention after its profits reached a quarter of those from 2021 last year, and Denmark’s PostNord considers limiting its offer to send only parcels, forgoing letters entirely.
Among the worrying trend, one player emerges victorious. The UK’s leading postal service, Royal Mail, has noted a profit for the first time in 3 years. The success is attributed to cost cuts and an increased volume based on locker delivery and automation.
As international and local carriers navigate losses, they might alter their offer – from new rates to changes in the services they provide. It is in store owners’ best interest to keep up with the carriers’ news, to be aware of possible updates and adjust plans accordingly.
Beginning on October 14th, the US has been charging new fees for entry into ports for vessels built in China or owned by Chinese interests. The levies will be systematically phased in over 3 years.
It is a new charge in the system, so it may or may not reflect on the end customer. Higher costs for ocean trade could eventually impact the costs of land trade, potentially contributing to (another) rise in the operational costs for merchants shipping into the US from China.
Here are the top shipping news for Q3 and Q4 in 2025. An insight into them gives you an opportunity to stay aware, prepare, and adjust your strategy accordingly as you plan ahead for 2026.
It also highlights a main theme: the shipping industry is more volatile than ever. The political and economic situation of the world largely shapes how much sending products to your customers will cost you. Something happening on the other side of the world from where your business is located could affect your shipping rates.
Staying updated is crucial to keep your shipping costs in check and make sure you don’t lose money on delivery. A new major change could drop tomorrow, altering everything we have discussed in this article.
So, stay alert, stay vigilant, and monitor current shipping news to always know what’s going on in the shipping industry.
Sources and further reading:
Lucyna Polok is an SEO and content specialist passionate about crafting effective strategies and creating engaging content. She has worked across a variety of industries, both in-house and as a freelancer. A strong believer in the power of storytelling, she believes that good content not only delivers business results, but also resonates with customers through an emotional connection with a brand.
At Octolize, she is responsible for aligning the content strategy with business goals and increasing visibility, trust, and authority of the brand via data-based SEO efforts. On the blog, she focuses mostly on topics for those only beginning their adventure with e-commerce, explaining scenarios and terms in an approachable way.
