From health and beauty products to fashion and consumer electronics — Hong Kong is a booming ecommerce industry with ecommerce revenue growth projected to grow 72.6% in 2022.
If your business is looking to expand its presence into Hong Kong, there’s plenty of opportunity. But the challenge is navigating the complexity of international selling.
Whether you’re US-based merchant or Hong Kong-based customer, this guide will help you choose the best options to ship goods from the US to Hong Kong.
Read on for information on international shipping options and more.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Hong Kong from the US
Every shipping courier has its own set of options for international shipping.
Some will be cheaper but take longer to deliver the parcel, while others offer expedited delivery. And still, others offer flat shipping rates for orders of certain dimensions, no matter what the weight.
Note: These are general options for consumers shipping orders. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Hong Kong, please request a quote here.
ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfilment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
| Service | Price* | Delivery Time | |
| USPS | Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) | $67.80 | 1-3 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail Express International | $47.50 | 3-5 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail International | $37.60 | 6-10 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Saver | $39.86 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Expedited | $36.65 | 3-5 business days |
| FedEx | International Priority | $72.41 | 1-3 business days |
| FedEx | International Economy | $109.52 | 3-4 business days |
| DHL** | Express Worldwide | $69.29 | 2-3 business days |
*Only USPS offers flat rates to ship from the US to Hong Kong. All other prices were calculated using the respective courier’s pricing calculators for a 2 kg package in November 2021. Exact prices are subject to change. As of Nov. 2021, USPS temporarily suspended their Priority Mail Express International option for shipping to Hong Kong (including other countries). For the latest USPS service alerts, click here.
**Shipments tendered to DHL Express U.S. destined to Hong Kong (as well as China, Russia, or Venezuela) must include either of the following:
- Proof of AES EEI filing Internal Transaction Number (ITN) or Foreign Trade Regulation (FTR) Exemption Citation, or;
- ECCN or EAR99 for each line item on the Commercial Invoice or a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction
How to choose a shipping courier
When sending parcels to Hong Kong, you must research all the top couriers to decide which one fits your business’ needs the best.
Here are some of the top reasons to choose one shipping partner over the other:
| Couriers | Pros | Cons |
| USPS |
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| FedEx |
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| UPS |
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| DHL |
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Shipping to Hong Kong from the US with USPS
USPS offers courier services to 180+ countries, including Hong Kong. This independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government has a great network in the US, which makes drop-offs of packages much easier.
When to use USPS to ship from the US to Hong Kong
USPS is a good option for online merchants who want to ship their goods for cheap and are okay with delivery delays. While it isn’t the most reliable courier, USPS more than makes up for it by offering a flat rate shipping option for heavy packages.
Shipping to Hong Kong from the US with UPS
Founded in 1907, United Parcel Service is an Atlanta-based business that delivers couriers to 200+ countries. Being the world’s largest package delivery company it can be depended upon to reliably ship your orders, on time and safely.
When to use UPS to ship from the US to Hong Kong
UPS has a wide range of shipping options, including a few for time-sensitive deliveries. On the flip side, it doesn’t offer free pick-up services. Also, Saturday deliveries are not available on certain services.
Shipping to Hong Kong from the US with FedEx
FedEx is one of the most successful couriers in the world, founded in 1973. It has a presence in 220+ countries and territories. And merchants use this shipping courier to custom-ship goods internationally.
When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Hong Kong
Thanks to its customer service and tracking capabilities, FedEx always ensures that you have a handle on your order shipments.
Additionally, it insures your international shipments for additional peace of mind, in case of parcel damage or loss during transit.
Shipping to Hong Kong from the US with DHL
DHL, founded in 1969, ensures speedy and reliable shipping services to merchants in 220+ countries across the globe. Thanks to its strong focus on sustainability, merchants can ship orders with reduced environmental impact and a clear conscience.
When to use DHL to ship from the US to Hong Kong
Choose DHL if you wish to gain 24/7 international support and not pay courier pickup fees. But, it’s important to note that the shipping company does levy extra charges or surcharges.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Hong Kong from the US
No customs duty is levied on most shipments into Hong Kong since it is a free port. You don’t have to pay surcharges and value-added tax or its equivalent either.
Only the excise duty is charged for imports of liquor with an alcohol content of more than 30%, tobacco, methyl alcohol, and hydrocarbon oil.
