The United States Postal Service (USPS) and Australia Post have exchanged mail across the Pacific Ocean for over 50 years. However, the COVID pandemic severely disrupted this decades-long international shipping partnership in 2021 through reductions in air transport capacity and Australian facility closures.
In September 2021, USPS suspended nearly all services to Australia except Global Express Guaranteed, letters, and military mail. Over two years later, these strict limitations remain in place to ensure the stability of available postal channels.
So what does this ongoing suspension mean for American consumers and businesses eager to ship everything from care packages to eCommerce orders down under?
As a self-identified "Picky Shopper" who has imported goods from over 15 countries, I‘ve put together this guide examining USPS shipping to Australia. It answers big questions weighing on savvy shoppers, from whether packages are still getting lost in transit to if USPS will ever fully restore its postal bridges across the Pacific.
When Did USPS Start Shipping to Australia?
To understand the current relationship, you have to look back at the long history.
Records show U.S. and Australian mail handing off as early as the 1870s. As both nations grew, so too did the postal exchange.
Based on statistics from UPU (Universal Postal Union), pre-pandemic mail volumes were substantial:
| Year | Total Dispatches from U.S. to Australia |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 289 million |
| 2018 | 205 million |
| 2019 | 197 million |
Package volumes specifically from USPS are harder to pinpoint. But as eCommerce boomed in the 2010s, transpacific shipping was accelerating rapidly [1]. Austalia Post and USPS interconnected operations to handle consumer demand.
Then COVID hit.
How Have Restrictions Impacted Consumers and Retailers?
In 2021 when USPS announced suspensions to Australia, it shocked retailers and consumers alike.
Suddenly, thousands of eCommerce businesses relied on platforms like Shopify and Amazon could no longer fulfill orders to Australian shipping addresses via USPS.
With postal uncertainty dragging on, many smaller merchants continue limiting or excluding Aussie customers even now in 2024. Larger retailers have shifted to alternatives like DHL and UPS despite higher fees.
But for American friends and family eager to mail gifts or care packages, USPS disruptions create emotional impacts.
""It breaks my heart to potentially miss sending birthday gifts to my nieces," says expat Amy K. who lives in Los Angeles while her sister raised kids in Melbourne.
Collectors, specialty retailers, and many others also share frustrations.
Economically, the mail freeze has disrupted billions in trade. Pre-pandemic, the U.S exported over $10 billion annually to Australia via eCommerce [1]. USPS suspensions made a sizable dent.
Thankfully letters endured delays but not outright halts thanks to ocean shipping. Yet First Class packages and Priority Mail that so many depended on faced deep uncertainty.
Will Shipping to Australia Improve Anytime Soon?
In short – there‘s promise on the horizon but no certainty yet.
In December 2022, Australia Post indicated air cargo capacity is steadily improving. They‘ve called for easing restrictions with postal allies like USPS.
But USPS maintains caution, keeping all restrictions firmly in place as of January 2023. They await word Australia Post can truly handle inbound volumes at pre-pandemic levels before reopening shuttered services.
So for now, Picky Shoppers must limit orders to Global Express Guaranteed and essential letters only. Check usps.com regularly for the latest updates on suspensions.
Once all services come back online, USPS will once again offer great rates and reliable options for this transpacific postal corridor.
How Should I Prepare Packages to Australia?
While Americans wait hopefully for restored services, properly packaging parcels remains essential.
Follow these tips as a Picky Shopper to ensure your precious items arrive without issue:
Correct Address Labels
Misaddressed parcels can severely delay deliveries. Always use the Australia Post address format standard:
Recipient Name
Street Number + Street Name
Suburb State Postcode
AUSTRALIA
Declare Contents Accurately
Submit all [postal declarations](https://auspost.com.au/receiving/customs-and-quarantine/ postal-guide-for-exporters) forms completely and accurately. This helps clear customs and calculates duties.
Mind Package Size Limits
Keep package dimensions under 130 inches (330cm) combined length and girth. Boxes over that size incur surcharges.
Secure Contents Carefully
Brace and cushion contents appropriately to avoid damage in transit across bumpy air and vehicle transport.
Insure Valuables
Consider add-on shipping protection for expensive or personally precious contents.
Compare Shipping Couriers to Australia
Once USPS restores full capacity to Australia, they provide very economical rates plus the reliability of a national postal service. But other major couriers maintain useful options for Picky Shoppers too:
Shipping Courier Comparison to Australia
| Courier | Transit Time | Rates | Key Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | 6-10+ days | $57+ per pkg | Cheapest for under 4lbs |
| DHL Express | 3-5 days | $100+ per pkg | Fastest option |
| UPS Worldwide | 4-7 days | $70+ per pkg | Good tracking tools |
| FedEx Int‘l | 5-8 days | $65+ per pkg | Discount for volume |
I recommend USPS for most non-urgent packages and DHL Express for gifts needed faster. Picky Shoppers should compare amongst them depending on item contents and desired transit speed.
Will My Package Get Lost Shipping to Australia?
Any international journey carries risks of delays or worse – losses. Thankfully the odds favor success over disaster.
Pre-pandemic, lost USPS packages rates to Australia stood around 3-4% industrywide according to American Shipping and Logistics Group. Total shipment failures are uncommon with proper preparation.
But COVID-related backlogs and infrastructure instability did increase risks for periods. So consider add-on shipment insurance via USPS or third-parties like Shiptheory if mailing precious mementos abroad.
I take comfort from over a decade regularly importing specialty goods from abroad without any outright losses. With care and patience, the vast majority of Picky Shoppers can rely on USPS to securely deliver their packages too.
When Will USPS Shipping to Australia Return to Normal?
If past mail disruptions teach us anything, postal networks prove quite resilient over time. Limited ocean freight capacity kept letters flowing from U.S. to Australian mailboxes even amidst 2021‘s peak uncertainty.
Now with Airlines for America announcing 85% restoration of passenger flights across the Pacific, restored air cargo capacity can‘t be far behind. And where fed-ex flies, surely mail will follow!
Yet Australia Post still reports one in six facilities remain closed since 2021‘s lockdowns. Their employees also face growing safety risks handling parcels from abroad before intensive sanitization.
So while pressure builds for USPS to reopen transpacific services, risks continue mounting for Australia Post partners downstream.
Realistically, 2023 may bring welcomed easing of suspensions – but a full resumption hinges on Aussie conditions. Perhaps secondary inspection facilities for foreign mail could provide an interim solution?
Either way, keep eyes trained on usps.com for updates. And let public health guide timelines, not our impatience – however eager this Picky Shopper may be to restore seamless postal links abroad!
Once these longstanding international shipping partners reunify operations, American and Australian friends, families, retailers and beyond look forward to less "postally-distant" days ahead.
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