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What is ePacket shipping and how does it work?

Last update: February 14, 2025

Contents

Are you considering ePacket shipping for your business? Learn everything you should know about ePackets before making a commitment

Key takeaways

ePacket shipping offers affordable and fast delivery from China and Hong Kong, with tracking available in over 39 countries
Shipments of up to 2kg can be sent and the average delivery time is 7-30 days
ePacket provides door-to-door tracking
Limitations include the 2kg weight cap and a $400 package value limit, with no compensation for lost or damaged items

Introduction

ePacket shipping is one of the most popular shipping methods offered by suppliers based in China and Hong Kong. Majorly introduced to decrease costs and delivery times, ePacket supports over 39+ countries, including New Zealand. Goods sent through ePacket have tracking numbers that can be monitored through China Post.

New Zealand e-commerce businesses can use ePacket to source products from China. They can also use ePacket for dropshipping since the shipping service allows suppliers in China to send goods to customers directly.

Let’s take a look at everything you should know about ePacket.

What is an ePacket?

ePacket shipping allows you to receive online purchases from suppliers based in China and Hong Kong. ePacket is a very popular shipping option among AliExpress and eBay sellers, as it supports shipping to over 39 countries across the globe.

The ePacket service was especially introduced by China Post to provide a fast and affordable shipping option for small and low-cost e-commerce orders. In fact, the ‘e’ in ePacket stands for e-commerce.

ePackets are also preferred by various dropshipping businesses, allowing them to maintain good relationships with customers while protecting profit margins.

Note that the ePacket delivery service is only available for suppliers based in China and Hong Kong. If your supplier is based in the US or Europe, you won’t be able to use the service.

ePackets shouldn’t be confused with China EMS (Express Mail service), which is faster and more expensive. While ePackets only support packages of up to 2kg, EMS can be used for packages of up to 30 kg.

How do ePackets work?

Here’s the process that is usually followed with ePacket delivery:

A customer places an order on your online store or on an e-commerce website where you list your products
You send the order details to your dropshipping supplier based in China or Hong Kong
The package is collected by China Post’s ePacket service from the supplier and then transferred to China’s border, where it is dispatched to the destination country of the customer (Note: While the package is sent through China Post, it is shipped to New Zealand through an international carrier which is usually EMS but it may not always be the case)
When the package arrives in the destination country, it is then assigned to a local courier for last-mile delivery
The package finally gets delivered to the recipient

Key benefits of ePacket shipping

Short delivery times

Compared to traditional delivery methods like ocean freight, ePacket shipping is much faster. Your packages get delivered in 7-30 days at the most. The exact time can depend on the destination, the weight of the package and the time of the year. For instance, getting packages during the Black Friday/ Christmas season will definitely take a lot longer.

Cost-effective

Suppliers usually offer free or low-cost shipping with ePacket. Considering the low prices of ePacket shipping, it’s easy for suppliers to absorb it into their wholesale costs.

Ability to track

You get door-to-door tracking ability for all the shipments that are sent from China to customers. It builds trust among customers, improves transparency and reduces the number of ‘where is my order’ queries you get.

Free and convenient returns

Any deliverable or returned packages get sent to the sender without extra charges.

Cons of using ePacket for shipping

Limited support: If your package gets delayed, lost, or damaged in any way, you cannot claim compensation for it.

Limitations on weight: It’s only possible to ship packages of up to 2kg through ePacket. The package size should not exceed 90 cm or 35.4 inches–including the sum of the length, height and width of the package. It should also not be less than 14 cm in length and 11 cm in width. In case your package is bigger, you’ll have to consider other shipping options.

Limitations on package value: You cannot send goods that have a value of over $400. It’s also not advisable to try to ship anything too expensive, even if the weight limit is fulfilled. Since there is no compensation available, you could suffer a hefty loss if your packages get damaged or lost during transit.

Limitations on product type: Since ePackets are shipped by air, you can’t ship any products that are hazardous or inflammable, like liquids, chemicals, or lithium batteries

Which countries are supported by ePacket

ePacket shipping is available in over 39+ countries are supported by ePacket, including:

Australia
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Brazil
Russia
South Korea
Singapore
Israel
Turkey
Malaysia
New Zealand
Vietnam

How long does it take for an ePacket to be delivered?

The time it takes for an ePacket to get delivered depends on the destination country. The average estimated delivery time for most countries is 7-30 working days.

In the case of Mexico, it’s around 30 working days. For Russia, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, it’s 7-20 working days.

Of course, these are just estimates. ePackets can get delayed due to bad weather, local festivals and other reasons.

ePacket Fees New Zealand: What to expect?

As mentioned above, the fees for ePacket are comparatively lower than other shipping methods. Here’s the comparison of prices for a 500gm packet across the different air shipping methods:

Source

Here are the prices for a 1000gm package.

Source

ePacket tracking: How to track ePacket from China?

You’ll get tracking details for your ePacket as soon as it is shipped. There are a couple of ways to track your ePacket.

You can go to China Post’s official EMS website to track your package when its on its way to New Zealand
After the package arrives in New Zealand, you can track it through New Zealand Post’s Website

Make secure, reliable and fast international payments with WorldFirst

WorldFirst is the one-stop international payment provider empowering SMEs to grow globally. You can open your account in minutes and make payments in 90+ currencies across 200+ countries. You can also open local currency accounts in 20+ currencies, including AUD, CNH, GBP, USD, CAD and HKD.

Pay your suppliers and shipping partners in China in their preferred currencies. Your payments arrive in hours instead of days (cut-off timings apply), ensuring your goods are shipped with zero delays. Get more savings to grow your earnings with our competitive foreign exchange rates.

Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.

Rick Hill has worked in payments and financial services for the past nine years. He began his career at a large institutional bank and has since worked across startups and scaleups. Over the past four years, his experience with e-commerce retailers has led him to believe that WorldFirst will be crucial in helping brands expand globally by demystifying the complexities of entering new markets.

Rick Hill

Author

Head of Sales ANZ at WorldFirst

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What is ePacket shipping and how does it work?

What is an ePacket?

How do ePackets work?

Key benefits of ePacket shipping

Short delivery times

Cost-effective

Ability to track

Free and convenient returns

Cons of using ePacket for shipping

Which countries are supported by ePacket

How long does it take for an ePacket to be delivered?

ePacket Fees New Zealand: What to expect?

ePacket tracking: How to track ePacket from China?

Make secure, reliable and fast international payments with WorldFirst

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The simpler way to pay and get paid

Save money, time, and have peace of mind when expanding your global business.