Hong Kong customs information
When shipping goods into Hong Kong from the US, you will need to interact with the customs and excise department. They are the ones who will enforce customs and trade laws, protect consumer rights, inspect goods, and documents, etc.
Click here to know more about Hong Kong’s customs department.
Prohibited items when shipping to Hong Kong
Just like every other country, there are a few restrictions imposed on goods that are shipped into Hong Kong for moral and security purposes. Some goods need a permit to import into Hong Kong, while others are not completely prohibited.
That said, here are the goods that are usually considered illegal and are barred from being imported into Hong Kong:
Items you can’t ship to Hong Kong from the US |
| Drugs and antibiotics |
| Weapons |
| Fireworks |
| Controlled chemicals |
Be sure to check with the official Hong Kong customs website before sending your goods, as the list of restricted and banned items tends to evolve with time.
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Hong Kong
Do you see a growing demand for your merchandise in Hong Kong? The good news is that it is not that difficult to gain entry into this market.
Here are some factors to keep in mind when selling and shipping to this Asian country.
1. A strong logistics strategy matters
Throughout the pandemic, more than half of Hong Kong’s online shoppers bought more groceries and personal hygiene products online and less money on non-essential products during this time as many Hong Kong consumers were threatened by job losses or lower earnings.
To attract Hong Kong shoppers, the ease of the online shopping experience and product is key. A recent study showed that Hong Kong consumers’ overall positive online shopping experiences will ensure more purchases from the Hong Kong market as the pandemic continues.
2. Explore new business models
Live online video-streamed selling sessions hosted by celebrities are growing in popularity in Hong Kong. Many retailers are also harnessing social media and chat-based shopping services (using tools like WhatsApp) to make it easy for customers to place orders online.
Online shoppers in Hong Kong are open to innovations in ecommerce, such as the buy now pay later scheme that offers greater ease of shopping. So, you could experiment with new selling tactics to make the buyer’s buying experience more engaging and seamless.
3. Enable flexible ecommerce payments
Hong Kong customers are moving away from prepaid methods, debit cards, and cash on delivery for ecommerce payments, and choosing digital wallets, such as PayPal and AliPay, and bank transfers.
In fact, by 2023, around 48% of all ecommerce payments in the country are expected to be done via bank transfers and digital wallets. So, it would be best if your app and website offer multiple payment options that make it convenient for your customers to make payments.
Ship internationally with ShipBob
Global fulfilment can be challenging, expensive, and slow but potentially very fruitful for ecommerce businesses. If you’ve thought international fulfilment seemed too complex for you, consider outsourcing fulfilment to a best-in-class 3PL like ShipBob.
ShipBob is an international 3PL with a growing fulfilment centre network powered by premium, centralised technology that provides consistency, visibility, and transparency across our entire network.
When selling internationally, ShipBob can help you establish a shipping strategy, expand operations across international distribution centres, and provide the best international and domestic shipping rates — all while spending less on time on day-to-day logistics operations.
“As our customer base grows, so does our global reach. Having orders shipping internationally, ShipBob’s affordable rates solved our need for international fulfilment capabilities.”
Carl Protsch, Co-Founder of FLEO
Ready to start shipping to Hong Kong from the US? Get started with ShipBob.
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Shipping to Hong Kong FAQs
Here are answers to the top questions people have about shipping packages to Hong Kong from the US.
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Hong Kong from the US?
USPS’ Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express International are some of the cheapest ways to ship from the US to Hong Kong, which deliver packages in 6-10 and 3-5 business days respectively.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Hong Kong from the US?
USPS’s flat rate shipping option offers the most affordable way to ship parcels from the US to Hong Kong.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Hong Kong from the US?
USPS GXG Envelopes, UPS Worldwide Express, and UPS Worldwide Saver are shipping services that deliver your parcel within 1 to 3 business days.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Hong Kong from the US?
Since Hong Kong is a free port, overseas merchants are not required to pay any VAT or customs duties on imports. There is an excise duty levied on certain goods like alcohol, tobacco, and hydrocarbon oil.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Hong Kong from the US?
UPS and FedEx offer some of the easiest ways to ship orders from the US to Hong Kong, owing to the location of convenient parcel drop-off locations across the US and effective order tracking.
